Effect of Prostaglandins for Inducing Birth on Weight, Vitality and Physiological Response in Newborn Pigs

To evaluate the effect of prostaglandin administration to induce farrowing on incidence of stillbirth (SBP), evidence of intra-partum hypoxia (HBP) and weight, viability and acid-base equilibrium in piglets at birth, 395 newborns product of 40 Yorkshire × Landrace hybrid were studied upon. Sows were randomly divided equally into two treatments. Treatment 1 (T1) received 2 ml of an intramuscular (I M) normal saline solution and Treatment 2 (T2) was treated with a single dose of 10 mg I M of prostaglandin analogue, to induce a synchronized parturition 48 h before the estimated time of parturition. The weight of the SBP was approximately 142 g less (P<0.0376) in T2 (PGF2α), compared with the T1. The weight of the HBP was approximately 247 g less (P<0.0001) in T2 compared to T1. The vitality score of ABP was good in both treatments. Two response variables (glucose, Ca⁺⁺) in ABP were significantly greater in T2 compared to T1. When PGF2α was injected in the sow 48 h before giving birth, it has negative effects causing hyperglycemia and low weight at birth and diminished vigor in the newborn piglets. However, further studies with variable time interval are recommended.