Administering dexamethasone to prepartum sows: Effects on sow and piglet performance

There is a considerable gap in available literature regarding the use of prepartum steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAIDs) despite their ability to provide a targeted response to pain. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether prepartum administration of dexamethasone to sows would influence farrowing and/or lactation processes, with the prediction that it would affect both sow and piglet performance. Sows were induced to farrow on day 113 of gestation (2 days before their 115 day due date) and were treated with dexamethasone concurrent with induction (DexInd; n = 20), 24 h after induction (Dex24; n = 20), at induction and 24 h later (Dextwice; n = 19) or no steroid treatment (Control; n = 20). Treating with dexamethasone at induction reduced birth and weaning weights (P = 0.001), plasma total protein concentrations (P = 0.001), and colostrum intake of piglets of multiparous sows (P = 0.006). Treating with dexamethasone 24 h after induction did not adversely affect piglet weights or plasma total protein and improved average daily gain in piglets (P = 0.001). Although no differences were observed for farrowing duration or piglet survival (P > 0.05), further investigation is required using higher parity sows to qualify whether glucocorticoids can improve farrowing performance.