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DOI: 10.1055/a-2681-7528
Verwendung eines differenzierten Geburtshilfeprotokolls bei hochproliferativen Sauen mit und ohne Geburtseinleitung
Investigation into the use of an obstetric intervention protocol in high-prolific sows with and without parturition inductionAuthors

Zusammenfassung
Gegenstand und Ziel
Die Dystokierate von Sauen liegt laut Literatur zwischen 10–55%. Manuelle Geburtshilfe (GH) soll negativen Auswirkungen von Dystokien wie erhöhten Totgeburtenraten vorbeugen. Angaben zu Zwischenferkelintervallen, die mit einem erhöhten Totgeburtenrisiko einhergehen, variieren zwischen 30–60 min. Angesichts steigender Geburtsdauern hochproliferativer Sauen ist die Geburtsüberwachung und angemessene obstetrische Intervention zunehmend relevant. Ziel dieser Studie war es, ein differenziertes Geburtshilfeprotokoll an hochproliferativen Sauen zu testen, um die Totgeburtenrate zu senken. Damit sollte zur Harmonisierung der Datenlage zum Geburtsverlauf dieser Tiere beigetragen und die Häufigkeit notwendiger obstetrischer Eingriffe beleuchtet werden.
Material und Methoden
Es wurden 210 Geburten von Yorkshire-Landrasse-Sauen in Kastenständen erfasst, die spontan ferkelten (G1, n=70) oder am 114. Trächtigkeitstag mit Cloprostenol geburtseingeleitet wurden und innerhalb von 12–24 h (G2, n=63) oder nach>24 h (G3, n=77) ferkelten. GH erfolgte, wenn der Abstand zwischen 2 Ferkeln 60 min nach dem 1., 45 min nach dem 2.–5. und 30 min nach dem 6. und folgenden Ferkeln überschritt. Die Geburten wurden nach Geburtseinleitung (G1, G2, G3), Parität (P1, P2–4, P≥5) und Wurfgröße (W5–14, W15–18; W19–22, W≥23) gruppiert und partusrelevante Parameter verglichen.
Ergebnisse
Bei W19–22 und W≥23 wurde häufiger GH geleistet als bei kleineren Würfen (81,1% und 85,2% vs.≤60%; p≤0,02). Bei P≥5 wurde häufiger GH geleistet als bei P2–4 und P1 (87,7% vs. 73,3% und 60,3%; jeweils p≤0,05). In der zweiten Geburtshälfte lag die GH-Rate pro Geburtsrang bei P≥5 mit 30–60% mehr als doppelt so hoch wie bei P1 und P2–4. Der Anteil tot geborener Ferkel stieg linear mit dem relativen Geburtsrang und betrug durchschnittlich 5,2%. Bei W≥23 war die Totgeburtenrate trotz häufigerer GH doppelt so hoch wie bei Wurfgrößen bis 18 Ferkel.
Schlussfolgerungen und klinische Relevanz
Die niedrige Totgeburtenrate deutet darauf hin, dass das angewendete Geburtshilfeprotokoll die Geburtsdauer verkürzt und Totgeburten reduziert, besonders bei Sauen≥5. Wurf. Sein Einsatz muss jedoch betriebswirtschaftlich (Personaleinsatz) und hygienisch (Infektionsrisiko durch häufige GH) abgewogen werden.
Abstract
Objective
According to the literature, the dystocia rate in sows lies between 10–55%. Manual obstetrics (MO) is used to counteract the negative effects of dystocia, such as increased stillbirth rates. Data on birth intervals associated with an increased risk of stillbirth, vary between 30–60 min. With increasing farrowing duration in today’s high-prolific sows farrowing supervision with appropriate obstetric intervention are increasingly relevant. The aim of this study was to test a differentiated obstetric intervention protocol in high-prolific sows to reduce the stillbirth rate. The study aimed to contribute to the harmonization of data on the birth physiology of these animals and to elucidate the frequency of necessary obstetric interventions.
Material and methods
210 births of Yorkshire Landrace hybrid sows housed in crates were observed. The sows farrowed spontaneously (G1, n=70) or were treated with cloprostenol to induce parturition on the 114th day of gestation and farrowed within 12–24 h (G2, n=63) or after >24 h (G3, n=77). MO was administered if the interval between two piglets exceeded 60 min after the 1st, 45 min after the 2nd–5th and 30 min after the 6th and subsequent piglets. The births were grouped according to birth induction (G1, G2, G3), parity (P1, P2–4, P≥5) and litter size (W5–14, W15–18; W19–22, W≥23) and compared in terms of farrowing characteristics.
Results
In W19–22 and W≥23, MO was performed more often than in smaller litters (81.1% and 85.2% vs.≤60%; p≤0.02 respectively). MO was performed more frequently in P≥5 than in P2–4 and P1 (87.7% vs. 73.3% and 60.3%; p≤0.05 respectively). In the second half of the birth, the rate of MO was more than twice as high as in P1 and P2–4 at 30–60%. The proportion of stillborn piglets increased linearly with the relative birth rank and averaged 5.2%. At W≥23, the stillbirth rate was twice as high as for litter sizes up to 18 piglets, despite more frequent MO.
Conclusions and clinical relevance
The low stillbirth rate indicates that the obstetric intervention protocol shortens the duration of parturition and reduces stillbirths, especially in sows≥5th litter. However, its use has to be negotiated against economic (availability of personnel) and hygienic aspects (risk of infection due to frequent MO).
Publication History
Received: 28 May 2025
Accepted: 09 August 2025
Article published online:
15 October 2025
© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.
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