Effect of a combination of altrenogest and double PGF2alpha administrations on farrowing variation, piglet’s performances and colostrum igG

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to investigate the effect of altrenogest treatment from 109 to 112 days of gestation in combination with double intramuscularly of PGF2alpha administrations at 113 days of gestation on the variation of farrowing in sows and its side effects on the sow colostrum yield, colostrum IgG, newborn piglet characteristics and piglet survival rate until seven days of postnatal life. In total, 193 sows were randomly allocated according to parity number into two groups, i.e. control (n = 95) and treatment (n = 98). The control sows were allowed to farrow naturally. The treatment sows were orally administered 20 mg per day of altrenogest for 4 days from 109 to 112 days of gestation and were administered PGF2alpha twice on day 113 of gestation. Individual body weight at birth and at 24 h after birth of piglets in all the litters were determined in both control (n = 1,609) and treatment (n = 1,707) groups. Colostrum consumption of all the piglets and colostrum yield of sows were estimated. Colostrum IgG at 0, 6 and 24 h postpartum and serum progesterone before and after farrowing were determined. Piglet survival rate until 3 days and 7 days of postnatal life were evaluated. On average, total number of piglets born and number of piglets born alive per litter were 17.0 ± 3.1 and 15.4 ± 3.0, respectively. The proportion of sows farrowed before 114 days of gestation in control was higher than treatment groups (8.4% and 2.0%, respectively, P = 0.05) and 92.8% of sows in the treatment group farrow on day 114 of gestation. The proportion of sows farrowed during working hours in control was lower than treatment groups (50.5% and 65.3%, respectively, P = 0.038). The percentage of stillborn piglets per litter did not differ significantly between in control and treatment groups (4.5% and 4.6%, respectively). Colostrum yield of sows did not differ between treatment and control group (5.28 ± 0.12 kg and 5.52 ± 0.13 kg, respectively, P = 0.174). However, colostrum intake of piglets in the treatment was lower than control groups (357.0 ± 6.6 g and 381.2 ± 7.0 g, respectively, P = 0.012). Colostrum IgG in the control was higher than treatment groups (41.2 ± 1.1 and 37.3 ± 1.0 mg per ml, respectively, P = 0.013). In conclusion, altrenogest treatment from 109 to 112 days and double PGF2alpha administrations on day 113 of gestation can reduce early parturition and can control gestation length in sows. No deleterious effect of this protocol on either the incidence of stillbirths or sow colostrum yield were detected. However, the piglet colostrum intake and colostrum IgG in the treatment groups were lower than control. Thus, intensive care of newborn piglets in the treatment group should be considered.