SYNCHRONIZATION OF ESTRUS IN PREPUBERTAL GILTS USING HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES COMPARED WITH TREATMENT WITH A PMSG HCG PREPARATION/

The study involved a comparison of the conventional PMSG/hCG oestrus i nduction and synchronization treatment to the, as yet unknown homeopat hic method. It involved a trial comprising 247 gilts, 150 - 180 days o f age with a body weight of 60 - 80 kg. These animals were allocated t o one of four groups, a control group and three trial groups. The 50 g ilts in the first trial group were each treated with ReVet(R) RV-13 at a rate of 10 pillules once per day with their normal diet for 30 days to induce oestrus. The second group, comprising 63 gilts, each receiv ed ReVet(R) RV-21 at a rate of 10 pillules per day with their normal d iet for 30 days. The third group, comprising 84 gilts, each received a single intramuscular injection of PMSG/hCG, equivalent to 400 IU PMSG plus 200 IU hCG. The results indicated a positive effect for the two homeopathic preparations studied (ReVet RV-13 and ReVet RV-21) in the induction of oestrus. Treatment with ReVet(R) RV-13 resulted in signs of oestrus in 96% of gilts and 90% of gilts became pregnant and farrow ed, with an average litter size of 8.6 piglets. The results from the s econd group, treated with ReVet(R) RV-21, were similar with 98.4% of g ilts showing signs of oestrus and 88.8% of gilts becoming pregnant wit h an average litter size of 9.7 piglets, the greatest fertility rate o f all groups. Compared to the homeopathic treatments, the use of PMSG/ hCG for synchronisation was lower with only 39.8% of gilts exhibiting oestrus and only 33.3% farrowing.