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1
Portele, Scheck, Siegmann, Feitsch, Maschat, Rault, and Camerlink. "Sow-Piglet Nose Contacts in Free-Farrowing Pens." Animals 9, no. 8 (July 31, 2019): 513. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9080513.
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Nose contact is a frequent form of social behaviour in pigs, but the motivational reasons underlying this behaviour remain unclear. We investigated the frequency, direction and type of sow–piglet nosing behaviour and its association with sow and piglet traits. Social nosing behaviour was recorded by live observations and video recordings in 22 sows and their 249 piglets in free-farrowing pens once weekly during the first three weeks after farrowing (3 times 30 min of observations per litter). Piglet-to-sow nosing occurred on average 32.8 ± 2.35 times per 30 min per litter. Heavier piglets at one week of age nosed the sow more than lighter piglets (P = 0.01). Piglet-to-sow nosing was unrelated to the piglet’s sex or teat order. Sow-to-piglet nosing occurred on average 3.6 ± 0.53 times per 30 min, and this was unrelated to litter size. Primiparous sows nosed their piglets more in the second week after farrowing. Litters in which piglet-to-sow nosing occurred more showed less variation in the expression of this behaviour across the weeks. Social nosing between sow and piglets deserves further research to understand the positive implications of this behaviour for sow and piglet welfare.
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DREW, M. D., I. M. BEVANDICK, and B. D. OWEN. "ARTIFICIAL REARING OF COLOSTRUM-DEPRIVED PIGLETS USING IRON CHELATORS: THE EFFECTS OF ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF EDDHA WITH AND WITHOUT BOVINE OR PORCINE IMMUNOGLOBULINS ON PIGLET PERFORMANCE AND IRON METABOLISM." Canadian Journal of Animal Science 70, no. 2 (June 1, 1990): 655–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjas90-077.
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The iron chelator ethylene diamine-di-orthohydroxyphenyl acetic acid (EDDHA) was fed to 79 colostrum-deprived piglets with or without bovine or porcine serum immunoglobulins. Piglets that received bovine immunoglobulins from birth to day 14 had significantly lower survival rates, average daily weight gains and plasma immunoglobulin concentrations than piglets that received porcine immunoglobulins on the first day after birth. Piglets that received porcine immunoglobulins on day 1 followed by either bovine or porcine immunoglobulins on days 2–14 had significantly higher average daily gains than piglets that received no immunoglobulins on days 2–14. The addition of EDDHA to piglet's diets from birth to day 14 caused significant decreases in piglet average daily weight gains but had no effect on survival. EDDHA also caused significant reductions in packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentrations during the period it was included in the diet but these effects ceased when EDDHA was withdrawn. The effects of EDDHA on iron metabolism and excretion in the piglet were studied further using [59Fe]. Eight piglets were fed a commercial milk replacer containing either 0 or 37.5 mg kg−1 body weight d−1 of EDDHA. Piglets that received EDDHA had significantly longer plasma iron disappearance rates but did not significantly differ in hematocrits or plasma iron concentrations. Oral administration of EDDHA significantly increased the excretion of [59Fe] in the feces and urine and significantly reduced the incorporation of [59Fe] into red blood cells. There were no treatment differences in the distribution of [59Fe] in the livers or spleens of the piglets. Key words: EDDHA, immunoglobulins, piglet, artificial rearing, [59Fe]
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Bland, I., and J. A. Rooke. "Effects of sow, udder section and time on colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and piglet colostrum intake." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1998 (1998): 158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s175275620059810x.
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An adequate intake of colostrum by the newborn piglet allows the piglet to acquire passive immunity and develop active immunity. However there is relatively little information on the composition of colostrum from sows of modern genotypes. The purpose of the study was therefore to investigate the changes in IgG concentration of colostrum and the uptake of colostrum by piglets.A total of 9 muciparous sows (Newsham - Large White x Landrace) were observed whilst farrowing naturally. Colostrum was sampled, without using oxytocin, at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h post partum from the anterior, middle and rear thirds of the udder and frozen at -20 °C. Colostrum intake was measured as soon as piglets began to suckle after being born, by removing three piglets/sow from the sow and weighing the piglets before and after a period of suckling, the mean weight change over eight consecutive weighings (corrected for urinary losses) being taken as colostrum intake. Piglets were observed to determine on which udder section the piglet was suckling. IgG concentration was measured using an ELISA technique (Varley et al, 1985). Statistical analysis was carried out using analysis of variance.
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Bland, I., and J. A. Rooke. "Effects of sow, udder section and time on colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and piglet colostrum intake." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1998 (1998): 158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600033717.
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An adequate intake of colostrum by the newborn piglet allows the piglet to acquire passive immunity and develop active immunity. However there is relatively little information on the composition of colostrum from sows of modern genotypes. The purpose of the study was therefore to investigate the changes in IgG concentration of colostrum and the uptake of colostrum by piglets.A total of 9 muciparous sows (Newsham - Large White x Landrace) were observed whilst farrowing naturally. Colostrum was sampled, without using oxytocin, at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h post partum from the anterior, middle and rear thirds of the udder and frozen at -20 °C. Colostrum intake was measured as soon as piglets began to suckle after being born, by removing three piglets/sow from the sow and weighing the piglets before and after a period of suckling, the mean weight change over eight consecutive weighings (corrected for urinary losses) being taken as colostrum intake. Piglets were observed to determine on which udder section the piglet was suckling. IgG concentration was measured using an ELISA technique (Varley et al, 1985). Statistical analysis was carried out using analysis of variance.
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Voshchenko, I. B., and M. G. Povod. "Realization of the genetic growth potential of danish–bred hybrid piglets under different feeding conditions and the influence of feeding method on sow utilization intensity." Scientific Messenger of LNU of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies 26, no. 100 (February 21, 2024): 289–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.32718/nvlvet-a10043.
