Effect of a GnRH analogue (peforelin) on the litter performance of gilts and sows

Abstract

BackgroundMaintaining optimal reproductive and litter performance is essential for meeting economic targets in commercial pig production. Treatment with exogenous gonadotropins in sows after weaning or in gilts after altrenogest treatment has been used to stimulate follicular development leading to more piglets born and eventually higher birth weights. The effect of peforelin on litter performance was investigated in 212 gilts, primi- and pluriparous sows in three herds. Animals were randomly allocated to three treatments 24 h after weaning: peforelin (P group), eCG (E group), and physiological saline solution (C group). Numbers of total, liveborn and stillborn piglets and mortality rate during lactation were recorded. Birth weights and coefficient of variation in weights within litter were assessed. All parameters were compared among treatments.ResultsOver all parities, no difference was found among treatments in litter size nor mortality rate, but birth weights were significantly lower in the E group. Stillbirth numbers in pluriparous sows were 2.2, 0.9 and 1.4 for P, E and C groups, respectively (p = 0.04). Piglets in the P group had significantly higher live born birth weights in gilts, compared to the E group (1.36, 1.26, 1.32 kg (p < 0.02) for P, E and C group, respectively). No significant differences were found for the other investigated parameters.ConclusionsPeforelin treatment showed no improvement of litter performance compared to no treatment.

Improving ovulation in gilts using anti‐inhibin serum treatment combined with fixed‐time artificial insemination

“…Previous studies indicated that PMSG treatments 24 hr after altrenogest removal could not only effectively synchronize oestrus and ovulation (Dura et al., 1987), but also increase ovulation rate (Estienne et al., 2001; Horsley et al., 2005). However, a part of researches showed that the reproductive performance was slightly improved when gilts were treated with PMSG about 42–48 hr after the last altrenogest feeding (de Jong et al., 2013, 2017; Lau et al., 2009). In the present study, the levels of E2 in all of the treatment groups were significantly increased on the third day after PMSG injection, while the levels of P4 remained constant before ovulation.…”

“…Fixed‐time artificial insemination was performed in gilts according to previously established methods, with some modifications (Brussow et al., 1996; de Jong et al., 2013, 2017; Lau et al., 2009; Martinat‐Botte et al., 2010). The ratio of AIS treatment dose to body weight was used as one of the standards and referred to the previous studies (Medan et al., 2004; Nambo et al., 1998; Sasaki et al., 2006; Taya et al., 1996).…”

GnRH agonists: Updating fixed‐time artificial insemination protocols in sows

“…The discovery of the GnRH analog's structure and synthesis led to it becoming a potential substitute for hCG and eCG in follicular growth stimulation and ovulation induction (Brüssow et al, 1996). The following GnRH agonists have been tested to stimulate LH secretion and induce ovulation in sows: gonadorelin (Brüssow et al, 1990, 1996), lecirelin (Baruselli et al, 2001); peforelin (Brüssow et al, 2010; De Jong et al, 2017; Hunter et al, 2004), goserelin (Brüssow et al, 2007), buserelin (Driancourt et al, 2013; Martinat‐Botté et al, 2010), and triptorelin (Knox et al, 2011, 2017).…”

“…, Administering peforelin produced an increase in follicle diameter due to increased FSH during the follicular phase that influenced the size of CL and P4 levels. In addition, homogeneous litters and higher birth weight were obtained through the peforelin treatment rather than the control treatment (1.42 ± 0.38 vs. 1.35 ± 0.35), although the number of live births was lower compared to the control group (12.8 ± 3.3 vs. 13.2 ± 3.6) (de Jong et al, 2017; Hunter et al, 2004).…”

“…The discovery of the GnRH analog's structure and synthesis led to it becoming a potential substitute for hCG and eCG in follicular growth stimulation and ovulation induction (Brüssow et al, 1996). The following GnRH agonists have been tested to stimulate LH secretion and induce ovulation in sows: gonadorelin (Brüssow et al, 1990(Brüssow et al, , 1996, lecirelin (Baruselli et al, 2001); peforelin (Brüssow et al, 2010;De Jong et al, 2017;Hunter et al, 2004), goserelin (Brüssow et al, 2007), buserelin (Driancourt et al, 2013;Martinat-Botté et al, 2010), and triptorelin (Knox et al, 2011(Knox et al, , 2017.…”