Effect of different doses of oxytocin at delivery on suffering and survival of newborn pigs

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to compare various doses of intramuscular administration of oxytocin and its effects on the dynamics of the uterus and level of neonatal asphyxia in periparturient Yorkshire-Landrace sows. Two hundred females were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 50 for each treatment. They were given oxytocin in 3 different doses and criteria was made after the birth of the first piglet. There was a high mortality rate during birth in groups G2 and G3 that were treated with high and medium doses of oxytocin, respectively, in comparison with the control and low dosage groups (G1 and G4). There was a significant increase (p<0.01) in number and intensity of contractions during birth of the groups treated with a high and medium doses of oxytocin as compared to the groups that received a low dose of oxytocin and the control group. The former groups had a higher rate of intra-uterine suffering (p<0.01), measured by the delayed variable deceleration in cardiac frequencies in the fetus. The neonatal piglets with acute fetal suffering that survived prenatal asphyxia with mild meconium staining on the skin, had hyperglycemia; as compared to the piglets with severe staining characterized by the presence of hypoglycemia. The use of low dosage oxytocin helped avoid deceleration in cardiac frequencies in the fetus, rupture of the umbilical cord and meconium staining; in addition it did not reduce the fetal mortality rate, but increased the viability of the neonate.