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The article studied the dependence of the realization of the genetic potential of reproductive qualities and the intensity of use of crossbred F1 sows of Danish selection when hybridizing them with boars of the specialized parent line of the Danish Durok breed on the system of feeding piglets in the post-weaning period. The influence of the multifertility of sows and the system of feeding their piglets on the leading indicators of the reproductive function of sows and the intensity of their use and the use of machine equipment. It was established that pig enterprises that used a liquid system of feeding piglets were 30 % larger than farms that used a dry feeding system. Their sows had 1.2 % higher fertility and 2.6 % better survival of piglets, resulting in a 4.4 % greater number of piglets at weaning. At the same time, due to the 9.7 % higher average daily growth, the live weight of each piglet at weaning in farms where their liquid feeding was used was 8.0 % higher, which, together with the more significant number of animals in the nest, led to a 12.8 % increase in weight their nests are not this time. According to the comprehensive indices of reproductive productivity of sows, their level in farms where liquid feeding was used was higher by 3.9–5.0 %. It has been proven that the use of a liquid piglet feeding system contributed to an increase of 1.5 % in the number of farrowing per year, 6.0 % in the number of weaned piglets per sow per year, 4.4 % in the average annual number of weaned piglets per machine, by 3.2 % to improve the farrowing ratio of sows. At the same time, it led to a decrease of 7.2 % in the period from weaning of piglets to insemination of the sow, 18.1 % of the average annual number of non-productive days per sow, by 8.3 % of feed consumption by the sow based on one kilogram of live weight of weaned piglets, by 2.1 % of the average annual number of dead sows and by 16.8 % of the share of introduction of piglets into the main herd. At the same time, animals in these farms consumed 5.0 % more feed annually than their counterparts in farms where traditional dry feeding of piglets was used. It was established that multifertility likely affected the weight of one piglet at weaning. In comparison, the method of feeding piglets in the post-weaning period likely affected piglets' survival before weaning and one piglet's weight at weaning. In contrast, the interaction of these factors has a probable impact only on the survival of piglets before weaning. These two factors had no possible influence on the rest of the studied productivity characteristics and technological indicators of the use of sows.
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Li, Y. Z., J. E. Anderson, and L. J. Johnston. "Animal-related factors associated with piglet mortality in a bedded, group-farrowing system." Canadian Journal of Animal Science 92, no. 1 (March 1, 2012): 11–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjas2011-068.
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Li, Y. Z., Anderson, J. E. and Johnston, L. J. 2012. Animal-related factors associated with piglet mortality in a bedded, group-farrowing system. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 11–20. To understand pre-weaning mortality of piglets in a bedded, group-farrowing system, associations with sow parity, mortality of piglets during the first 24 h after birth, farrowing behavior, cross-fostering, birth weight and gender of piglets were investigated. Sows (n=169, parity 1 to 10) from eight contemporary groups were evaluated. Litter size at birth, dead piglets from birth to weaning, and individual weight of piglets at birth and weaning (27±2.6 d) were recorded. Behavior of 46 focal sows during farrowing was video-recorded. Piglet mortality within litter increased (P<0.001) with increasing parity. Piglets that died before weaning were lighter (P<0.001) at birth than weaned piglets. Mortality of pigs during the first 24 h postpartum was correlated positively with pre-weaning mortality within litter (R2=0.34; P<0.001). Farrowing behaviors were not associated with piglet mortality, and were not different among sows of different parities, or between sows with and without 24 h piglet mortality. Gender of piglets and cross-fostering did not affect piglet mortality. Results indicate that parity, 24 h mortality, and birth weight of piglets were the major animal-related factors associated with piglet mortality in the loose farrowing system studied.
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Wang, Siqi, Nai Zhang, and Bing Wang. "The Lactoferrin Receptor Is Differentially Expressed in Different Regions of Brain and Responds to LF Intervention in Piglets." Current Developments in Nutrition 4, Supplement_2 (May 29, 2020): 1240. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzaa057_056.
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Abstract Objectives To molecular characterize the expression levels of lactoferrin receptor (LfR) in different regions of brain and its response to lactoferrin (LF) intervention in piglets. Methods 3-day-old male piglets were randomly allocated to groups (Grp) 1 fed milk replacer supplemented with LF 1.1 g/L (n = 16) and Grp 2 0.06 g/L (n = 16) as control. Piglets were euthanised at 38 days of age. Gene and protein expression of LfR was analysed using we published methods (1). Study protocol has been approved by animal ethic committee of Xiamen University. Results Our results showed that the cellular levels of mRNA coding for LfR was differentially expressed in ten sub-regions of piglet's brain. The highest expression level of LfR gene was found in the prefrontal cortex (PF, 20.45 ± 2.11) following by the parietal lobe (PL), brainstem (BS), occipital lobe (OL), sub ventricular zone (SVZ), olfactory bulb (OB), hippocampus (Hip), amygdala (Amy), cerebellum (CE) and thalamus (THA) respectively. The mRNA expression of LfR in the PF was ∼15% time higher than that of thalamus (THA, 1.38 ± 0.549). Overall differences between sub-regions of brain were highly significant. There was a positive correlation between expression level of mRNA and protein of the tested tissues. LfR expression in different regions of brain significantly responded to dietary LF intervention in piglets (P < 0.05). Conclusions We demonstrated that LfR differentially expressed in different regions of brain and responded to dietary LF intervention in pigleta, an animal model of human infant. The cellular abundance of LfR in ten subregions of piglet brain is regulated at the level of transcription. The role of LfR in neurodevelopment is under investigation. Funding Sources Medical School of Xiamen University.
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Miles, J. R., J. L. Vallet, J. J. Ford, B. A. Freking, R. A. Cushman, W. T. Oliver, and R. K. Christenson. "148 PIGLET GROWTH AND BLOOD COMPONENTS DURING LACTATION FOLLOWING RECIPROCAL EMBRYO TRANSFER BETWEEN MEISHAN AND WHITE CROSSBRED GILTS." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 23, no. 1 (2011): 177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rdv23n1ab148.
