Risk factors for puerperal endometritis in the sow

Abstract

Puerperal endometritis in sows may detrimentally affect the health of sows and reduce reproductive performance in their subsequent litters. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine risk factors for puerperal endometritis in sows. In total, 139 second-parity, Yorkshire × Landrace sows from a swine farm were recruited. Information including parity number, gestation length, litter size, number of dead-born piglets per litter, use of manual extraction of foetuses, intrapartum oxytocin use, and postpartum vaginal discharge were recorded. Puerperal endometritis was defined based on the characteristics of the vaginal discharge. Logistic regression was used to determine the significant risk factors for puerperal endometritis. The incidence of puerperal endometritis was 20.1% (28/139). Manual extraction of foetuses, farrowing duration, and number of dead-born piglets per litter were determined as the most significant risk factors for puerperal endometritis. All of these factors were positively associated with the disorder. The present study showed that puerperal endometritis was common in the sow. Determination of risk factors for puerperal endometritis contributes to the understanding of the disorder and helps farm practitioners spot and treat sows at risk early.