COMPARISONS BETWEEN PERIPHERAL PROGESTERONE CONCENTRATIONS IN CYCLIC AND PREGNANT LANDRACE X LARGE WHITE AND MEISHAN GILTS

Progesterone concentrations were determined in blood samples collected twice daily (at 0900 and 1700 hours) from the day of oestrus Day 0) until Days 15-24 in ten Landrace x Large White gilts (four cyclic and six pregnant gilts) and eight Meishan gilts (four cyclic and four pregnant gilts). Progesterone concentrations during the early luteal phase tended to be higher in pregnant Meishan gilts than in pregnant Landrace x Large White gilts. Furthermore, when differences in ovulation rate and peak progesterone concentrations were accounted for, maximum progesterone concentrations occurred earlier in Meishan gilts than in Landrace x Large White gilts (P < 0.01); this difference was particularly marked when pregnant animals of the two breeds were compared. In non-mated animals, analyses of the timing and magnitude of progesterone concentrations observed towards the end of the oestrous cycle revealed that the decrease in progesterone concentrations occurred earlier (P < 0.05) in Meishan gilts. Such breed differences in the peripheral progesterone profile may be associated with reduced prenatal mortality, a characteristic of Meishan females.