Abstract No: P.

34-18

IMPACT OF INJECTING A SYNTHETIC ANALOGUE OF PROSTAGLANDIN AT WEANING

ON THE WEANING-TO-OESTRUS INTERVAL AND THE FERTILITY OF SOWS

P Gambade1, V Auvigne2, E Sallé3

1
Sanders Bretagne, PONTIVY, France
2
Ekipaj, ST GREGOIRE, France
3
Ceva santé Animale, LIBOURNE, France

Introduction increased (p=0.01, Table 1).

The administration of prostaglandins in sows at weaning
may help to obtain a better synchronisation of oestrus
and/or to resolve problems of silent oestrus. Two action
mechanisms are assumed: (a) an intrafollicular stimulation
by PGF2α of enzymes such as collagenase and elastase,
leading to a follicular rupture (1), and (b) lysis of the luteal
bodies present at weaning.
Materials and Methods
The study was carried out in a breeding farm (590 sows,
14.4 total born piglets, 11.1 weaned in 2003). Farrowing
was induced with a synthetic prostaglandin. Dinoprost
(Enzaprost®, CEVA) was injected IM 24 to 48 hours after
farrowing. Piglets were weaned at 27 days. The farmer’s
objective was to inseminate a maximum number of sows
between day 4 and day 6 post-weaning (PW). From the day
of weaning to day 3 PW, the sows were stimulated by the
brief visit of a boar. From day 3 PW, oestrus was
determined by leading the sow past a boar and testing for
immobility (standing heat). Semen was collected at the
farm. Two to three inseminations were carried out in each
sow: the first 24h after the first signs of oestrus, the second
24h later and a third depending on the duration of oestrus.
Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out using ultrasonography
on days 21 and 28 after the first insemination.
The study was carried out in 11 batches weaned between
March and June 2003. The sows, weaned and inseminated,
were divided into two groups: a treatment group and a
control group. The treatment group received an IM
injection of 2 mg Alfaprostol (1 ml Alfabedyl®, CEVA) at
weaning. The control group received no hormonal
treatment. Statistical analysis was carried out using the
nonparametric rank sum test (Mann&Whitney) in order to
compare the quantitative variables and Fischer’s exact test
for the two-class qualitative variables.
Results
Selection of sows: 247 sows were selected (121 treatment,
126 controls). There was no significant difference between
treatment and control groups regarding parity (average
=4.8), the number of piglets born and weaned (14.8 and
10.0) or the average period of lactation (26.6 days). The
two groups were therefore comparable.
Coming into oestrus: Four sows were not seen to come
into oestrus: three in the control group and one in the
treatment group (NS). The average interval between
weaning and insemination was significantly reduced
(p=0.02) in the treatment group (5.5 days) compared to the
control group (6.3 days). This improvement in the coming
into oestrus was due to a major reduction in the number of
late oestrus and not to the increase of early inseminations
(before day 3). Finally, the percentage of sows inseminated
in the target period (days 4 to 6 post-weaning) was
Table 1 Weaning to oestrus intervals
Weaning to first AI Treatment group Control Group
0 to 3 days 1 (0.8%) 2 (1.6%)
4 to 6 days 109 (90.8%) 96 (78.0%)
7 days and more 10 (8.3%) 25 (20.3%)
120 (100%) 123 (100%)
Fertility and prolificity: Gestation (as confirmed by
ultrasonography) following the first service was defined as
indicator of fertility. The average fertility rate was 86%
(Table 2) and the difference between treatment and control
groups was not significant (p=0.26). With an improved
coming into oestrus interval in the treatment group and
identical fertility, this means that the WCI (weaning-to-
conception interval), as confirmed by ultrasonography, and
the farrowing interval were shorter in the treatment group
(9.0 vs 9.5 days, p = 0.08 and 149.3 vs 151.3 days, p =
0.02, respectively). The total number of piglets and of dead
piglets born at the subsequent farrowing were not
significantly different (14.2 vs 14.4, p = 0.56 and 1.3 vs
1.6, p = 0.98).
Table 2 Gestation rate after first service
Success at first Treatment group Control Group
AI
NO 19 (15.8%) 15(12.2%)
YES 101 (84.2%) 108 (87.8%)
120 (100%) 123 (100%)
Discussion
In this study, the administration of Alfaprostol at weaning
led to a significant improvement of the interval between
weaning and first insemination and of the synchronisation
of inseminations. Fertility and prolificity rates remained
unchanged. These results are similar to those obtained in
Spain by Peña (1). The studied protocol increased the
frequency of inseminations on day 5. This corresponds to
the average time of maturation of a follicle starting at
weaning, and is therefore compatible with the hypothesis
of a luteolytic action mechanism. It seems unlikely that
this concerns luteal bodies that persisted since pregnancy,
as all sows already received two prostaglandin injections
before weaning. The luteal bodies were probably formed
subsequent to the lactational oestrus. This action
mechanism is different from that of gonadotropins. It may
therefore be presumed that these treatments are
complementary.
References
1. PEÑA et al. E., An. Reprod. Sc. 68 (2001) 77-83

516 Proceedings of the 19th IPVS Congress, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2006 · Volume 2