Colostrum yield in sows after induced parturition by using PGF2alpha

Colostrum is the first milk secreted by the mammary gland of the sow from 0 up to 12–24 h postpartum. Colostrum is a source of digestible nutrients and various compounds, e.g., immunoglobulins, hormones and growth factors. Thus, it plays a key role in piglet thermoregulation, the acquisition of passive immunity and intestinal development. Induction of parturition by using prostaglandin F_2a (PGF_2a) is frequently used in swine commercial herds worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of induce parturition on the colostrum yield in sows.

The experiment was performed in a 1500-sows commercial swine herds in Thailand. In total, 91 Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred sows and 974 newborn piglets were included in the experiment. The animals were randomly assigned into one of three groups: control (natural farrowing), and treatment with a single- and split-dose of PGF_2a. The hormone was administrated in the intra-vulvo-submucosa route by using a synthetic analog of PGF_2a (0.087 mg Cloprostenol Sodium, 1 mL, MSD, USA). In the treatment groups, PGF_2a was administered at 8:00 AM on day 114 of gestation (singledose) or at 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM on day 114 of gestation (split-dose). Farrowing process was monitored 24 h. The newborn piglets were weighed with a digital balance immediately after birth and again at 24 h after birth. Colostrum intake (gram) of the piglets = [- 217.4+(0.217*t)+(1,861,019*BW24h/t)+BW*(54.8-1,861,019/t)*((0.99853.7 *10^-4*tFS)+(6.1*10^-7*tFS²)]; where BW=birth weight (kg), BW24h=body weight at 24 h after birth (kg), t= time elapsed between the first and the second weighting (min), and tFS = the interval between birth and first sucking (min). Colostrum yield in sows was defined as the sum of individual piglet’s colostrum intake.

The percentage of piglets with umbilical rupture in the sows induced parturition by using split-dose of PGF_2a (29.0%) was higher than single-dose (15.0%) and control groups (20.1%) (P< 0.05). Colostrum yield of sows induced parturition by using a single dose and split-dose of PGF2a did not differ significantly compared to the control groups in both primiparous (2716, 2853 and 2747 grams, respectively) and multiparous sows (4036, 3612 and 3354 grams, respectively). However, colostrum yield in multiparous sows was higher than primiparous sows (P< 0.05).

Farrowing induction at 114 days gestation by using PGF_2a did not influence the colostrum yield of the sows. Colostrum yield in multiparous sows was higher than primiparous sows.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.