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This study aimed to determine the effect of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) analog (Dcloprostenol sodium and DL-cloprostenol sodium) administration on the milk yield of multiparous sows (MS) and piglet growth performance. In total, 320 Landrace x Yorkshire parturient MS were randomly divided into three groups on day 115 of pregnancy: without treatment (N = 50), with 75 µg D-cloprostenol sodium (N = 137), and with 200 µg DL-cloprostenol sodium (N = 133). After delivery, the sows treated with D-cloprostenol sodium and DL-cloprostenol sodium were randomly allocated into three subgroups, respectively: (i) no additional treatment after farrowing; (ii) administration of cloprostenol sodium at 3 h and 5 days after farrowing; and (iii) administration of cloprostenol sodium at 3 h, 5 days, and 10 days after farrowing. Cloprostenol sodium effectively induced sows to synchronize parturition approximately 23 h after administration and increased the daytime delivery rates (p < 0.05). Compared with DL-cloprostenol sodium, D-cloprostenol sodium shortened the farrowing duration and birth interval of sows for inducing farrowing (p < 0.05). Moreover, we observed that a single administration of both D-cloprostenol sodium and DL-cloprostenol sodium a day before delivery significantly reduced the rates of stillborn piglets type II in MS (p < 0.05). Compared to no treatment and single treatment with cloprostenol sodium, quartic treatments with cloprostenol sodium significantly increased the daily feed intake of MS, litter weight after weaning, and average daily gain of piglets (p < 0.05). Cloprostenol sodium improved the 21-day milk yield, with D-cloprostenol sodium showing the best effect, which increased lactation ability by 30.30% (176.72 kg vs. 135.63 kg) (p < 0.05). DL-cloprostenol sodium followed closely, increasing lactation ability by approximately 25.00% (169.71 kg vs. 135.63 kg) (p < 0.05). During lactation, sows administered with Dcloprostenol sodium observed increased serum prolactin levels. Compared to untreated sows, the sows administered with D-cloprostenol sodium and multiple DL-cloprostenol sodium visibly shortened the weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI) and weaning-to-service interval (WSI) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, quartic injections of D-cloprostenol sodium resulted in an 18 percentage point increase in the pregnancy rate of breeding sows compared to controls (82.61% vs. 64.58%) (p > 0.05). In summary, cloprostenol sodium could enhance the reproductive performance of MS, particularly in terms of lactation performance. Additionally, the effect of quartic injections of D-cloprostenol sodium was the most pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several farrowing induction programs have been used to increase the proportion of sow farrowing during the work period and the rate of farrowing supervision, as well as to promote the success of cross-fostering and the practice of all-in all-out in swine production. The present overview aimed to evaluate the effects of farrowing induction on farrowing duration, birth interval, birth weight, dystocia/birth assistance, and stillbirth in pigs. The results showed that via different routes of administration, either natural or synthetic prostaglandins alone or in combination mostly with uterotonic drugs, including oxytocin and carbetocin, have been used for the induction of farrowing. Sometimes other drugs, such as dexamethasone, estradiol, xylazine, ergometrine, and AGN190851, were added. Vulvar and perinatal routes reduced the intramuscular dose of prostaglandins by 50% to 75%, while equal effects remained. A split dose of prostaglandin 6 h apart should be used because it may enhance complete luteolysis. Additionally, if uterotonic drugs are used following prostaglandin injection, they should be injected after the birth of the first piglets at the earliest timepoint to ensure full opening of the cervix. These two practices decrease the farrowing duration, the birth interval, and dystocia. Induction should not be conducted more than 2 days earlier than the expected farrowing date in order to keep the stillbirth rate and birth weight unaltered. This review also revealed that certain factors, such as the rate of farrowing supervision, natural differences in piglets' birth weights, litter size, gestation length, and treatment with altrenogest before induction, may be confounding factors that possibly alter the effect of induction programs on certain farrowing characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variation of gestation length in sows leads to difficulties performing farrowing supervision in commercial farms. The present experiment was done to evaluate the effectivness of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2a) administration on farrowing induction in swine. The sows (n=50) were randomly divided into two groups. In group-1, sows (n=25) were injected with placebo intramuscularly (one mL sterile water) on 113th day of gestation at 8.00 am in the morning. In group-2 (n=25), cloprostenol sodium (250 mcg) was injected intramuscularly on 113th day of gestation at 8.00 am in the morning. The traits recorded in the study were pregnancy duration, farrowing duration, total number of piglets born per litter (NTB), number of piglets born alive per litter (NBA), number of stillborn piglets per litter, mummified foetuses per litter, birth interval (min), number of piglets alive at day 3 of lactation and piglet mortality (%) till day 3 of lactation. Gestation length was significantly (p<0.05) shorter in Group-2 compared to Group-1. Similarly, the interval from PGF2a administration to onset of farrowing was significantly (p<0.05) shorter as compared to natural farrowed sows. Farrowing duration was not differ significantly (p>0.05) between two groups. There was no effect of PGF2a administration on NTB, NBA, stillbirths, mummified fetuses. The numbers of alive piglets at day 3 of lactation were also similar between two groups (p>0.05). The PGF2a administration also resulted in increased in farrowing on 114th day of pregnancy. In conclusion, PGF2a administration on 113th day of pregnancy could be an option for controlled farrowing in swine without any adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researches