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Sow productivity has a significant economic impact on the swine industry and is influenced by several factors, including preweaning piglet mortality. In Western breeds, low birth weight piglets exhibit the greatest susceptibility to preweaning mortality. In contrast, Meishan (MS) piglets have decreased birth weights but lower preweaning mortality rates, suggesting that birth weight is not the sole component of preweaning survival. The objective of the current study was to determine the contributions of the maternal and piglet breed and their interactions on piglet growth and blood components pertaining to survivability during lactation following reciprocal embryo transfer between MS and White crossbred (WC) gilts. Twenty-five successful pregnancies were produced by embryo transfer in 2 farrowing seasons that represented all maternal and piglet breed combinations; MS × MS (n = 4 litters), MS × WC (n = 7 litters), WC × MS (n = 7 litters), and WC × WC (n = 7 litters). At Day 1, 10, and weaning (average weaning age = 18 days), piglets (n = 147, 97, and 94, respectively at Day 1, 10, and weaning) were weighed and blood samples were taken. Hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose, nitrogen, nonesterified fatty acids, albumin, and cortisol were measured in all blood samples. All data were analysed for ANOVA using mixed model procedures. Piglet weights were greater (P < 0.001) throughout lactation in piglets from WC dams regardless of piglet breed. As a result, average daily gains from Days 1 to 10 and weaning were greater (P < 0.05) in piglets from WC dams. There were significant (P < 0.001) maternal × piglet × day interactions for hematocrit and hemoglobin levels in which levels were greatest at Day 1 in MS piglets from WC dams and at Day 10 in MS piglets from MS dams but decreased in WC piglets from WC dams at Day 1. Glucose was greater (P < 0.05) at Day 1 in piglets from WC dams regardless of piglet breed but was greater (P < 0.05) at weaning in WC piglets regardless of maternal breed. Nitrogen was similar at Day 1 for all maternal and piglet breed combinations, but at Day 10 and weaning, nitrogen levels were greater (P < 0.001) in MS piglets regardless of maternal breed. Nonesterified fatty acid was greater throughout lactation in piglets from MS dams irrespective of piglet breed. Albumin was greater (P < 0.05) in MS piglets throughout lactation regardless of maternal breed. Cortisol was not different between the maternal and piglet breed combinations throughout lactation, but cortisol was greater (P < 0.001) at Day 1 compared with Day 10 and weaning. This study demonstrated that piglet growth during lactation was influenced more by maternal breed in favor of WC dams, which supports previous crossbreeding studies. However, blood components pertaining to survivability displayed complex interactions between the piglet and maternal breed, which may signify possible mechanisms for improved preweaning survivability of MS pigs.
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Stambuk, Cassandra R., Anna K. Johnson, Karli J. Lane, and Kenneth J. Stalder. "From birth to lying on- or under a supplemental heat source: How long does it take for half the litter to lie down and how long do they stay?" PLOS ONE 18, no. 12 (December 21, 2023): e0294336. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294336.
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Piglets are susceptible to hypothermia because they lack hair and energy reserves, have a large surface area to body weight ratio, and have poor body thermostability. Different heat sources are used on farm, but it is not known how long it takes half a litter to locate it and lie down. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) how long it took for ≥ 50% of piglets to locate and lie on- or under the supplemental heat source for ≥ 5 min after the birth of the last-born pig and, 2) how long this cohort of piglets laid on- or under the heat source. A total of 12 sows were enrolled in the study (parity 1 = 4; 3 = 2; 4 = 2; 5 = 2; and 7 = 2). The stall containing one sow and her litter was the experimental unit. Two treatments were compared: 1) Baby Pig Heat Mat—Single 48 (MAT) and 2) Poly Heat Lamp (LAMP). Temperature was 32°C for both heat source treatments. Sow and litter video recordings occurred continually over a 24-h period on the day of farrowing. Two measures were determined 1) how long it took for ≥ 50% of piglets to locate and lie on- or under the supplemental heat source for ≥ 5 min after the birth of the last-born pig (h:min), and 2) how long this cohort of piglets laid on- or under the heat source (min:sec). Lying was defined as either sternal or lateral recumbency with ≥ 75% of the piglet’s body touching the heat mat or inside the lamp heat circle. Production records were used to verify farrowing date, total number of piglets born, and born alive. No cross fostering occurred during this study. All data will be presented descriptively. On average, sows assigned to the LAMP treatment took ~2 ½-h to farrow, and for sows assigned to the MAT ~3 ½-h, respectively. Piglets took between ~5-h (LAMP) and ~9-h (MAT) for ≥ 50% of piglets to locate and lie on- or under the supplemental heat source for ≥ 5 min after the birth of the last piglet. Cohort of piglets laid on- or under the heat source as follows, LAMP piglets spent ~29 mins lying and for MAT piglets ~42 mins, respectively. Average pre-weaning mortality was 11% (LAMP) and 18% (MAT). The MAT heat source used less energy than the LAMP (16 vs. 63 kWh) over the study duration. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first published study using a continuous sampling method to precisely examine a new measure (time needed for ≥ 50% of piglets to locate and lie on- or under the supplemental heat source for ≥ 5 min after the birth of the last-born piglet) and to determine how long this cohort of piglets laid on- or under the heat source. Our findings show an immense range in locating and lying under- or on the heat source. Therefore, we suggest that caretakers should assist all piglets to locate the heat source after farrowing is complete to improve piglet livability.
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Huting, Anne M. S., Anouschka Middelkoop, Xiaonan Guan, and Francesc Molist. "Using Nutritional Strategies to Shape the Gastro-Intestinal Tracts of Suckling and Weaned Piglets." Animals 11, no. 2 (February 5, 2021): 402. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11020402.
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This is a comprehensive review on the use of nutritional strategies to shape the functioning of the gastro-intestinal tract in suckling and weaned piglets. The progressive development of a piglet’s gut and the associated microbiota and immune system offers a unique window of opportunity for supporting gut health through dietary modulation. This is particularly relevant for large litters, for which sow colostrum and milk are insufficient. The authors have therefore proposed the use of supplemental milk and creep feed with a dual purpose. In addition to providing nutrients to piglets, supplemental milk can also serve as a gut modulator in early life by incorporating functional ingredients with potential long-term benefits. To prepare piglets for weaning, it is important to stimulate the intake of solid feed before weaning, in addition to stimulating the number of piglets eating. The use of functional ingredients in creep feed and a transition diet around the time of weaning helps to habituate piglets to solid feed in general, while also preparing the gut for the digestion and fermentation of specific ingredients. In the first days after weaning (i.e., the acute phase), it is important to maintain high levels of feed intake and focus on nutritional strategies that support good gastric (barrier) function and that avoid overloading the impaired digestion and fermentation capacity of the piglets. In the subsequent maturation phase, the ratio of lysine to energy can be increased gradually in order to stimulate piglet growth. This is because the digestive and fermentation capacity of the piglets is more mature at this stage, thus allowing the inclusion of more fermentable fibres. Taken together, the nutritional strategies addressed in this review provide a structured approach to preparing piglets for success during weaning and the period that follows. The implementation of this approach and the insights to be developed through future research can help to achieve some of the most important goals in pig production: reducing piglet mortality, morbidity and antimicrobial use.
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DYCK, G. W., E. E. SWIERSTRA, R. M. MCKAY, and K. MOUNT. "EFFECT OF LOCATION OF THE TEAT SUCKLED, BREED AND PARITY ON PIGLET GROWTH." Canadian Journal of Animal Science 67, no. 4 (December 1, 1987): 929–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjas87-098.
