PSVII-21 Impacts of various farrowing induction protocols on attended farrowings

Abstract

Abstract Genetic selection has resulted in increased number of piglets born accompanied by an increase in pre-weaning mortality. Attending farrowings to assist sows is effective at reducing mortality in piglets. Inducing sows to farrow may help to ensure that labor is present for the farrowing process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate farrowing induction protocols on the farrowing process. Primiparious and multiparious sows (n=58) were assigned to one of the following treatments: no induction (NO, n=24), 2cc of Lutalyse on d114 followed by 1cc Oxytocin 24 hours later (OXY24, n=13), 2cc of Lutalyse on d114 followed by 0.5cc Oxytocin 6 and 12 hours later (OXY6, n=21). Details of the farrowing process were recorded in addition to sow blood glucose and hemoglobin levels at four intervals: piglet 1, piglet 6, 2 hours after piglet 1, and end of farrowing. Seventy-seven percent (10/13) of the OXY24 sows farrowed within 36 hours of induction compared to 62% (13/21) of the OXY6 sows. The length of the farrowing process was not different among treatments (NO = 3.55 ± 0.3, OXY24 = 4.76 ± 1.13, OXY6 = 3.86 ± 0.5, P=0.22) or parity groups (P=0.58). Across all treatments, total born averaged 13.2 piglets with 5.5% stillborns and 4.5% mummies. Induction had no effect on piglets born alive (NO = 11.9, OXY24 = 12.4, OXY6 = 11.4, P=0.42), stillborns (NO = 0.71, OXY24 = 0.70, OXY6 =1.76, P=0.73) or mummies (NO = 0.54, OXY24 = 0.70, OXY6 = 0.71, P=0.84). Number of piglets that were pulled from the sow did not differ among treatments (P=0.89) or by parity (P=0.18). Blood glucose and hemoglobin at the end of the farrowing process was not different among treatments (P=0.75 and P=0.83, respectively). These current results indicate farrowing induction protocols have no negative impacts on attended farrowings.