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              Research
              
              
                              
                              7.  
                            
                            Ovarian antral follicular dynamics in Ankamali pigs -
                            
                            
                            Sowmya Narayan, M Narayana Swamy, T. Veena
                            Vet World. 2011; 4(6): 264-265
               
              
              
              doi: 
              10.5455/vetworld.4.264
              
              
               
              
              
              
   
 
              
               
               
               
              
              
              Abstract
              
                              
                            
                            The present study was designed with the objective of 
                            understanding the ovarian antral follicular dynamics 
                            in Ankamali pigs, an indigenous south Indian breed 
                            of pig, that derives its name from Ankamali block in 
                            the Ernakulam district of Kerala, also found in 
                            Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, parts of Maharashtra and 
                            Andhra Pradesh. For the present study, the ovaries 
                            were collected from apparently healthy, non 
                            pregnant, cyclic and middle aged (2 to 5 years) 
                            Ankamali pigs slaughtered at civil meat processing 
                            and production centre, Frazer town, Bangalore during 
                            the month of February to May 2010. The February 
                            month was transition month from winter to summer and 
                            the month of March, April and May were considered as 
                            summer months. A total of 640 ovaries were collected 
                            and the surface antral follicles on the ovaries were 
                            classified into Group I (small, <3 mm), Group II 
                            (medium, 3-6.9 mm) and Group III follicles (large, 
                            7-12 mm) on the basis of their diameter. The results 
                            of the present study revealed that the number of 
                            Group I follicles were significantly (P<0.05) higher 
                            compared to Group II and Group III follicles. 
                            Similarly, Group II follicles were significantly 
                            (P<0.05) higher compared to Group III follicles 
                            during different months of observation. An attempt 
                            was also made in the present study to find out the 
                            approximate ratio between the small, medium and 
                            large follicles wherein it was 7: 4:1 during the 
                            month of February and March and it was 6: 5: 1 
                            during the month of April and May. The ovarian 
                            follicular dynamics established in the present study 
                            during winter to summer transition month like 
                            February and during summer months like March, April 
                            and May shall throw some insights into the ovarian 
                            physiology in Ankamali breed of pig. 
              
                            
              Keywords: 
                            Ovarian follicles, follicular dynamics, South Indian 
                            Pig, Ankamali pigs