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The effect of location of the teat suckled on piglet growth was evaluated on 919 piglets in 111 litters from 20 Yorkshire (Y) and 17 Yorkshire × Lacombe (YL) sows over the 2nd to 4th parities. Analysis of covariance was used to adjust the data for the effect of birth weight and number of piglets born alive. Piglet weight at 35 d of age was correlated with birth weight (r = 0.606) and the number of piglets born alive (r = −0.256). A breed difference was observed only for piglet weight gain (adjusted for litter size) with Y piglets being lighter (P < 0.01) than YL piglets at both 21 (Y, 3.77 kg vs. YL, 4.10 kg) and 35 (Y, 6.84 kg vs. YL, 7.95 kg) days of age. Piglets suckling the three anterior teats were heavier (P < 0.01) at 21 and 35 d of age than piglets suckling the three to four posterior teats. The effect of teat location on piglet weight was apparent both as a main effect and through its interaction with sow breed and with parity. At 21 d of age the weight, adjusted for birth weight and number born alive, of Y and YL piglets suckling the anterior teats was similar (Y, 5.43 kg; YL, 5.55 kg) and greater (P < 0.05) than the weight of piglets suckling the posterior teats. For piglets suckling the posterior teats, the Y piglets were heavier (P < 0.05) than YL piglets (Y, 5.18 kg vs. YL, 4.78 kg). At 35 d of age, the Y piglets suckling the anterior teats were lighter (P < 0.05) than YL piglets (Y, 8.78 kg vs. YL, 9.35 kg), and heavier (P < 0.05) than piglets suckling the posterior teats. The weight of Y and YL piglets suckling the posterior teats was similar (Y, 8.33 kg; YL, 8.24 kg). For weight gain (adjusted for number born alive) the differences at 21 and 35 d of age were YLa (anterior teats)>Ya>YLp (posterior teats) = Yp, and YLa>Ya = YLp>Yp, respectively. The parity × teat location effect was an increase in the difference in average piglet weight between piglets suckling the anterior and posterior teats from 2nd to 4th parity (21 d, 0.33–0.65 kg, P = 0.137; 35 d, 0.39–1.17 kg, P = 0.085). For weight gain, these differences were significant (21 d, 0.31–0.75 kg, P = 0.017; 35 d, 0.43–1.26 kg, P = 0.007). These results indicate that the effect of location of the teat suckled on piglet weight is specific to the breed of dam and influenced by parity with piglets suckling the more anterior teats being heavier. Key words: Piglet weight, teat location, breed, parity
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Schönleben, Manfred, Joachim Mentschel, Sebastian Feser, Luboš Střelec, and Klaus Klunker. "Smart Pig Nutrition: Effect of Piglet Weaning Nutrition Strategy on Their Growth Ability, Survival and Economics." Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis 68, no. 4 (2020): 699–705. http://dx.doi.org/10.11118/actaun202068040699.
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Modern high-performance swine genetics, such as Danish hybrid sows, can yield large litter sizes. Especially in the suckling phase, managing these large litters with low piglet losses is often a challenge. To support the modern highly prolific sows and litters, the use of pre-starters as suckling pig supplementary feed, including sufficient freshwater access, are nowadays good professional practices. Neonatal piglets especially profit from liquid supplemental feed via the possible higher absolute dry matter intake potential, in comparison to solid feed or without supplement. Various studies also indicate that supplying additional liquid feed to piglets pre- and post-weaning may yield epigenetic, life-long positive effects in animal key performance indicators. Although the advantages of early liquid piglet nutrition are today widely known, supplying adequate nutrient concentrations, the smooth preparation of the piglet's digestive system towards solid, starchy feed, and consequently enzymatic training to reduce post-weaning stress are still challenges which have to be considered. Due to their higher concentration of solids, piglet starters in porridge form i.a. offer the advantage of higher nutrient densities and aggregation stability. The aim of this study was, therefore, to answer the questions: 1) Can improved litter performance also routinely be obtained by supplying a porridge supplemental diet to neonatal piglets, and 2) Does improved litter performance translate into overall improved net economic returns within a professional piglet production setup of 254 piglets from 21 litters? Results show, applying the preweaning porridge strategy not only yielded around 10% higher daily gains and life weight results than conventional approaches, but also a return of investment of 2 : 1.
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Špinka, Marek, Jitka Maletínská, Jitka Víchová, and Ilona Stěhulová. "INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION OF PIGLETS BY SOWS IN THE EARLY POST-PARTUM PERIOD." Behaviour 139, no. 7 (2002): 975–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853902320387927.
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AbstractWe investigated whether domestic sow discriminates one day old piglets based on their individual odours or based on some odour common to the whole litter. We manipulated the contacts between sow and piglets during the first 24 h post partum in such a way that produced 4 types of piglets, as combinations of two factors: relatedness and familiarity. We used ten pairs of sows individually housed in farrowing pens in which parturitions were induced on the same day. When the manipulations were finished, each sow was subjected to two testing situations. First it was a 5 min choice test in which the sow could show her preference for the 4 types of anaesthetized (immobile and mute) piglets: Own Familiar, Own Unfamiliar, Alien Familiar and Alien Unfamiliar. Second the sow was subjected to three 2.5 min preference tests with the following combinations of dyads of awake piglets: Own Familiar vs Alien Unfamiliar; Own Familiar vs Own Unfamiliar; Alien Unfamiliar vs Alien Familiar. We recorded the frequency and duration of visits and the grunting rate of sow with respect to each piglet type, in the test with awake piglets we also recorded piglets' vocalisation and movement. In the test with anaesthetized piglets we found a significant effect of piglet type on the duration of visits (F (3,16) = 3.94, p = 0.014). The significant difference between Own Unfamiliar and Own Familiar piglets indicates that sows use the individual odours of piglets to discriminate between own and alien ones. The number of visits to individual piglets was also affected by piglet type (F (3,16) = 2.71, p = 0.055), with sows visiting Own Familiar piglets significantly more often than Alien Unfamiliar ones. In none of the three preference tests with awake piglets did the sows show significant preference for a specific type of piglet. However the sows' visits in the piglets was affected by the piglets' activity. In periods when both the piglets were moving the sow spent a greater proportion of time by visiting them (Students t-test, N = 11, mean = 0.12, p = 0.0014) then during periods when only one or none of the piglets was moving. Sows also spent a greater proportion of time visiting the piglets when they were vocalising (Students t-test, N = 11, mean = 0.129, p = 0.019) than when they were not. The study shows that early recognition of piglets by sows is probably mediated by the individual odour of each piglet and that kinetic and acoustic cues augment the motivation to reunite with the piglets and this may then override the willingness to discriminate among them.
