In sows and gilts, real-time ultrasound appears to be the most effective and accurate tool for diagnosing ovarian and uterine abnormalities. For percutaneous examination of the ovaries and uterus, the 3.5 MHz sector probe is the optimal frequency. However, the widely used 5 MHz linear transducer probe also provides satisfactory images for clinical diagnosis. For transrectal examination, the 5 MHz linear probe is very effective for diagnosing ovarian disease.

For percutaneous examination, the probe should be placed on the ventral wall above the knee joint, lateral to the mammary gland, and the probe should be directed toward the contralateral hip joint and redirected anteriorly until the bladder image is obtained. The ovaries and uterus are located anteriorly, adjacent to the bladder. Because the uterine horns can be more than 1 m in length and because they are folded, multiple cross-sections of a single uterine horn can be seen in the same ultrasound image.

The results of ultrasound examinations vary between different pig farms, and evaluation of these results can help identify problems between farms and ensure successful treatment strategies. For example, if corpora lutea are found on the ovaries of most sows during 3 days after weaning and at the end of lactation, it means that they are in estrus during lactation, but if no corpora lutea are found 3 days after weaning and they appear on the 8th day, it means that the sows are about to go into estrus but will not be identified. For the latter case, estrus identification measures need to be improved. Therefore, the use of swine ultrasound after weaning sows can help diagnose the cause of reproductive problems and ensure the implementation of correct treatment measures.

Real-time swine ultrasound diagnosis can also be used to determine the time of the onset of puberty in gilts. In the first few days of the onset of puberty, the uterine horns are enlarged and a clear cross-section appears, making it easy to identify.

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