From 2 to 4.5 months of age, 80 crossbred gilts were reared in a conventional grower unit where they were naturally exposed to mycoplasmal and bacterial pathogens that cause pneumonia and atrophic rhinitis. At 4.5 months of age, gilts were moved to environmentally regulated rooms (4.9 X 7.3 m) and assigned at random to 1 of 2 treatment groups: low aerial concentration of ammonia (4 to 12 ppm; mean, 7 ppm) or moderate aerial concentration of ammonia (26 to 45 ppm, mean, 35 ppm). Low concentration of ammonia was obtained by flushing of manure pits weekly, whereas moderate concentration of ammonia was maintained by adding anhydrous ammonia to manure pits that were not flushed. Gilts were weighed biweekly. Mean daily gain (MDG) was less (P < 0.01) for gilts exposed to moderate concentration of ammonia than for gilts exposed to low concentration of ammonia after 2 weeks in their respective environments. By 4 and 6 weeks, however, MDG was similar between the 2 treatment groups. After 6 weeks in these environments, 20 gilts from each treatment group were slaughtered, and prevalence and severity of lung lesions and snout grades were determined. At slaughter, body weight was greater (P < 0.01) in gilts exposed to low, rather than moderate, ammonia concentration (94.5 vs 86.8 kg; SEM, 3.3 kg). Percentage of lung tissue containing lesions (18 vs 12) and snout grade (2.8 vs 3.1) were similar between gilts exposed to low or moderate concentration of ammonia. The remaining 20 gilts in each treatment group were maintained in their respective environments, exposed daily to mature boars and bred at first estrus. Age at puberty was similar between gilts exposed to low or moderate concentration of ammonia (208 vs 205 days; SEM, 1.3 days), even though weight at puberty was less (P < 0.03) for gilts exposed to low concentration of ammonia than for gilts exposed to moderate concentration of ammonia (109.7 vs 118.2 kg; SEM, 4.5 kg).

A two-year-old mixed breed sow was requested to the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory of Cheju National University with a clinical signs of severe abdominal pain and sudden death. Grossly, there was severe hemorrhage in abdominal cavity. Most of internal parenchymas and subcutaneous muscle showed severe pale discoloration. Both ovaries were enlarged with oval to round protruding multilobular masses and dark red in color. And they were firm and contained multiple small cysts in their cut surface. Histopathologically, numerous neoplastic granulosa cells had spherical-to-oval, hyperchromatic nuclei and scant eosinophilic cytoplasms were distributed with follicular pattern in ovarian masses. And the typical Call-Exner bodies, distinctive microcanityies, were observed in the center of small neoplastic follicles. Based on the gross and histopathologic findings, this case was diagnosed as granulosa cell tumor. In our best knowledge, this is believed to be the first report of granulosa cell tumor in a sow in Korea.

Gross and histological findings were obtained on cysts formed in the reproductive organs, particularly in the mesosalpinx, mesovarium, and fimbria, of 144 gilts and 37 sows. Of the 181 gilts and sows, 63 (34.8%) were found to have cysts which totaled 89. The number of cysts totaled 38 for the gilts and 51 for the sows, with relative frequencies of 18.1% 48.6%, respectively. The total number of cysts and the incidence were greater in the sows than in the gilts

Determination of possible relations between some metabolic activity indexes of Large White pregnant sows (with various pregnancy stages) and their offspring was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. In the experimental animals there was taken blood for hematologic and biochemical tests. In peripheral blood there was analyzed the average content of hemoglobin, total number of erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes and corpuscular volume. Content of total protein, albuminolesterin, concentration total kalium and nonorganic phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, activity of alanine- and aspartate transaminase were evaluated in blood serum. Blood tests were made on 84th day of pregnancy, in 30 days before farrowing, on the 2-nd lactation day and on the 2-nd and 35-th days of piglet life. Research results showed high degree of persistence of iron and zinc deficiency of pregnant sows in the conditions of modern national swine production. The obtained results proved the presence of close relationship between metabolic processes of sows and piglets that was revealed in low degree of stores supply with elements which had been in deficit for their mothers

Determination of a degree and stages of metabolic disorders of aborted sows and sows which gave birth to dead fetus was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. Analysis of biochemical profile of blood of experimental sows was given. Typical deviations of biochemical status indexes in the conditions of reproduction pathology were determined. The highest degree of deviations of biochemical blood profile (indexes of fat, protein and mineral metabolism) was stated at aborted sows. At sows which gave birth to dead fetus there were stated abnormalties functional state of kidneys and liver, indexes of carbohydrate and mineral metabolism.

The organizational aspects of reproduction in a swine heard were featured, the productivity indices of the crossbred sows obtained through the crisscrossing of the Belarusian Large White, Belarusian Black and White and Estonian Bacon pig breeds were given. The duration of the gestation period for the sows of different origin was shown. The results of the realized experiment showed that at all stages of reproduction there was required the full-value feeding and the maintenance of animals, observance of terms of revealing of sexual hunting and timely insemination of sow. For the systematic increase of swine productivity for selection of replacement pigs for reproduction besides the standard indicators it was necessary to consider the duration of gestation period. In course of study there was stated the well-defined consistent pattern of increasing of pig average weight which were born from sows with the lengthened gestation period. Piglets with the standard and extended term of prenatal growth showed higher indices of body weight at a birth and surpassed their herd mates with the shortened duration of prenatal development on 8,6-10,5% (Р less 0,001). Heavy litter of pigs affected the intensity of their subsequent development. At the weaning stage the weight of 1 pig with the shortened prenatal development was 6,25 kg, and the weight of pigs with the standard and extended periods - 6,62 kg (Р less 0,001) and 6,89 kg (Р less 0,001), respectively and exceeded on 5,9% and 10,2%. The 3-month age pigs with the shortened prenatal development lag behind herd mates with the standard and extended period of prenatal development in the indices of growing capacity on 1,2-1,4 kg (4,0-4,6%). The same tendency was noted after fattening period