A review: influence of the sow’s parity on farrowing and neonate performance

Several authors have noted that a sow’s parity has a significant impact not only on her own productivity but also on the performance of her piglets. Analyzing all the factors related to sows and their neonates at each birth event is an effective tool for improving management and reproductive perform...

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Main Authors: Adrián Alejandro Corrales-Hernández, Patricia Roldán-Santiago, Herlinda Bonilla-Jaime, Luis Alberto De la Cruz-Cruz, Ofelia Limón-Morales, Héctor Orozco-Gregorio, Raym Pineda-Reyes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Animal Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2025.1568955/full
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author Adrián Alejandro Corrales-Hernández
Patricia Roldán-Santiago
Herlinda Bonilla-Jaime
Luis Alberto De la Cruz-Cruz
Ofelia Limón-Morales
Héctor Orozco-Gregorio
Raym Pineda-Reyes
author_facet Adrián Alejandro Corrales-Hernández
Patricia Roldán-Santiago
Herlinda Bonilla-Jaime
Luis Alberto De la Cruz-Cruz
Ofelia Limón-Morales
Héctor Orozco-Gregorio
Raym Pineda-Reyes
author_sort Adrián Alejandro Corrales-Hernández
collection DOAJ
description Several authors have noted that a sow’s parity has a significant impact not only on her own productivity but also on the performance of her piglets. Analyzing all the factors related to sows and their neonates at each birth event is an effective tool for improving management and reproductive performance on production units. Multiparous sows exhibit cortisol levels up to 38% higher than those of primiparous sows at peripartum, but the latter have prolactin levels 54-70% lower that reduce colostrum production. In addition, the weaning-to-estrous period is 3 days longer in primiparous sows, and their farrowing intervals up to 8 days longer. Farrowing performance is significantly affected, as litter size tends to increase in multiparous sows, thus extending duration. Piglets are also influenced by parity: those born to multiparous sows have higher weights, up to 2.21 kg more in total litter weight (up to 200 g/piglet). Their thermoregulation capacity is better as they show temperatures up to 1.6°C higher, greater overall vitality, and higher growth rates than the neonates of primiparous sows, which also suffer higher mortality rates. Given the obvious performance differences among sows of different parity and their offspring, swine breeders must determine the precise effects of this factor. This review details the key differences related to parity in the events surrounding farrowing in sows and the early lives of their offspring.
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spelling doaj-art-1e37474ae53143da9d13634acbf147a72025-08-20T02:12:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Animal Science2673-62252025-04-01610.3389/fanim.2025.15689551568955A review: influence of the sow’s parity on farrowing and neonate performanceAdrián Alejandro Corrales-Hernández0Patricia Roldán-Santiago1Herlinda Bonilla-Jaime2Luis Alberto De la Cruz-Cruz3Ofelia Limón-Morales4Héctor Orozco-Gregorio5Raym Pineda-Reyes6Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de la Producción y de la Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, MexicoDepartamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Avenida Universidad, Mexico City, MexicoDepartamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, Mexico City, MexicoDepartamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, MexicoDepartamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, Mexico City, MexicoIngeniería en Producción Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Francisco I. Madero, Tepatepec, MexicoFacultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, MexicoSeveral authors have noted that a sow’s parity has a significant impact not only on her own productivity but also on the performance of her piglets. Analyzing all the factors related to sows and their neonates at each birth event is an effective tool for improving management and reproductive performance on production units. Multiparous sows exhibit cortisol levels up to 38% higher than those of primiparous sows at peripartum, but the latter have prolactin levels 54-70% lower that reduce colostrum production. In addition, the weaning-to-estrous period is 3 days longer in primiparous sows, and their farrowing intervals up to 8 days longer. Farrowing performance is significantly affected, as litter size tends to increase in multiparous sows, thus extending duration. Piglets are also influenced by parity: those born to multiparous sows have higher weights, up to 2.21 kg more in total litter weight (up to 200 g/piglet). Their thermoregulation capacity is better as they show temperatures up to 1.6°C higher, greater overall vitality, and higher growth rates than the neonates of primiparous sows, which also suffer higher mortality rates. Given the obvious performance differences among sows of different parity and their offspring, swine breeders must determine the precise effects of this factor. This review details the key differences related to parity in the events surrounding farrowing in sows and the early lives of their offspring.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2025.1568955/fullsowgiltprimiparousneonatefarrowingendocrinology
spellingShingle Adrián Alejandro Corrales-Hernández
Patricia Roldán-Santiago
Herlinda Bonilla-Jaime
Luis Alberto De la Cruz-Cruz
Ofelia Limón-Morales
Héctor Orozco-Gregorio
Raym Pineda-Reyes
A review: influence of the sow’s parity on farrowing and neonate performance
Frontiers in Animal Science
sow
gilt
primiparous
neonate
farrowing
endocrinology
title A review: influence of the sow’s parity on farrowing and neonate performance
title_full A review: influence of the sow’s parity on farrowing and neonate performance
title_fullStr A review: influence of the sow’s parity on farrowing and neonate performance
title_full_unstemmed A review: influence of the sow’s parity on farrowing and neonate performance
title_short A review: influence of the sow’s parity on farrowing and neonate performance
title_sort review influence of the sow s parity on farrowing and neonate performance
topic sow
gilt
primiparous
neonate
farrowing
endocrinology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2025.1568955/full
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