Effect of Peripartum Dexamethasone Treatment on Farrowing Outcomes and Newborn Piglet Traits in Multiparous Sows

This study assessed the effects of dexamethasone treatment on farrowing performance and piglet traits in the first 5 days of life in multiparous sows, a high-risk group for stillbirths and prolonged farrowing. In this study, 185 multiparous sows (parity 4.25 +/- 0.14) were selected on the day of farrowing and divided into three treatments: CON - control, without dexamethasone treatment; DexaPF - treatment with dexamethasone (20 mg im per female) at the time of copious colostrum secretion (pre-farrowing); and DexaFO - treatment with dexamethasone (20 mg im per female) when the first piglet was born (farrowing onset). All sows and their litters were monitored for farrowing duration, obstetric interventions, colostrum yield and intake, newborn piglet traits, and piglet performance until 5 d of age. A subsample of 106 females (similar to 35 per treatment) had their blood glucose concentration checked hourly shortly after the first piglet was born until the end of farrowing. Additionally, blood samples from 42 litters were collected for immunocrit evaluation. The results showed no differences regarding farrowing duration (CON = 258.02 +/- 13.81 min; DexaPF = 251.29 +/- 13.60 min; DexaFO = 294.92 +/- 13.89 min; P = 0.06) and obstetric intervention rates among treatments (CON = 36.58 +/- 6.78 %; DexaPF = 42.16 +/- 6.89 %; DexaFO = 48.05 +/- 7.08 %; P = 0.45). The blood glucose concentration during farrowing was higher in DexaPF (94.56 +/- 1.57 mg/dL; P < 0.001) than in CON (73.50 +/- 1.72 mg/dL) and DexaFO (87.94 +/- 1.80 mg/dL). No differences were observed regarding total piglets born and born alive, stillborn, newborn piglet vitality, colostrum intake, immunocrit, colostrum yield, and glycemia and rectal temperature at 24 h of age ( P >= 0.13). Regarding meconium staining, higher percentages of piglets born without meconium staining were observed in DexaFO (54.77 +/- 5.21 %; P = 0.02) compared with CON (48.58 +/- 5.26 %), and no difference was observed for the DexaPF group (53.23 +/- 5.21 %). In addition, a higher unbroken umbilical cord rate was observed in DexaFO (92.41 +/- 1.31 %; P < 0.01) than the CON or DexaPF (86.91 +/- 1.97 % and 89.31 +/- 1.67 %, respectively). However, the treatments did not affect piglet performance (weight gain and survival) until 5 d of age ( P >= 0.15). In summary, dexamethasone treatment in periparturient multiparous sows did not improve farrowing performance and key production parameters, such as the piglet weight gain and survival up to 5 d of age.