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Nam, Nguyen Hoai, and Peerapol Sukon. "Incidence of dystocia at piglet level in cloprostenol-induced farrowings and associated risk factors." Archives Animal Breeding 65, no. 1 (March 7, 2022): 97–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/aab-65-97-2022.
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Abstract. Few studies have investigated risk factors for dystocia in swine, although this birthing abnormality can compromise welfare of both sows and piglets by increasing stillbirth rate and decreasing sow productivity. This study aimed to determine risk factors associated with dystocia at piglet level in cloprostenol-induced farrowings. A dystocia event was recorded when a birth interval exceeded 45 min or when manual extraction was applied. Data were collected from 898 piglets born from 77 Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred sows, which were induced for farrowing on day 114 of gestation. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to evaluate the association between dystocia and parity, gestation length, litter size, relative birth order (RBO (%) = 100 ⋅ birth order/litter size), birth weight, crown rump length, body mass index, ponderal index, piglet's sex, use of oxytocin, and stillbirth. Sows nested in farrowing batches were fitted as random factors in GLMMs. Incidence of dystocia at piglet and farrowing levels was 11.0 % and 75.3 %, respectively. The final multivariate model explained 20.1 % variation of dystocia. RBO had a quadratic effect on dystocia in which incidence of dystocia decreased from RBO ≤ 40 % to RBO = 60 %–70 %, and then increased to the end of parturition. Piglets with birth weight > 1700 g and stillborn piglets had higher odds of dystocia in comparison with piglets with a birth weight of 900–1700 g (OR = 2.63; 95 % CI = 1.66–4.18) and live-born piglets (OR = 2.62; 95 % CI = 1.12–6.15), respectively. This study indicates that dystocia is very common in cloprostenol-induced farrowings and suggests that the last one-third of parturitions is the most important stage to be supervised, and selection for homogenous litters and moderate high birth weight may reduce the rate of dystocia.
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Moisei, I. S., M. G. Povod, O. G. Mykhalko, B. V. Gutyj, T. V. Verbelchuk, S. P. Verbelchuk, V. V. Koberniuk, and T. I. Kovalchuk. "Effectiveness of the liquid method of feeding suckling piglets." Scientific Messenger of LNU of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies 26, no. 100 (February 21, 2024): 16–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.32718/nvlvet-a10003.
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The article examined the dependence of sow productivity, the growth rate of suckling piglets, their weight at transfer to rearing, the consumption of precursor feeds, and their costs on dry and liquid feeding systems for piglets in the suckling period. The dependence on feed costs for piglet feeding, veterinary drugs for prevention, and the costs and profitability of piglet rearing in these feeding systems were analyzed. It was found that the use of the liquid milk replacer Opticare Milk helped to improve the survival rate of piglets up to weaning by 7.5 %, increase their number in the sow's nest at this time by 7.0 %, increase the average daily growth of suckling piglets by 20.4 %, increase the absolute weight gain by 19.8 %, increase the weight of the piglet litter at weaning by 22.0 % and increase the individual weight of the piglets at weaning by 14.7 % compared to piglet litters fed dry granulated starter provide Superior Neonatal. Multiple fertility, high fertility, and litter weight of piglets at birth did not depend on how piglets were fed during the suckling period. With liquid feeding of suckling piglets, the proportion of piglets with diarrhea decreased by 12.20 % and the costs for the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases increased by 58.5 %, the costs for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases by 55.4 %, and the veterinary costs for rearing a piglet during the suckling period by 53.8 % compared to analogs with dry feeding. To 1 kg of gain, these costs increased by 33.1 % due to prevention and 28.4 % due to treatment, resulting in a 28.5 % overrun of the total costs for treatment and prevention. In general, the costs for feeding and medical and preventive measures increased by 157.8 % per animal and 122.2 % per 1 kg of gain compared to dry feeding. At the same time, under the liquid feeding system for suckling piglets, the cost of keeping a sow per weaned piglet fell by 6.00 %. The proportion of these costs per piglet decreased by 21.6 %, and the cost of keeping a sow per 1 kg increased. Still, the cost of a piglet at weaning increases by 13.2 %, the cost of 1 kg live weight of piglets at weaning increases by 5.6 %, the share of feed and veterinary components in the cost of rearing a piglet increases by 9.1 %, and by 3.4 %. At the same time, the market value increases by 14.7 %, the income from rearing a piglet rises by 17.9 %, and the profitability of rearing a piglet increases by 1.95 %.
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Park, Mi-Rung, Seong-Keun Cho, Jong-Yi Park, So-Young Lee, Yun-Jung Choi, Deug-Nam Kwon, Woo-Jin Son, Han-Geuk Seo, and Jin-Hoi Kim. "Detection of rare Leydig cell hypoplasia in somatic cell cloned male piglets." Zygote 12, no. 4 (November 2004): 305–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0967199404002904.
Full textAbstract:
In this investigation, 22 cloned male piglets were obtained by male fetal fibroblast-cell-derived nuclear transfer. Eighteen of the cloned animals died. The two cell lines did not differ significantly with regard to efficiency of live piglet production. The gross anatomy of the testes of male piglets that died was normal. However, one piglet displayed Leydig cell hypoplasia (LCH). No anatomical defects were detected in the testes of other cloned male piglets. TUNEL analysis of the testis with LCH revealed significant apoptosis in the Leydig cells, while apoptosis was rarely detected in Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. In contrast, testes from the remaining 17 piglets that died appeared normal in size, and their Sertoli and Leydig cell numbers were comparable to those in control piglet testes. Although cloned piglets were derived from fibroblasts obtained from the same fetus, phenotypic instability between cells used for the production of somatic cell cloned piglets suggests that abnormalities in male cloned piglets are caused not by technical problems and/or reprogramming effects, but rather by epigenetically and/or genetically damaged cell-specific effects.
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Rydhmer, L. "Relations between piglet weights and survival." BSAP Occasional Publication 15 (1992): 183–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0263967x00004250.
Full textAbstract:
The birth weight of the piglet has an important influence on many aspects of later performance. There are, for example, relations between birth weight and growth rate as well as between birth weight and litter traits at farrowing (Rydhmer, Eliasson, Stern, Andersson and Einarsson, 1989). In a shorter perspective, birth weight affects piglet survival during the first weeks of life.High Utter size (number born) is a common breeding goal. Piglet weight is related to the number of piglets in the Utter. Piglet weight is also related to survival; thus mortality increases with litter size.The aim of this work was to study variation in piglet weight, some factors that may influence piglet weight and relations between litter size, piglet weight and piglet survival.Individual piglet weights were registered in 747 litters from an experimental farm. Of the 8134 piglets born, 2326 were Swedish Yorkshire, 239 Swedish Landrace, and the rest were crosses between these two breeds. One-third of the piglets were born in gilt litters. The piglets were creep fed from the 2nd week and weaned at 6 weeks of age. They were individually weighed at birth and at 3, 6 and 9 weeks of age. Birth weight in this report refers to the weight of all piglets born, including those stillborn.
