Effects of uterotonics on farrowing traits and piglet vitality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Author(s)

Muro, Bruno B. D. ^[1] ; Carnevale, Rafaella F. ^[1] ; Andretta, Ines ^[2] ; Leal, Diego F. ^[3] ; Monteiro, Matheus S. ^[4] ; Poor, Andre P. ^[4] ; Almond, Glen W. ^[5] ; Garbossa, Cesar A. P. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Anim Nutr & Prod, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Campus Pirassununga, Pirassununga, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Rio Grande do Sul UFRGS, Dept Anim Sci, Sch Agron, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Anim Reprod, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Campus Pirassununga, Pirassununga, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Prevent Vet Med & Anim Hlth, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Campus Sao Paulo, Sa Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] North Carolina State Univ NCSU, Dept Populat Hlth & Pathobiol, Coll Vet Med, Raleigh, NC - USA

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Theriogenology; v. 161, p. 151-160, FEB 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Uterotonics are widely used in the pig industry but their effects have not been investigated critically. The objective was to evaluate the effects of oxytocin and carbetocin on farrowing duration, birth interval, farrowing assistance, stillbirth rate, and piglet viability traits by performing a systematic review and a meta-analysis. The search for studies was performed during January 2020 using the PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. The literature search was conducted using the key words: oxytocin, pig, farrowing, stillbirth, piglet, dose, and carbetocin. Studies which evaluated the effects of oxytocin or carbetocin on farrowing duration, birth interval, stillbirth rate, and farrowing assistance were included in the review. Of 1215 articles, 23 (1.9%) were selected for fulfilling the criteria for inclusion in the present study. A high variety of doses was observed among studies. Oxytocin increased (30%; P < 0.05) the stillborn proportion in the litters compared to control sows. Both oxytocin and carbetocin increased the need of farrowing assistance by 137% (P < 0.01) and 40% (P < 0.05), respectively, compared to control. The use of oxytocin reduced the farrowing duration by 18% and the birth interval by 17%, while carbetocin reduced the same responses by 27 and 23%, respectively (P < 0.01). When used judiciously, uterotonics are a valuable tool to shorten farrowing duration of hyperprolific sows. However, the treatment is not exempt of deleterious effects for piglets and sows. Therefore, the criteria to use these drugs should be based on individual cases and not as part of hormonal protocols for all parturient sows. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/23320-7 - Oral administration of an energetic supplement for farrowing sows and its impact on farrowing kinetics and piglet mortality until weaning
• Grantee: Rafaella Fernandes Carnevale
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 20/02731-6 - Nutritional additive rich in dietary fiber during the transition period in order to improve sow and litter performance
• Grantee: Bruno Bracco Donatelli Muro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate