Exogenous progesterone supplementation: a strategy to enhance conceptus development in sheep and pigs?

ABSTRACT: The inability of animals to get pregnant, pregnancy loss and weak or stillborn offspring are significant economic burdens to livestock producers worldwide. Progesterone, the hormone of pregnancy, has a crucial role in the establishment of pregnancy, and it has been suggested that progesterone supplementation may be a promising strategy to improve pregnancy outcomes and conceptus development. This review article describes the existing literature on progesterone supplementation in sheep and pigs in relation to pregnancy outcomes and conceptus development.

LAY SUMMARY: Pregnancy loss and weak offspring are significant problems both in humans and in agriculturally relevant species. Progesterone (the hormone of pregnancy) is important for establishing pregnancy and regulating fetal and placental growth, and it is speculated that progesterone supplementation could be a promising method to improve pregnancy outcomes and both fetal and placental growth. This review article describes the existing literature on progesterone supplementation in sheep and pigs in relation to pregnancy outcomes and fetal and placental development.