THE EFFECT OF PROLONGED GESTATION LENGTH ON PIGLETS BIRTH WEIGHT
M. Burghelea
Abstract
This research, based on PIC sows at the third-parity and on 396 farrowing records, was performed to investigate the relationship between effect of prolonged gestation length on piglets performances. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of prolonged gestation length on litter size, piglets weight, piglets uniformity, mortality and propose some new practical solution which can improve the farm management. The gestation length was prolonged by using the Altrenogest in the late gestation for a period of 7 days, starting from the 112 day of gestation (112-118 days gestation). Obtained results shows that extending the gestation length has beneficial effects on the average birth weight from an average 1.13 kg/piglet in the control group up to 1.58 kg/piglet in the experimental group and the neonatal mortality shows an important decrease from 12% in the control group to 4 % in the experimental. In conclusion, the administration of Altrenogest in late gestation can lead to the following effects: grouping the farrowing events and create the routine in the maternity with a high efficiency of working personal, getting the heaviest piglets at farrowing, each extra day of gestation add a intrauterine gaine of 112g/piglet, decreasing de % of small piglets, the % of piglets with a birth weight over 1.5kg/piglet was 58.09% in experimental group compared with 13.99% in control group.
