Induction of farrowing with cloprostenol on a commercial pig breeding farm in Yugoslavia.

Treatment of pregnant sows with 175 microgram of cloprostenol achieved efficient synchronisation of farrowing; 93% of treated animals commenced farrowing between 20 and 30 hours and 82% between 24 +/- 4 hours after injection. Duration of farrowing and weights of piglets at birth and weaning were not significantly affected by treatment. There was no harmful effect on piglet viability up to weaning and treated sows returned to oestrus within the expected time after weaning. There was a higher incidence of the mastitis-metritis-agalactia syndrome in control sows. The implications of these findings on the management of commercial pig farms is discussed.