effects of progesterone supplementation during early pregnancy on litter performance

• Grant number: 18/04466-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: May 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: André Furugen Cesar de Andrade
• Grantee: Bruno Bracco Donatelli Muro
• Supervisor: Dr. Glen Almond
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: North Carolina State University (NC State), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/00290-0 - Effects of altrenogest on the uterine environment and embryonic development in early gestation of pigs, BP.MS

Abstract

The present project intends to evaluate if the progesterone supplementation during the initial phase of gestation of swine females improves the performance of the born litter. Considering the importance of progesterone in the establishment and maintenance of mammalian gestation as well as its influence on the entire uterine environment during the period prior to embryo implantation, influencing the production of the histotroph and the level of energetic substrate available for the embryos, the project will consist of supplementing weaned swine with 2.15 mg / kg of long-acting progesterone intramuscularly on the 6th day of gestation. Females will be blocked in order of calving and weight loss during the lactational period and then divided into 2 groups of 50 animals: CON (females not supplemented) and RU (females supplemented with progesterone at day 6 of gestation). During delivery, the performance of the litter will be analyzed through the following parameters: Number of liveborn piglets, number of stillborns and mummies, average litter weight, total litter weight, and homogeneity of liveborn piglets.