Fetal development in relation to gestational age in the piglet.

Abstract

Body and organ weights were measured in piglets from 44 litters which had been delivered by caesarean section at various times during the last 20 days of gestation. An attempt has been made to assess the usefulness of these measurements as predictors of gestational age. In this series of animals there was a highly significant correlation between mean litter weight and age. However, a considerable degree of uncertainty about the true gestational age must be accepted if mean litter weight is to be used as the sole predictor: at a mean litter weight of 1 kg, the 95% confidence limits were found to be +/- 10.2 days. No extra information was afforded by the inclusion of the organ weight data one the mean litter weight was known.