Testing the Altresyn Product for Oestrus Synchronization in Gilts

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Altresyn® product (progesterone-based product) as a method for synchronization of oestrus in gilts. The gilts were divided into three experimental groups. The synthetic progesterone Altrenogest was fed daily to 39 gilts at 20 mg/gilts for 18 days. In case of the first group (n = 11 gilts) the treatment was performed using only Altresyn product. In group II (n=13 gilts) was administered the prostaglandin hormone (Prosolvin), 0.75 mg at 24 hours after Altrenogest treatment suppression. Group III (n=15 gilts) received one injections of PMSG hormone (Folligon), 500 IU/animal. Gilts were checked for oestrus twice daily and were artificially inseminated. All gilts expressed signs of oestrus between 3 and 6 days after withdrawal of Altrenogest. At the groups that were administered prostaglandin and PMSG there was a shorter duration of oestrus (group III - 26.66 hours, group II - 27.07 hours) compared to group I (28.54 hours).  In this study, pregnancy rate ranged from 45.45% (group I) and 93.33%(group III), while in group II the value slightly exceeded 50% (53.84%). In group I, the mean litter size was 11.6 piglets, in group II the mean value of farrowed piglets was 13.28 and 15 piglets in group III. Regarding the average number of weaned piglets in group I was 8.8, 12 in group II, while for the third group was 13.14. Altrenogest, the active ingredient in Altresyn® is effective for regulating the oestrus of gilts in commercial pig farms.