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*Animal Reproduction in Veterinary Medicine*

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**Chapter 5**

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

Tools and Protocols for Managing

Hyperprolific Sows at Parturition:

Genetic selection for higher prolificacy is one of the major causes for a decrease

in piglet survival and reproductive health of the sow. Large litters increase farrowing duration and decrease piglet birth weight and therefore have an impact on piglet vitality, colostrum uptake, and piglet survival. Large litters also increase the incidence of postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) and the probability of the sow to be removed from the herd because of reproductive failure. Therefore, hyperprolificacy challenges the performance of the sow in terms of parturition, colostrum production, neonatal survival, and fertility. In this review, we discuss the tools and protocols for management of parturition, colostrum, and sows' reproductive health. We provide checklists for the prevention of birth complications and PDS as well as for improvement of mammary gland development and colostrum production.

**Keywords:** sow, large litter, parturition, postpartum dysgalactia syndrome,

About 10 years ago, a duration of 300 min was the upper limit for a physiological parturition [1]. Since then, litter size and farrowing duration increased steadily [1]. Nowadays, sows are hyperprolific (average litter size > 16) with an average farrowing duration of longer than 300 min [1–7]. This means that more than half of all parturitions are longer than physiologically. This rapid increase is concerning and leads to a high incidence of dystocia with subsequent negative consequences on piglet survival and sows' fertility and longevity [1–7]. An older survey showed that dystocia was mostly of maternal origin [8], whereas a newer survey identified that dystocia is nowadays almost exclusively due to maternal causes; with uterine inertia being the most common cause [9]. Primary uterine inertia, which is the reduction or complete absence of contractility of the myometrium already at the beginning of parturition, is due to hormonal abnormalities such as increased progesterone, and/or deficiencies of oxytocin and prostaglandin secretion and/or the presence of their receptors. Stress, e.g., caused by the inability of sows to express normal

piglet survival, colostrum, risk factors, management

**1.1 Parturition and birth complications**

Optimizing Piglet Survival and

Sows' Reproductive Health

*Stefan Björkman and Alexander Grahofer*