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Neil, M., and B. Ogle. "A two-diet system and ad libitum lactation feeding of the sow. 2. Litter size and piglet performance." Animal Science 62, no. 2 (April 1996): 349–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1357729800014661.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractSixty gilts were allotted to one of the following feeding regimes: CR, a conventional diet offered at a restricted level according to Swedish feeding standards; SA, a simplified gestation diet (mainly oats and barley) offered at a restricted level and a conventional diet offered ad libitum during lactation; CA, a conventional gestation diet offered at a restricted level and the same diet offered ad libitum during lactation. The sows were followed for four parities. Piglet birth weight was unaffected by sow feeding, but differences in piglet live weight were found from 3 weeks of age to the end of the experiment when the piglets were 9 weeks old. CA piglets were heavier than SA piglets at 3 and 9 weeks of age and heavier than both CR and SA piglets at weaning (35 ± 3 days). Litter size was unaffected by treatment as was piglet mortality, whereas the cause of death varied with treatment. Mortality due to trauma was higher among CA piglets than among others, while mortality due to weakness was higher among SA piglets than others and there was also a tendency for higher mortality due to diarrhoea among CR piglets. It was concluded that the CA feeding regime was superior with regards to piglet performance.
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Foster, E., S. A. Edwards, F. M. Davidson, and J. Duncan. "Effect of environmental and social enrichment during lactation on the response of piglets to weaning." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1998 (1998): 111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1752756200597634.
Full textAbstract:
Weaning is a time at which many different stressors are imposed on the piglet and poor health and performance are significant commercial problems. It is therefore important to understand which factors influence a piglet's adaptation to weaning, and how this might be improved. UK national recording scheme data demonstrate consistently better post-weaning performance for piglets from outdoor breeding herds than for indoor-bred piglets. There are many differences between the outdoor and indoor situation, and these are being systematically investigated. One potential difference which might influence the response to weaning is the greater degree of environmental and social diversity typically experienced by outdoor piglets during lactation.Fifty-four sows and their litters were allocated according to farrowing date and parity to one of three enrichment treatments: treatments were (1) Control (C) in which litters remained in fully slatted farrowing pens with crates throughout lactation, (2) Socially enriched (SE) in which two adjacent litters were allowed to co-mingle from 12 days of age by removal of the dividing partition, and (3) Environmentally enriched (EE) in which piglets in similar housing were presented with a variety of small moveable objects and a rooting substrate.
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Foster, E., S. A. Edwards, F. M. Davidson, and J. Duncan. "Effect of environmental and social enrichment during lactation on the response of piglets to weaning." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1998 (1998): 111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600033249.
Full textAbstract:
Weaning is a time at which many different stressors are imposed on the piglet and poor health and performance are significant commercial problems. It is therefore important to understand which factors influence a piglet's adaptation to weaning, and how this might be improved. UK national recording scheme data demonstrate consistently better post-weaning performance for piglets from outdoor breeding herds than for indoor-bred piglets. There are many differences between the outdoor and indoor situation, and these are being systematically investigated. One potential difference which might influence the response to weaning is the greater degree of environmental and social diversity typically experienced by outdoor piglets during lactation.Fifty-four sows and their litters were allocated according to farrowing date and parity to one of three enrichment treatments: treatments were (1) Control (C) in which litters remained in fully slatted farrowing pens with crates throughout lactation, (2) Socially enriched (SE) in which two adjacent litters were allowed to co-mingle from 12 days of age by removal of the dividing partition, and (3) Environmentally enriched (EE) in which piglets in similar housing were presented with a variety of small moveable objects and a rooting substrate.
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Bird, P. H., and P. E. Hartmann. "Changes in the concentration of fructose in the blood of piglets of different ages after doses of fructose, fructose plus glucose, and sucrose." British Journal of Nutrition 76, no. 3 (September 1996): 399–407. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/bjn19960045.
Full textAbstract:
We investigated the hydrolysis of sucrose in the small intestine and the subsequent absorption and metabolism of fructose in sucking piglets by measuring temporal changes in the concentration of fructose in the plasma following the administration of physiological amounts of these carbohydrates. Calculations of the area under the curve for fructose in the plasma showed that there was no age limit to the piglets'ability to absorb fructose. However, there was a limit to the amount of fructose that the younger piglets could get from a dose of sucrose. Indeed, we demonstrated that there was a positive linear correlation between a piglet's capacity to hydrolyse sucrose and the age of the piglet up to 15 d of age (r 0·98).The half-life for fructose was 495, 103, 38, 49 and 28 min in 2-, 5-, 7-, 10- and 15-d-old piglets respectively and, thus, there was only limited utilization of fructose in the younger piglets. However, there were 13·0- and 1·4-fold increases in the elimination rate of fructose from the plasma of piglets from 2 to 7 d and from 7 to 15 d respectively, consistent with the reported increase in the deposition of fat in piglets of a similar age range. Hence, the effective metabolism of fructose may bepartially dependent on the amount of adipose tissue present and the phosphorylation of this monosaccharide by hexokinase (EC 2·7·1·1) in this tissue.
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Alexa, Pavel, Jaroslav Hamřík, Lucie Konstantinová, and Zuzana Šrámková-Zajacová. "Experimental infection of weaned piglets with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O149:F4." Acta Veterinaria Brno 80, no. 4 (2011): 337–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.2754/avb201180040337.
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EnterotoxigenicEscherichia coliis an important enteric pathogen causing post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets. Enterotoxins ofE. coliinduce the release of fluid into the intestines without apparent inflammation. Some serotypes ofE. coli, especially O149:F4 can often be identified in association with haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. In this study we infected the weaned piglets (n = 53) by oral administration of enterotoxigenicE. coliO149:F4 strains isolated from piglets suffering from haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. The clinical course of infection and shedding of the challengeE. colistrain in the faeces of infected piglets was monitored for 14 days. The challenge strain soon outnumbered the otherE. colitypes in the intestines of most piglets. Diarrhoea developed in the majority of piglets and its severity varied. Severe diarrhoea was observed in 10% of the piglets but only one piglet died due to dehydration. No inflammatory lesions were detected in the intestines of the dead piglet and the other euthanized piglets. We assume that development of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis depends on the involvement of other factors that need to be identified.E. coliO149:F4 are only one of the causative factors of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in piglets after weaning.
