A PRELIMINARY TRIAL ON THE USE OF BARIUM CHLORIDE FOR DIAGNOSIS IN PIGS

Abstract

The reaction of urine collected from 40 non-pregnant and 40 pregnant Yorkshire X Landrace crossed bred gilt/sows to 1% barium chloride sulotion was highly (P<0.01) depent on pregnant status of the pigs, the test being 100% and 81% effective in identifying non-pregnant and pregnant pigs respectively.The sensitivity  of the test in the gravid ppigs was significantlt (P<0.05) influenced by, and tended to increase with, the stage of gestation with 59% of pigs in thier first trimester of gestation being correctly diagnosed as pregnant, and 95% - 100% of pigs in thier later stages of gestation being so correctly diagnosed. Parity and time of day of performance of the test had no effect on the urine reaction. It was concluded that the rest was least 95% accurate when used as from about 39 days after breeding for pregnancy diagnosis in pigs.