title: Effect of a GnRH analogue (peforelin) on the litter performance of gilts and sows.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maintaining 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peforelin treatment showed no improvement of litter performance compared to no treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction Obstetrics and Herd Health, Unit Porcine Health Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.|Present address: Flemish Animal Health Service (Dierengezondheidszorg Vlaanderen), Industrielaan 29, B-8820 Torhout, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6124-906X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: Elanco, S.A. Eli Lilly Benelux N.V., Stoofstraat 52, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jourquin
authors.affiliation: Large Animal Clinic for Theriogenology and Ambulatory Services, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 19, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kauffold
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction Obstetrics and Herd Health, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarrazin
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction Obstetrics and Herd Health, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dewulf
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction Obstetrics and Herd Health, Unit Porcine Health Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dominiek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maes
keywords: Birth weight; Gonadotropins; Peforelin; Prolificacy; Sows