Management program for improving sow and gilt performance by feeding dichlorvos.

Treated sows were on a special management program which consisted of feeding 1,000 mg of dichlorvos to the sow each day for the last 30 days of gestation. The dichlorvos was delivered as a slow-release formulation. The late gestation treatment signigicantly (P less than 0.01) improved the productivity of the sows by improving the performance of their litters. The litters from treated sows were superior in 4 ways: (1) increased number of pigs born alive per litter (2.3%); (2) increased pig birth weights (9.6%); (3) improved survival of pigs born alive; and (4) improved growth rate to market weight. The litters from treated sows were 11.6%, 16.5%, and 12.4% heavier than control litters at birth, weaning (35 days), and market (160 days), respectively.