Comparison of the offspring of three serial pregnancies during voluntary alcohol consumption in Sinclair (S-1) miniature swine.

The offspring of serial breedings of voluntary alcohol consuming Sinclair (S-1) miniature swine have been evaluated over the past three years. The first and second litters of 12 dams and the third litter of 6 dams were examined. All study animals had been consuming alcohol for at least 18 months prior to the first breeding. Alcohol consumption was continuous throughout the ninth study. Twelve non-alcohol-consuming sows were used as controls. The results of the study revealed a progressive decrease in mean litter size from controls of 6.66 in the control litters to 1.8 piglets per litter in the third litter born to alcohol-consuming dams. Perinatal deaths showed a progressive increase from 10% in the controls to 36.4% in the L3 litter. The birth weight showed a decline from a mean of 719 +/- 186 g in the control group to 467 +/- 122 g in the L3 litter. Abortions were not seen in control, first litter or second litter; however, there were 3 aborted fetuses in the third litter. Observation revealed no additional anomalies beyond the previous reports of anomalies seen in litters of alcohol-consuming S-1 miniature swine dams.