Premium
Altrenogest Treatment Associated with a Farrowing Induction Protocol to Avoid Early Parturition in Sows
Author(s) -
Gaggini TS,
Perin J,
Arend LS,
Bernardi ML,
Wentz I,
Bortolozzo FP
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.12085
Subject(s) - cloprostenol , gestation , zoology , biology , pregnancy , medicine , ovulation , genetics
Contents This study investigated the effect of altrenogest treatment on the farrowing development of sows, and birth weight ( BW ) and piglet survival until the third day of life. Three control groups were used: (i) sows that farrowed spontaneously before 114 day of gestation ( CONT <114); (ii) sows that spontaneously farrowed at ≥114 day of gestation ( CONT ≥114); (iii) sows that farrowed at ≥114 day with cloprostenol treatment ( CONTCLOPR ). Other sows were treated with altrenogest (Regumate ® ) for 3 days (days 111, 112 and 113 of gestation): one group gave birth spontaneously ( ALT ) and the other group received altrenogest until day 113 and cloprostenol on day 114 ( ALTCLOPR ). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in farrowing duration, BW , coefficient of variation ( CV ) of BW , stillborn piglets, mummified foetuses, percentage of light piglets and survival until Day 3 between sows with and without cloprostenol treatment, in both control ( CONT ≥114 vs CONTCLOPR ) and altrenogest‐treated sows ( ALT vs ALTCLOPR ). Further comparisons were performed taking into account three groups: sows with early delivery ( CONT <114 – farrowing before 114 days of gestation; n = 56), sows with longer gestation ( CONT ≥114 – with and without cloprostenol treatment sows; n = 103) and ALT sows (with and without cloprostenol treatment; n = 105). Gestation length of CONT ≥114 and ALT sows was similar (p > 0.05), but higher than in CONT <114 sows. There were no differences (p > 0.05) between groups in farrowing duration, CV of BW , and percentages of stillborn piglets and mummified foetuses. Sows of CONT <114 group had a larger litter size and a lower BW than sows of the other two groups (p < 0.05). Sows of CONT <114 group had a higher percentage of lighter piglets and a lower piglet survival rate (p < 0.05) than ALT sows. In conclusion, altrenogest treatment proved to be an efficient method to avoid early parturition in 3–5 parity sows resulting in heavier piglets at birth.