TY - JOUR AU - Nguyen, K AU - Cassar, G AU - Friendship, RM TI - Stillbirth and preweaning mortality in litters of sows induced to farrow with supervision compared to litters of naturally farrowing sows with minimal supervision T2 - Journal of Swine Health and Production JF - Journal of Swine Health and Production J2 - JSHAP SN - 1537-209X DP - American Association of Swine Veterinarians PB - American Association of Swine Veterinarians DA - 2011/Jul// PY - 2011 VL - 19 M1 - 4 IS - 4 M2 - 214 SP - 214-217 L2 - https://www.aasv.org/shap/issues/v19n4/v19n4p214.html UR - https://www.aasv.org/shap/abstracts/abstract.php?v19n4p214 L1 - https://www.aasv.org/shap/issues/v19n4/v19n4p214.pdf KW - swine KW - farrowing supervision KW - piglets KW - stillbirths KW - preweaning mortality N2 - Objective: To evaluate the benefits of induced farrowing with supervision on rates of stillbirths and preweaning mortality.Materials and methods: A total of 159 multiparous sows were assigned in approximately equal numbers to two groups. Group One sows (n = 75) were induced to farrow using two intravulvar injections of 5 mg prostaglandin F2α administered 6 hours apart on day 114 of gestation (Day 0). Farrowing was supervised, with assistance given as required. Group Two sows (n = 84) were allowed to farrow naturally, with supervision and neonatal care standard for the production facility. All live piglets were weighed at 3 days and 21 days of lactation.Results: Of the Group One sows, 56 farrowed during working hours on Day 1. There were fewer stillbirths per litter in Group One than in Group Two sows (0.4 ± 0.09 versus 1.0 ± 0.17, respectively). There was no effect of treatment on overall preweaning mortality. Weights were greater for Group One than for Group Two piglets at both 3 days of age (1.9 ± 0.04 kg versus 1.7 ± 0.02 kg, respectively; P < .01) and 21 days of age (5.7 ± 0.06 kg versus 5.5 ± 0.05 kg, respectively; P < .01).Implications: Inducing farrowing and providing supervision on the day of farrowing can reduce stillbirths. However, reducing overall preweaning mortality requires more than 1 day of supervision. ER -