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Rivas, Rafael Ovidio Bautista, Naomi C. Willard, Katherine D. Vande Pol, Jenny R. Morris, Alicia Olivo Espinal, Nicole K. Moest, Caleb M. Shull, and Michael Ellis. "PSIII-2 Effect of Piglet Characteristics on Blood Glucose Levels at Birth." Journal of Animal Science 99, Supplement_1 (May 1, 2021): 154–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab054.265.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Blood glucose levels in piglets at birth are potentially associated with survival, however, there has been limited research to quantify these and to establish any associations with piglet characteristics. This study, which evaluated the effects of a number of piglet characteristics on blood glucose levels at birth, was conducted as a cross-sectional survey involving 32 litters. Litter was the experimental unit; piglet was a sub-sample of litter. At birth, piglets were weighed and assigned a vitality score [1 = high vitality; 2 = low vitality (limited mobility and/or respiration)]. Piglets were then dried with a cellulose-based desiccant, and blood samples were collected from half of the piglets in each litter with a vitality score of 1 (n = 226) and all piglets with a vitality score of 2 (n = 7). Samples (1.2 μL) were collected from the vena subcutanea abdominis; blood glucose was measured using a glucometer (Accuchek Aviva; Roche Diabetes Care, Inc., Indianapolis, IN). Effects of piglet characteristics and relationships with blood glucose levels were analyzed using PROC MIXED, PROC GLIMMIX, and PROC REG of SAS, as appropriate. There were no effects (P > 0.05) of piglet birth weight or gender on blood glucose levels. Piglets with a vitality score of 2 had higher (P < 0.05) blood glucose levels than those with a score of 1. Blood glucose levels increased linearly (P < 0.05) with birth order (0.8 mg/dL for each piglet increase). In conclusion, blood glucose levels at birth were higher for piglets with low compared to high vitality and for those born later in the birth order. Further research is needed to establish relationships between blood glucose levels in piglets at birth and subsequent survival.
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Mirkov, Mile, Ivan Radović, Miroslava Polovinski-Horvatović, Ljiljana Tovilović, Slobodan Konjević, and Velibor Vasiljević. "Piglet Body Weight Variation and the Influence of Birth Weight on Piglet Growth During Lactation and Weaning." Contemporary Agriculture 70, no. 1-2 (May 26, 2021): 6–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/contagri-2021-0002.
Full textAbstract:
Summary Piglets are an important category in pig farming which should, alongside sows, be considered essential production heads. Over the past decades, the intensive selection in pig production has given priority to economically important traits resulting in greater feed utilization and obtaining more piglets from fewer sows. However, such selection practices have failed to improve the overall vitality of piglets and their ability to survive immediately after birth or during their stay in the farrowing unit. Body weight is of great importance in pig production, especially the piglet body weight at birth. A number of parameters can be predicted according to the piglet birth weight: mortality and growth rate, the physiological status of the heard, sensitivity to external influences, vitality and etc. The purpose of this paper is to determine the piglet body weight variation from birth to weaning (measured at birth, 3 hours after birth, 24 hours after birth and at weaning) and to examine the relationship between the birth weight of piglets and their body weight during the transition into nursing. A total of 105 piglets were enrolled in this study from the F1 generation sows followed through eight consecutive parities. The paper presents the results obtained using descriptive statistics, as well as variance and correlation analysis. The relationship between the piglet body weight at different stages of their life and overall production parameters was found to emphasize the centrality of housing conditions as the piglet weight at birth exerts a great impact on the body weight of older piglets, especially in the first days of the piglet life. Therefore, the proper care of piglets in farrowing units is of paramount importance to pig production, especially because piglets have lower body weight at birth nowadays than before.
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Lim, Jin-A., Jihye Cha, Soyoung Choi, Jae-Hwan Kim, and Dahye Kim. "Early Colonization of the Intestinal Microbiome of Neonatal Piglets Is Influenced by the Maternal Microbiome." Animals 13, no. 21 (October 31, 2023): 3378. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13213378.
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The intestinal microbiome plays a crucial role in animal health and growth by interacting with the host, inhibiting pathogenic microbial colonization, and regulating immunity. This study investigated dynamic changes in the fecal microbial composition of piglets from birth through weaning and the relationship between the piglet fecal microbiome and sows. Feces, skin, neonatal oral cavity, and vaginal samples were collected from eight sows and sixty-three piglets, and 16S genome sequencing was performed. The results revealed that Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria dominated the piglet microbiome in the early stages, and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were crucial for maintaining a balance in the intestinal microbiome during nursing. The abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Succinivibrio, and Prevotella increased in weaned piglets fed solid feed. Analysis of the microbiome from sows to piglets indicated a shift in the microbiome colonizing piglet intestines, which became a significant constituent of the piglet intestinal microbiome. This study supports the theory that the neonatal intestinal microbiome is vertically transmitted from the mother. Further research is required to integrate factors related to sows, piglets, and their environments to gain a better understanding of the early establishment of the intestinal microbiome in piglets.
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Okuda, Y., M. Ono, S. Yazawa, and I. Shibata. "Experimental Reproduction of Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome in Cesarean-Derived, Colostrum-Deprived Piglets Inoculated with Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2): Investigation of Quantitative PCV2 Distribution and Antibody Responses." Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 15, no. 2 (March 2003): 107–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/104063870301500204.
Full textAbstract:
Sixteen cesarean-derived, colostrum-deprived piglets were inoculated intranasally with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), originally isolated from a pig affected with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). At 1 day postinoculation (PI), 3 of the 5 piglets in the uninoculated control group were moved to the room of inoculated piglets for contact exposure. Porcine circovirus type 2 was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in swabs from inoculated piglets from 1 day PI and from contact piglets from 2 days after cohabitation. Porcine circovirus type 2 was also detected in all serum samples but not in control piglets 7 days PI. Until the end of study, PCV2 was detected in swabs and serum samples by PCR but not in the control piglets. One inoculated piglet died suddenly without clinical signs 19 days PI. Beginning at 14 days PI, 5 piglets, including 1 contact piglet, had clinical signs of depression, anorexia, and icterus, and 1 inoculated piglet died 21 days PI. Most of the piglets exhibiting the above clinical signs became moribund and were necropsied 21 and 28 days PI. In the piglets that showed clinical signs, gross lesions, including icterus of liver and hemorrhage in stomach, and typical histopathological lesions of PMWS, such as lymphoid depletion and basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in lymph nodes and other tissues, were observed. Porcine circovirus type 2 was detected by PCR in all tissue samples except in those of the control piglets. Porcine circovirus type 2 was recovered from several tissue samples of the piglets necropsied until 35 days PI. In particular, PCV2 was recovered in high titer from most of the tissue samples of the piglets exhibiting clinical signs. Serum antibody against PCV2 was mostly detected in inoculated piglets and in contact piglets 14 and 21 days PI by an indirect fluorescence antibody test but was not detected in the piglets exhibiting clinical signs until 28 days PI. These results indicate that PCV2 was able to induce clinical PMWS in the absence of other swine pathogens and that there were significant differences in both the quantitative PCV2 distribution in tissues and the antibody response between the piglets that were infected and developed PMWS and those that were infected but remained healthy.
