Administration of cloprostenol to sows 24 hours after farrowing improves the subsequent weaning to service interval and farrowing rate

Abstract

In this study, a total of 448 productive sows of different parity (ranging from 1 to 7), including 215 sows of the Control group and 233 sows of the PGF2 alpha group were used. An intramuscular injection of 2 ml of sodium cloprostenol (87 mu g) was given 24 h postpartum to the sows of the Cloprostenol group. The individualized productive data of the sows of each group were recorded. Blood progesterone levels decreased from 0 to 72 h post-partum in the Cloprostenol group (P < 0.05), but not in the Control group. Weaning to service interval was reduced in the Cloprostenol group (5.72 +/- 0.23 days vs. 6.20 +/- 0.22 days; P < 0.01). The percentage of sows inseminated before 6 days after farrowing was higher (73.39 % vs. 62.33 %; P = 0.01) in the Cloprostenol group, and there was a tendency for an increase in pregnancy rate (ultrasonography evaluation at 28-30 days port insemination) in the same group (95.28 % vs. 90.70 %; P = 0.06). The farrowing rate was significantly increased in the PGF2 alpha group (93.99 % vs. 86.51 %; P < 0.01), although no differences were found for litter size. The application of cloprostenol after farrowing improved fertility rates and reduced non-productive days.