Farrowing Induction in Swine with Prostaglandin: Effect on Farrowing Traits and Piglet Performance.

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]