Literature review covers supplementation of progestogens in pigs gestation

By Bernardo Garziera Gasperin, Adjunct Professor, Department of Animal Pathology, veterinary faculty, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil

The article “Prepartum progestagen supplementation in swine: a strategy to facilitate piglet care and prevent early parturition”, was published in Ciência Rural Journal (Vol. 47, No. 11), presents the literature review that dealt with studies investigating the possibility of manipulating the time of childbirth of the female swine through the supplementation of progestogens. The practice of childbirth induction is widely used by the swine production as a strategy to anticipate childbirth to make the piglets receive adequate neonatal care, avoiding deaths. On the other hand, in some situations, the supplementation of progestogens at the end of gestation, to postpone childbirth for a short period, may be indicated. The literature review focused on the possibility of avoiding premature childbirth and the loss of piglets due to low viability, as demonstrated in the studies of Vanderhaeghe, et al. (2011) and Gaggini, et al. (2013). The researchers have still reported their experience in validating an alternate method for the delivery of pigs, described in Gasperin, et al. (2011).

According to the collected data, studies describe and indicate efficient methods of maintaining gestation through progestogens supplementation. However, when comparing pioneer studies, made with smaller prolificacy females, with the most recent, researchers noted that the feasibility of using the technique under current conditions needs to be better evaluated. The researcher Bernardo Gasperin cites, for example, the need to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of progestogen and/or the childbirth on the parameters of viability of piglets, animal welfare, as well as potential effects on the subsequent reproductive parameters of the females subjected to treatment.

The research innovates in proposing a revision of literature on the supplementation of progestogen at the end of gestation and strategies to postpone childbirth. This theme is of interest to producers, technicians and other research groups, which conduct studies to improve the technique. Furthermore, the use of the progestogens supplementation strategy by via intravaginal in pigs, currently investigated by the research groups involved, emerges as a potential alternative to the daily oral supplementation of progestogen.

References

GINI, T. S., et al. Altrenogest treatment associated with a farrowing induction protocol to avoid early parturition in sows. Reprod Domest Anim. [online]. 2013, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 390-395, ISSN: 1439-0531 [viewed 17 November 2017]. DOI: 10.1111/rda.12085. Avaliable from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22994857

GASPERIN, B. G., et al. Intravaginal progestagen for estrus and parturition control in sows. Pesq. agropec. bras. [online]. 2011, vol. 46, no.8, pp. 961-964, ISSN: 0100-204X [viewed 17 November 2017]. DOI: 10.1590/S0100-204X2011000800024. Avaliable from: http://ref.scielo.org/yvkk9g

VANDERHAEGHE, C., et al. Incidence and prevention of early parturition in sows. Reprod Domest Anim. [online]. 2011, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 428-433, ISSN: 1439-0531 [viewed 17 November 2017]. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01685.x. Avaliable from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01685.x/abstract

To read the article, access it:

HAAS, C. S., et al. Prepartum progestagen supplementation in swine: a strategy to facilitate piglet care and prevent early parturition. Cienc. Rural [online]. 2017, vol. 47, no. 11, e20170380, ISSN: 1678-4596 [viewed 17 November 2017]. DOI: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20170380. Available from: http://ref.scielo.org/v9bdv2