Use of ultrasonography to evaluate size and echotexture of gonadal and accessory genital structures in domestic animals

摘要

Ultrasonography together with computer analysis tools are used to obtain measurements of gonadal density and size in male livestock, and particular in immunologically castrated boars in a slaughterhouse. These measurements are compared with reference thresholds with the main purpose of determining whether the immunologically castrated boars have entered puberty. Boars are likely to be subject to meat tainting subsequent to the onset of puberty due to biological secretions which occur at that time. This method allows the majority of tainted meat to be screened out prior to delivery.