Research associate Chuck Okere and Prof. Roger Hacker, Animal and Poultry Science, along with Prof. Bob Friendship, Population Medicine, and Vern Osborne, Ridgetown College, are using the hormone prostaglandin to enhance the reproductive performance in sows. Prostaglandin works by decreasing the levels of progesterone, the hormone that maintains pregnancy.
Evidence suggests that prostaglandin injections are beneficial for postpartum therapy in sows.
It increases reproductive performance and milk yields. We are looking at how it could be beneficial for postpartum applications. Their trials at the Arkell swine research station are looking at prostaglandin's effects on litter weight gain, milk yield and postpartum progesterone profiles. Prostaglandin also shows promise for enhancing milk yields in sows. High progesterone levels after parturition can be a problem for milk production and immune competence in postpartum sows.