were made to induce and synchronize the farrowing during the working schedule. In the trial we have been testing two hormonal products Estrumate and Prosolvin to two groups of gilts, in the 113th day of gestation. After the administration of the prostaglandin synthetic analogs we follow up the time when the gilts were farrowing, the prolificacy and the parturition loss. The percent of gilts that were farrowing during the working schedule was 48.84 at the group with Estrumate and 50.00 at the group with Prosolvin (difference non significant, χ 2 test, p>0.05). The percent of gilts that were farrowing after the working schedule 32.56 at the group with Estrumate and 16.67 at the group with Prosolvin (difference non significant, χ 2 test, p>0.05). The prolificacy was bigger for the group that were farrowing during the working schedule (10.57±0.60 pigs/gilt for the group with Estrumate and 11.43±0.12 pigs/gilt for the group with Prosolvin) comparing with the gilts that were not farrowing during the working schedule (10.21±0.79 for the group with Estrumate and 10.75±0.24 pigs/gilt for the group with Prosolvin) and significant (t test p0.05)

ABSTRACT: Gestation length in swine has a considerable amplitude and both early and delayed parturition are common. This variation increases the occurrence of unassisted farrowing and could lead to a wide-ranging age at weaning for piglets born from one batch. Supervision of sow parturition is crucial to reduce mortality of neonate piglets. To facilitate assistance, induction of farrowing using prostaglandin F2α (PGF) has been widely used in batch farrowing systems, whereby synchronization would concentrate the time of farrowing, allowing for better organization of employees. However, a viable alternative method that can be implemented to manage farrowing is to sustain high progestagen levels in the final days of gestation and, consequently, prevent early parturition. Efficient techniques to delay farrowing such as using oral progestagen supplementation have been previously described, but are only recently being considered for commercial use. The present manuscript reviews publications regarding delaying parturition and discusses the use of intravaginal devices (IVDs) containing progestagen. There is limited data addressing the effect of progestagen treatment during gestation on productive and reproductive performance. Therefore, future studies should focus on improving synchronization protocols following progestagen supplementation and evaluating piglet viability and sow fertility, before widely using progestagen supplementation to manipulate parturition.

A trial was carried out to assess the effect of controlled induction of farrowing on sow performance and piglet viability in sows with prolonged gestation. Thirty healthy pregnant Duroc sows were randomly assigned into two groups balanced across the treatment for parity and day of gestation. Group I (n= 13) received a single intramuscular dose of prostaglandin analogue (2 ml Cyclix®containing 263 µg/ml Cloprostenol) on day 114 of gestation. Sows in the Group II (n= 17) were allowed to farrow naturally and kept as control group. Treatment effects were significant (P< 0.01) on litter size and weight at weaning. Significantly higher litter weight at birth was also observed in Group I (9.8 vs 5.04 kg;P< 0.01). Parturition loss was comparatively lesser in induced farrowing and a relatively higher percentage of piglet survivability was observed in Group I (90.2% vs 80.0%). Treatment effects were significant (P< 0.05) on incidence of stillbirth (8.0% vs 24.4% in Group I and II, respectively). Relatively higher number of animals farrowed during daytime (53.85%) in Group I as compared to Group II (29.41%). In prolonged gestational cases, induction of farrowing can be a useful managerial tool for improving the piglet survival and facilitating greater supervision of farrowing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Hormonal changes involved in the farrowing process partly control the initiation of lactation. Inducing farrowing by injection of PG may alter the normal prepartum hormonal cascade. The aim of the study was to investigate the consequences of farrowing induction on colostrum yield and composition, as well as newborn piglet growth. Gilts were treated with 2 mg of alfaprostol on d 113 of gestation (induced farrowing, IF, n = 9) or were injected with 1 mL of a saline solution (natural farrowing, NF, n = 11). Colostrum production was estimated during 24 h, starting at the onset of parturition, based on piglet BW gains. Colostrum samples were collected during the 36 h after the onset of parturition. Blood samples were collected from sows as of d 112 of pregnancy until d 2 postpartum (d 0 being the day of parturition). Piglet blood samples were obtained at birth, on d 1, and on d 21. Litter size and litter weight at birth did not differ between groups (P > 0.10). Farrowing induction did not influence (P > 0.10) colostrum yield (3.96 ± 0.20 kg) or piglet BW gain during d 1 postpartum (116 ± 8 g). At the onset of farrowing (T0), lactose content in colostrum was greater in IF sows than in NF sows (P < 0.05), whereas colostrum ash and protein contents were less (P < 0.05) in IF sows. Concentrations of IgG in colostrum were similar in both groups of sows, whereas concentrations of IgA at T0 were less in IF than in NF sows (P < 0.01). Overall, endocrine changes in blood from d -2 until d 2 (cortisol, prolactin, progesterone, and estradiol-17β) were not altered by farrowing induction (P > 0.10), but 1 h after the injection of alfaprostol, IF sows had greater circulating concentrations of prolactin (P < 0.01) and cortisol (P < 0.10) than NF sows. The greater concentration of lactose in colostrum from IF sows could be attributed to this transient increase in prolactin and cortisol. At birth, concentrations of white blood cells were less in piglets born from IF sows (P < 0.01). On d 1 and 21, piglets from IF sows had similar IgG concentrations in plasma to piglets from NF sows (P > 0.1). In conclusion, farrowing induction at 113 d of pregnancy induced transient hormonal changes in sows and alterations in colostrum composition, without significantly affecting colostrum yield. It also modified some hematological variables of piglets at birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]