A tool for an optimized parturition management

International audience

English. Induction of farrowing creates an opportunity for producers to supervise parturition, reduce farrowing duration and stillbirth rates, decrease variability of piglet weaning ages and lactation lengths. Nevertheless, few questions remind concerning the possible side effects of farrowing induction or oxytocin overuse on sows (colostrum production, lactation efficiency, reproductive carrier) and piglets (increasing number of immature and stillborn piglets, decreasing vitality and growth). On the other side, recent studies underlined the positive impact of carbetocine (oxytocin analog with a progressive release and a longer action) on parturition’s length and piglets’ vitality and the absence of detrimental effect on colostrum production and immunoglobulin G content. In this trial, we propose to test an herd-specific induction protocol combining cloprostenol (Prostaglandine F2α analog) and carbetocine in order to optimize parturition management. The study was conducted in three farrow-to-finish farms (weaning at 21 days) located in West of France. In each farm, the sows from two consecutive batches have been followed for two farrowing periods. Before farrowing, the average gestation length of the farm was calculated and two groups of sows of the same batch were randomly selected to constitute a control group and an induced group. For the control group, the sows received prostaglandins and/or sergotonine as a post-partum treatment. The induced group was injected with 1mL of cloprostenol one day before the scheduled date for birth and 0.5mL of carbetocine 24 hours later. We observed for the induced group a lower number of stillborn piglets (0.98 vs 1.17) and immatures (0.11 vs 0.30), a slightly higher rate of liveborn piglets (89.85% vs 89.31%) and an increase of 0.6 piglet reared per sow. Moreover there was no negative impact on the following farrowing with no decrease of fertility or litter size. The originalty of this study is to evaluate the effect of this protocol on the sows, on their productivity and on their next farrowing without any post-partum treatment. No decrease of the performances have been observed and we noticed a good vitality of the piglets. Interestingly, the rate of cross-fostering toward induced sows was higher which is against the hypothesis that these sows would be less productive or more stressed. These results underline the importance of a well-reasoned herd-specific protocol by taking into account the average gestation for each herd. The use of cloprostenol combined with carbetocine might imply less intervention by the farmer leading to a better management of this work period through a closer surpervision of the parturition