Abstract
The effects of fetal decapitation at days 40 to 50 of gestation on fetal development, parturition and lactation were studied in 36 gilts. In gilts with all headless fetuses, gestation was prolonged beyond a minimum of 120 days. Gilts with all intact fetuses gave birth at 114.3 days. When the litter contained one intact fetus plus three or four headless fetuses, parturition was delayed to day 124 or 125. When more than one intact fetus was present in a litter containing some headless fetuses, parturition was not delayed. When one ovary was removed and decapitated fetuses were in one uterine horn and intact fetuses in the other horn, gestation terminated at the normal time. This shows that the location of the fetus in the uterus or in relation to the ovary had no effect on initiation of parturition. Headless fetuses were hairless, edematous, had normal spinal reflexes, but did not have inflated lungs or detectable adrenals. Copyright © 1975. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1975 by American Society of Animal Science.