Postpartum Dysgalactia Syndrome: self-diagnosis and prevalence in French Herds

Postpartum Dysgalactia Syndrome (PDS) is still present in sow herds, with possible severe impacts on milk production, piglet growth, and subsequent sow reproduction.

The syndrome is usually detected through warning signs such as anorexia, sow nursing refusals, piglet wasting, or even piglet mortality. PDS is generally accompanied by hyperthermia and is most often treated with antibiotics.

Prudent use of antibiotics and prevention require good diagnosis.

This may be difficult in farms, due to variety of non-specific signs and possible confusion with physiological hyperthermia around farrowing. In practice, non-optimal timing of temperature measurement may lead to both under and over-detection of PDS.

The survey presented here aims to improve knowledge about the current prevalence of PDS and on-farm practices for its detection and management.