Sow hematological parameters in late pregnancy and an investigation as to whether these parameters are predictors of stillbirths in a Canadian sow herd.

Animal and objective: The objectives of this study were to produce hematological reference intervals for late-pregnancy sows and to assess whether there were associations between sow hematological end points and the number of stillborn pigs. Procedure: Whole blood was collected from 272 healthy pregnant sows ~1 wk before farrowing, and complete blood (cell) counts and hemoglobin determinations were obtained. Sows were monitored during farrowing, and litter characteristics, including number of stillborn piglets, were recorded. Results and conclusion: Values for red blood cells, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular concentration, platelets, and white blood cells were significantly higher in Parity 1 sows compared to older sows. The mean (± SD) litter size was 14.5 ± 3.4 pigs, with 1.5 ± 2.0 stillborn pigs per litter. There was no significant association between any hematological end point (except white blood cell counts) and the likelihood of a stillborn piglet in a litter. There was a relationship between parity and stillbirth (P < 0.05), with higher-parity sows being more likely than younger sows to produce a stillborn piglet. Although it had been reported that anemic sows were more likely to have stillbirths, perhaps the relatively high mean hemoglobin concentration of sows in this study resulted in the lack of a relationship.

Paramètres hématologiques des truies en fin de gestation et enquête visant à déterminer si ces paramètres sont des prédicteurs de mortinatalités dans un troupeau de truies canadien. Animal et objectif: Les objectifs de cette étude étaient de produire des intervalles de référence hématologiques pour les truies en fin de gestation et d'évaluer s'il existait des associations entre les paramètres hématologiques des truies et le nombre de porcelets mort-nés. Procédure: Du sang total a été collecté auprès de 272 truies gravides en bonne santé environ 1 semaine avant la mise bas, et une numération cellulaire complète et des déterminations d'hémoglobine ont été obtenues. Les truies ont été surveillées pendant la mise bas et les caractéristiques de la portée, y compris le nombre de porcelets mort-nés, ont été enregistrées. Résultats et conclusion: Les valeurs des globules rouges, de l'hémoglobine, du volume corpusculaire moyen, de l'hémoglobine corpusculaire moyenne, de la concentration corpusculaire moyenne, des plaquettes et des globules blancs étaient significativement plus élevées chez les truies de parité 1 que chez les truies plus âgées. La taille moyenne (± ET) des portées était de 14,5 ± 3,4 porcs, avec 1,5 ± 2,0 porcs mort-nés par portée. Il n'y avait aucune association significative entre un quelconque paramètre hématologique (à l'exception du nombre de globules blancs) et la probabilité d'avoir un porcelet mort-né dans une portée. Il y avait une relation entre la parité et la mortinatalité (P < 0,05), les truies ayant une parité plus élevée étant plus susceptibles que les truies plus jeunes de produire un porcelet mort-né. Bien qu'il ait été rapporté que les truies anémiques étaient plus susceptibles d'avoir des mortinatalités, la concentration moyenne d'hémoglobine relativement élevée des truies dans cette étude a peut-être entraîné l'absence de relation.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Defining the Effect of Oxytocin Use in Farrowing Sows on Stillbirth Rate: A Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis.

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify the benefits and possible adverse side effects of oxytocin use during farrowing. Randomized controlled trials that were published in English within the last 50 years were eligible for inclusion. Eligible research needed to contain the PICO elements: population (P)-sows at farrowing; intervention (I):-oxytocin given to sows-comparator (C): sows at farrowing not given oxytocin, as well as sows given different dosages and/or different timing of administration; and outcomes (O):-stillbirths, sow mortality, and piglet viability. Four bibliographic databases were used: PubMed, CAB Direct, Web of Science Core Collection, and ProQuest Dissertations, and Theses Global. In addition, we performed a manual search of the table of contents in the American Association of Swine Veterinarians database for relevant conference proceedings and reports. To assess the risk of bias at the study level, a modified version of the Cochrane 2.0 ROB was used. Meta-analyses were performed to examine the average stillbirth rate, farrowing duration, and birth interval between piglets using random-effect standardized mean difference (SMD) models. To explore heterogeneity, a sub-group analysis was performed on the objectives of the study, dose, time, and route of administration. Of the 46 studies eligible for meta-analyses, only 25 had sufficient information. The pooled analyses of the random effect model demonstrated that the average number of stillborn pigs was lower in the comparator group (SMD = 0.23; CI95% = 0.1, 0.36), and both the farrowing duration (SMD = -8.4; CI95% = -1.1, -0.60) and the birth interval between piglets (SMD = -1.41; CI95% = -1.86, -0.97) were shorter in the oxytocin group. The majority of the studies had an overall risk of bias of 'some concerns'. It was concluded that the use of oxytocin increases the overall number of stillborn piglets, but decreases the farrowing duration and time interval between piglets. However, future studies should focus on the effect of oxytocin on the experience of dystocia among sows.