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Effect of PGF₂ on Sow and Litter Performance during and following Parturition

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 61801

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to determine the performance of the sow and litter after induction of parturition by PGF₂. Forty-eight pregnant crossbred gilts were assigned to one of three treatments: 0, 5, or 10 mg of PGF₂ during two successive farrowings. Intramuscular injections of PGF₂ (THAM salt or free acid) were given on day 111 of gestation (day 0 = first day of estrus) during two successive farrowings. Constant observation was maintained to record the interval from injection until birth of the first pig, interval between births, total farrowing time, occurrence of stillbirths and mummified fetuses.

The mean interval (hr) from injection until birth of the first pig and the total time required for farrowing (hr) for gilts receiving 0, 5, or 10 mg PGF₂ THAM salt were, respectively: 105 ± 7.5, 4.4 + 7.7, 82 ± 14, 4.1 ± .6, 90.8 ± 15.5, 3.0 ± .8. The same intervals for gilts receiving the free acid form of PGF₂ were, respectively: 75.2 ± 9.5, 4.3 ± .7, 51.9 ± 8.3, 3.4 ± .5, 65.8 ± 11.4, 3.8 ± 1 for the 0, 5, and 10 mg treatments. No significant differences between treatments were found due to either form of PGF₂.

Rectal temperatures 30 min after injection likewise were not significantly influenced by PGF₂. Temperature increase was greatest, although not significant (P>.10) in gilts receiving 10 mg PGF₂ regardless of formulation.

Difficulty during parturition was encountered across all treatments. For both acid and tham salt forms of PGF₂ the percentage of gilts experiencing problems for 0, 5, and 10 mg treatments was, respectively: 15.4, 18.8, 12.5; 18.8, 12.5, 18.8. The number of live pigs at birth, birth weight, survival, and weight at weaning was not affected by PGF₂. In addition, of the sows retained for rebreeding which returned to estrus, all but one control and two receiving 5 mg PGF₂ returned to estrus within 7 days following weaning.

In a third experiment, 24 pregnant crossbred gilts were assigned to treatments in a 2 X 2 factorial design. This study evaluated the effect of volume of diluent (1 or 3 ml) and a single dose of 10 mg PGF₂ vs two injections of 5 mg PGF₂, 12 hr apart, on the occurrence of induced parturition. No significant treatment effects were noted.

The rate of parturition induction was low. No obvious detrimental effects due to PGF₂ were observed.

¹ Present address: Tuskegee Institute, Dept. of Agricultural Sciences, Tuskegee Institute, AL 36088.

² The authors express their appreciation to Dr. J. W. Lauderdale; the Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Mr. H. Saito and Mr. R. F. Southerland, Mitsui and Company, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY, for providing the prostaglandin F₂ used in this study and to Mr. S. G. Cornelius for his assistance in statistical analysis. Part of these results were presented at the annual meeting of the 1974 Midwestern Section of the American Society of Animal Science held at Chicago.