Influence of postpartum cloprostenol injection on sow and litter performance

nything that compromises sow milk yield would be expected to have a negative impact on piglet performance. Periparturient hypogalactia syndrome has been associated with endometritis.1 Most sow herds have some incidence of endometritis, with reported incidences ranging from 1.1%–37.2% for different herds.2 Recent interest has focused on the postpartum administration of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) or its analogs, which have been reported to reduce the incidence of vulval discharge and improve piglet weight gains (Pascual; Proc 12th IPVS Cong, 1992;2:495).3 It is possible that these two effects are causally related, and that PGF2α facilitates the evacuation of uterine debris postpartum, reducing the incidence of endometritis and allowing the sow to express her milk yield potential. Additionally, by facilitating uterine cleansing, administering PGF2α could improve postweaning fertility (Pascual; Proc 12th IPVS Cong,1992;2:495. Sanmartin; Proc 12th IPVS Cong, 1992;2:497).