Background and aim:
Alternative therapies based on homeopathy can be effective in improving reproductive
performance in intensive pig breeding. In this study, the effect of a homeopathic
complex on reproductive performance of sows under intensive farming has been investigated.
Material and methods:
Over period of three years, 186 sows were recruited from a farm where a large proportion
of animals were suffering from prolonged weaning-to-oestrus intervals (WEI) and weaning-to-service
intervals (WSI). Sows were allocated to two groups; once per month, one group was
given a homeopathic complex (Borax 10 mK plus Lycopodium 10 mK), while the other group was given a hydro-alcoholic solution (placebo). The follow-up
period started one week before the expected date of oestrus, continued for two pregnancies
and ended after the weaning of the second farrowing. To evaluate reproductive performance,
during the follow-up we collected data on quantitative parameters such as the average
number of stillbirths, newborns, and repeat services per farrowing. Time-related data
such as WEI, WSI, length of the two pregnancies and weaning periods were also collected
to measure the length of the follow-up of each sow. Differences in quantitative parameters
between the two groups were evaluated using parametric and non-parametric statistics.
Time-related data were used to plot Kaplan–Meier curves and in Cox regression models
to evaluate whether treated sows had a higher probability of experiencing a shorter
follow-up in comparison to untreated sows.
Results:
We did not found significant differences in the number of newborns, while the number
of stillbirths was higher in the treatment group, even if the difference was slightly
significant (p-value = 0.03). The number of repeat services was lower in the treatment group, and
this difference was highly significant (p-value < 0.001). Results from the Cox regression models suggest that the end of the
follow-up was reached by sows of the treatment group at about twice the rate of sows
of the control group (model 2, Hazard Ratiotreatment = 2.27; 95%CI: 1.56–3.24).
Keywords
Intensive farming - Pigs - Reproductive performance - Borax - Lycopodium
