A large concern in the North American Pork Industry is prenatal mortality. Between gestation days 15-0, 20-30% of coceptuses are lost, with another 10-15% loses between gestation days 50-70. Different techniques to improve litter size have been used such as selective breeding for genes responsible for uterine capacity and improved dietary balance have not been successful. Controlling porcine conceptus-endometrial interactions needs to be better understood to increase fetal survival. Previous research indicates that poor blood supply to the developing fetuses is the leading cause. By stimulating production of uterine cytokines and blood vessel promoting factors through immunomodulatory molecules, fetal survival and litter size may be increased. A biologic of this kind was used and it seems that it has the potential to stimulate litter size in commercial swine.
Enhancement of Litter Size in Commercial Swine (full article)
