Prediction of Postpartum Vaginal Discharge Duration in Sows

Abstract

Prolonged farrowing duration increases stillbirth in piglets and affects maternal health leading to a decrease in the reproductive performance of the sow. The present study aimed to predict the duration of postpartum vaginal discharge (PVD, day) in sows. Data were collected from 204 mixed parity Landrace X Yorkshire sows in a swine farm in Bacninh province, Vietnam. Parity, gestation length, litter size, number of dead-born piglets (NDB), farrowing duration (FD, h), and manual extraction (ME) were recorded. Postpartum vaginal discharge was monitored twice a day until no discharge was detected in two successive observations. Linear regression analysis was used to build the model that best predicted the duration of postpartum vaginal discharge. Results showed that the average duration of postpartum vaginal discharge was 3.3 ± 1.6 days. The final multiple linear regression selected manual extraction, farrowing duration, and the number of dead-born piglets as the most significant factors for the prediction of postpartum vaginal discharge duration. All of these three factors were positively associated with PVD. This study indicated that the duration of postpartum vaginal discharge can be predicted. Shortening the farrowing duration, which may reduce the NBD, lowering the rate of manual extraction can be some of the approaches to decrease the duration of postpartum vaginal discharge. Moreover, the results of this study suggested that suitable postpartum treatments such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, and care should be provided to the sows with a high risk of prolonged postpartum vaginal discharge to shorten this period.