THE INFLUENCE OF THE TIMING OF PARTUSINDU CTION ON THE OCCURRENCE OF CONGENITAL MYOFIBRILLAR HYPOPLASIA

In an intensive pig production unit with routinely performed prostagla ndine partusinduction four groups of sows were formed shortly before p arturition. The animals received 3 mg alfaprostol as a single intramus cular injection each. The sows of group 1 on the 112(th), those of gro up 2 on the 113(th) and the animals of group 3 on the 114(th) day of p regnancy. Group 4 sows were not treated and formed the control group. We evaluated the number of live born piglets and the number of piglets born with congenital myofibrillar hypoplasia. The results showed no s ignificant difference regarding live born piglets. As regards congenit al myofibrillar hypoplasia the sows with early partusinduction (group 1) showed significant higher incidence when compared to the other grou ps. It is likely that in cases of partusinduction before the 113(th) d ay of pregnancy the fetus is still insufficiently protected by natural maturation, adaptation and tolerance ability against such congenital condition as CMH. Therefore it is the opinion of the authors that part usinduction before the 113(th) day of pregnancy should not be peformed .