title: Effect of ketoprofen on pre-weaning piglet mortality on commercial farms.
abstract: The effect of ketoprofen on pre-weaning piglet mortality was evaluated in a large-scale study on commercial farms. Sows (n= 1486) from 15 farms were included. Half of the sows received 3 mg/kg ketoprofen in a single intramuscular administration within 12 h after farrowing. The other half remained untreated. Pre-weaning mortality was lower in the ketoprofen-treated group than in the control group (8.43% vs. 10.24%, respectively; P= 0.010). The major impact of ketoprofen on mortality was seen between days 2 and 7 postpartum (mortality rates of 2.75% vs. 4.02% for treated and control groups, respectively; P= 0.001). In addition, ketoprofen treatment was associated with a higher number of piglets weaned per litter than when no treatment was given (10.0 vs. 9.84, respectively; P= 0.012).
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, ESTEVE Veterinaria, Laboratorios Dr. ESTEVE S.A., Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jhomedes@esteve.es.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Homedes
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, ESTEVE Veterinaria, Laboratorios Dr. ESTEVE S.A., Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salichs
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, ESTEVE Veterinaria, Laboratorios Dr. ESTEVE S.A., Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sabaté
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, ESTEVE Veterinaria, Laboratorios Dr. ESTEVE S.A., Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sust
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, ESTEVE Veterinaria, Laboratorios Dr. ESTEVE S.A., Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fabre
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000502:physiology*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007558:Italy; D007660:Ketoprofen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011174:Portugal; D013030:Spain; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007660:Ketoprofen
keywords: Ketoprofen; Piglet mortality; Pre-weaning; Sow; Subclinical disease