EFFECT OF A COMBINATION OF VETRABUTINE AND OXYTOCIN ON STILLBIRTH RATE IN SOWS
A Lebret1, V Auvigne2
1
Synthèse Elevage, Pleumeleuc, France, 2Ekipaj, St Gregoire, France
Introduction and Objectives
Incidence of stillbirths is a major cause of piglet loss
before weaning. Latest technico-economical french data
indicate a mean rate of stillborn piglet of about 8%, which
represents half the total losses between birth and weaning.
At a national level, the loss of profit reaches hundreds of
millions euros.
Stillbirth is a multifactorial pathology ; in many cases,
neither a nutritional nor an infectious etiology can explain
the outbreak of stillborn piglets. In such cases, farrowing
management must be analysed ; identification of high-risk
sows should especially be required, in order to apply to
them an individual and sustained follow-up. Thus, the
combination of vetrabutine with oxytocin seems
pharmacologically interesting : by regulating and
enhancing uterine contractions, one may expect to reduce
the farrowing time, hence increasing the number of viable
piglets while limiting human interventions.
This study aimed at investigating the effects on sows of a
systematic injection of vetrabutine hydrochloride
associated to oxytocin in the beginning of farrowing.
Materials and Methods
The study was carried out as a prospective open field
study. It was conducted in two farms of the center of
France. An overall 152 sows from 14 different batches
were enrolled into the study. The animals were divided
into two groups. Primipara were equally distributed
among the two groups. In the treatment group, each
animal systematically received a single intramuscular
injection of 4 ml of vetrabutine hydrochloride (MONZAL
ND) and one intramuscular injection of 10 IU of oxytocin,
since the beginning of farrowing (more often between
expulsion of first and second piglet). The control group
did not receive any systematic injection. According to the
usual protocol of the farmer, in both groups, any sow
might be given an oxytocin injection if the time between
two consecutive piglet expulsion exceeded 30 minutes.
In both groups, the following data were recorded:
- data relating to breeding performances (total born piglets
(excepted mummified), born alive and stillborn) ;
- data relating to farrowing conditions (number of
palpations, number of supplementary oxytocin injections,
calcium injections, NSAID injections, antibiotic
injections) ;
- data relating to post-partum pathological events (vaginal
discharges, mammary congestion, fever).
Results and Discussion
The treatment group included 53 sows and 22 gilts and
the control group 61 sows and 16 gilts. Farrowing was
induced in 86% of the cases. Both groups were
comparable with regard to litter rank and parturition
induction (Mann-Whitney test, p>0,05).
No significant difference was noted between groups
regarding the total number of born piglets and the number
of born alive piglets (Tab.1). On the other hand, the mean
number of stillborn piglets per litter was significantly
reduced in the treatment group (Mann-Whitney test,
p<0,05).
Table 1. Breeding performances
Treatment group Control group p
Total born 12,8 13,2 n.s.
Born alive 12,0 11,5 n.s.
Stillborn 0,8 1,7 0,0005
The total number of oxytocin injections performed
(excepted systematical injections in the treatment group)
was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to
the control group (Chi2 test, p<0,01)(Tab.2).
Table 2. Additional oxytocin injections*
Number of injections 0 1 2 Total
Treatment group 65 10 0 75
Control group 45 26 6 77
*p<0,01
No significant diference was found between groups for the
other parameters investigated (number of palpations, other
injections performed (antibiotic, NSAID, calcium). Fewer
post-partum pathological events were observed in the
treatment group than in the control group ; however, the
difference was not significant given that the size of the
sample was not large enough to achieve a sufficient
statistical power.
Weaning figures would have been interesting ; it can
indeed be assumed that loss rate at weaning should be lower
if piglets less suffered during farrowing.
Vetrabutine regulates uterine contractions and enhances
their magnitude (hence the tensing effects of oxytocin are
balanced)(1). It was observed in gilts that, in combination
with oxytocin, vetrabutine could reduce the meantime
between two consecutive piglet expulsion at farrowing (2).
This combination seems to improve uterine contractions,
making them more efficient ; by reducing the expulsion
time, it decreases the foetal suffering and eases the
farrowing follow-up.
In this study, a systematic administration of a combination
of vetrabutine and oxytocin at the beginning of farrowing
significantly reduced stillbirth rate. However, the decrease
in post-parturm pathological events should be confirmed
and the weaning figures be looked at.
Références
1. Engelhorn R., Schmidt I. (1956). Arzneim-Forsch. 6 :
454-457.
2. Busch W., Phillip H. and Limper J. (1991).
Unpublished report 6821 MON 90-02.