Porcine Health Management

The number of functioning mammary glands (FMGs) is vital in highly prolific sow herds.

The induction and synchronization of parturition in sows is an habitual practice carried out in many commercial farms to improve and attend sows’ farrowing process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cloprostenol (PGF-Veyx*) and carbetocin (Hypophysin*) in order to concentrate the maximum number of births. This practice increases farrowing assistance in favour of reducing stillborn piglets, improving the colostrum intake and increasing the transference of passive immunity reducing the pre-weaning mortality.

A good target level for stillbirths per litter varies between 5-7% of total born piglets in hyperprolific sows. Large litter size, duration of farrowing, uterotonic agents and infections have been described being major risk factors for increased percentage of stillbirths.

Mycoplasma suis (Ms) is endemic in pig herds. It affects all physiological stages and causes infectious anemia. The aim of this present study was to investigate Ms infection in swine herd using quantitative PCR test.

Swine fertility and prolificacy is affected worldwide due to short lactation length, hormonal control is widely used by swine industry to reduce these reproductive problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate an altrenogest shortterm treatment (5 or 9 days) during the last days of lactation, in sows that need a pre-weaning (avoid short lactation) and combined with Fix Time insemination (FTI) to synchronize ovulation and grouping farrows to keep reproductive performance and farm organization.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a FTAI program using Buserelin 4µg/ml (Porceptal®, MSD Animal Health) and conventionally based estrous insemination on reproductive performance in commercial Iberian gilts during favorable season.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a FTAI program using Buserelin 4µg/ml (Porceptal®, MSD Animal Health) and conventional based estrous insemination on reproductive performance in commercial Iberian sows during favorable season.

After optimizing seminal doses production, the next step in reproduction is applying fixed-time insemination programs to obtain greater profitability at insemination time by reducing labour costs, number of seminal doses and increasing reproductive performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate a single fixed-time artificial insemination program (FTAI) with buselerin and measure effect on litter performance.

After more than a decade of research, Fixed-Time Insemination (FTI) in swine is now a reality via the use of GnRH analogues (Porceptal®) that induce ovulation at a precise time, to allow high fertility and prolificacy rates from a single, well-timed AI.

Data from our research centre reflect large variation in individual water intake in gestating sows (2.2 to 20 L/d, 6.6 L/d average in 364 sows), and suggest that this may affect piglet survival.

Boars fertility can be a serious problem in pig production. Numerous studies compared the effects of individual boars on a herd or between herd levels. Unsystematic effects, however, like herd, sow, season etc. impede the accuracy of the boars’ fertility estimation.

Chlamydophila Pecorum infections are sometimes causing reproductive problems in Danish sow herds. The case herd had reproductive problems and Chlamydophila pecorum was found in still born / fetuses. An alternative treatment, gamithromycin, was given to a smaller group of sows to compare a standard treatment with amoxicillin.

Benefit of using prostaglandins for farrowing induction is well know, post-partum use and its positive effect is less frequently discussed. Aim of the presented study was to evaluate an effect of dinoprost- Enzaprost® (Ceva) administration post-partum established based on clinical index score.

Synchronisation of oestrus by using altrenogest was proven to be effective tool for optimal gilt management. In the present study, the effect of altrenogest (Altresyn®), alone or with gonadotropins, on gilts’ reproductive parameters was investigated, in a Russian farm.

Optimal gilt management decreases variation within weekly service numbers and synchronisation of gilts by altrenogest (Altresyn®) was proven effective tool. Aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of synchronisation by altrenogest on reproductive parameters and total number of piglets born per group.