Effects of Parity and the Administration of Caffeine Plus PGF2α on Hormonal and Behavioral Changes During Parturition in Gilts and Sows

Optimizing farrowing management is crucial in swine production, yet the combined effects of induction protocols and stimulants on the sow remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of farrowing induction using cloprostenol as a single dose (full dose) or split dose, with or without caffeine administration, on the performance, behavior, and hormonal concentrations of primiparous (n = 25) and multiparous (n = 25) sows. Sows were assigned to five treatments: Control (n = 10), PGF2α Full Dose (175 μg) (n = 10), PGF2α Split Dose (87.5 + 87.5 μg) (n = 10), PGF2α Full Dose + Caffeine (420 mg) (n = 10), and PGF2α Split Dose + Caffeine (420 mg) (n = 10). The PGF2α Split Dose and PGF2α Split Dose + Caffeine treatments significantly reduced farrowing duration by up to 100 min in primiparous sows (122.40 ± 82.24 and 136.00 ± 38.33 min, respectively; p = 0.002), and in multiparous sows by up to 76 min (134.80 ± 73.84 and 158.00 ± 44.82 min, respectively; p < 0.05), compared to the Control and PGF2α Full Dose groups. Furthermore, the PGF2α Split Dose induction method lowered the frequency of stress-related behaviors (0.01 and 0.08 for PGF2α SD, and 0.03 and 0.08 for PGF2α SD + Caffeine, for gilts and sows respectively), with sows showing fewer posture changes and maintaining more stable resting positions, particularly the lying lateral posture (0.86 for PGF2α SD and 0.96 for PGF2α SD + Caffeine). Cortisol levels varied by parity, with multiparous sows showing higher prepartum and intrapartum levels, while primiparous sows peaked twelve hours postpartum; estradiol levels remained unaffected by treatments. In conclusion, inducing farrowing with a split-dose prostaglandin protocol is highly efficient, and the addition of caffeine further enhances farrowing performance while significantly improving behavioral welfare by reducing standing postures associated with discomfort in both primiparous and multiparous sows.