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Weber, R., NM Keil, M. Fehr, and R. Horat. "Piglet mortality on farms using farrowing systems with or without crates." Animal Welfare 16, no. 2 (May 2007): 277–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600031511.
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AbstractCrating sows in farrowing systems greatly restricts their normal behaviour, which is usually justified by the assumption that piglet mortality is higher with loose-housed sows. Based on experiments showing that this is not the case, farrowing crates were banned in Switzerland in 1997. Since then, many farms have introduced loose farrowing systems, enabling a comparison of piglet mortality in farrowing systems with and without crates based on a large sample size. Data of a sow-recording scheme (UFA2000) were analysed using generalised linear mixed-effects models with an underlying Poisson distribution. In 2002 and 2003, the average total piglet mortality on 173 farms (n = 18,824 litters) with loose farrowing systems amounted to 1.40 piglets per litter and did not differ from that of 482 farms (n = 44,837 litters) with crates (1.42 piglets per litter). Nevertheless, the number of crushed piglets was significantly higher in pens with loose-housed sows (0.62 versus 0.52 piglets per litter), whereas the number of piglets that died for other reasons was significantly higher in crates (0.78 versus 0.89 piglets per litter). Total piglet mortality was influenced by litter size at birth, age of the sow and season. Consequently, evaluation of the reproductive data of commercial farms shows that no more piglet losses occur in loose farrowing pens, common nowadays in Switzerland, than in farrowing pens with crates, and that litter size at birth is the main influence on piglet losses.
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Berg, S., I. L. Andersen, G. M. Tajet, I. A. Haukvik, S. Kongsrud, and K. E. Bøe. "Piglet use of the creep area and piglet mortality – effects of closing the piglets inside the creep area during sow feeding time in pens for individually loose-housed sows." Animal Science 82, no. 2 (April 2006): 277–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/asc200633.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of closing the piglets inside the piglet creep area during the first two or four sow feedings on piglet mortality from birth until weaning and piglet use of the creep area within the first 3 days after farrowing. A total of 96 sows in individual loose-housing farrowing pens were randomly allotted to one out of three groups: C0 – control (piglets not closed inside the creep area during feeding), C2 – piglets closed inside the creep area during the first two sow feedings after farrowing, C4 – piglets closed inside the creep area during the first four sow feedings after farrowing. Production results were registered on all sows, and the behaviour of 33 of the sows and litters were recorded, using instantaneous sampling every 10 min for 6 h during day 1, 2 and 3 after farrowing (farrowing=day 0). There were no effects of closing the piglets inside the creep area during sow feeding on piglet mortality, piglet activity or location. However, to make this conclusion reliable, this should be tested for several herds and with different types of creep areas. The piglets were lying increasingly more in the creep area from day 1 to day 3 (P<0·001), and at the same time mean proportion of the litter observed lying in close proximity of the mother decreased (P<0·001). How much the piglets used the creep area differed strongly between sows (P<0·05).
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Luo, Jie, Feiruo Huang, Chenglin Xiao, Zhengfeng Fang, Jian Peng, and Siwen Jiang. "Responses of Growth Performance and Proinflammatory Cytokines Expression to Fish Oil Supplementation in Lactation Sows’ and/or Weaned Piglets’ Diets." BioMed Research International 2013 (2013): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/905918.
Full textAbstract:
The study was conducted to investigate whether dietary fish oil could influence growth of piglets via regulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. A split-plot experimental design was used with sow diet effect in the main plots and differing piglet diet effect in the subplot. The results showed that suckling piglets from fish oil fed dams grew rapidly (P<0.05) than control. It was also observed that these piglets had higher ADG, feed intake, and final body weight (P<0.05) during postweaning than those piglets from lard fed dams. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease (P<0.01) in the expression of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-αinlongissimus dorsimuscle. In contrast, there was a tendency (P<0.10) towards lower ADG and higher feed : gain in weaned piglets receiving fish oil compared with those receiving lard. Meanwhile, splenic proinflammatory cytokines expression was increased (P<0.01) in piglets receiving fish oil during postweaning period. The results suggested that 7% fish oil addition to sows' diets alleviated inflammatory response via decreasing the proinflammatory cytokines expression in skeletal muscle and accelerated piglet growth. However, 7% fish oil addition to weaned piglets' diets might decrease piglet growth via increasing splenic proinflammatory cytokines expression.
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Jones, G., S. A. Edwards, S. Jagger, and S. Hoste. "Effects of sow, udder section and time on colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and piglet colostrum intake." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1998 (1998): 159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1752756200598111.
Full textAbstract:
Relationships between sow nutrition, milk yield, milk composition and piglet performance during lactation have been studied in numerous experiments. However, the subsequent effects of these pre-weaning factors on post-weaning piglet performance are less well studied. Commonly a growth check in piglets in response to weaning is noted, but to date it is unknown why some piglets do better than others in this period. The present experiment explored some of the pre-weaning factors that could explain the variability in piglet post-weaning growth.The performance of piglets from 41 litters was monitored during a lactation period of 26 days. Litter size was standardised to 10 piglets, which were not offered creep food. Piglets were weighed individually on a weekly basis from farrowing to weaning at 26 days. Daily litter milk intake was estimated by a weigh-suckle-weigh technique in 24 litters on 4 occasions at 5 day intervals across lactation. On the day after each of these days, the composition of milk was determined from milk samples obtained by hand milking following oxytocin injection. Litter milk intake and composition of milk were used to calculate the mean daily piglet nutrient intakes during lactation. After weaning some piglets were sacrificed for the analysis of body composition and 310 piglets out of the 41 litters were penned in litter groups in controlled environment flat decks for two weeks to monitor daily group feed intakes and weekly individual growth rates.
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Jones, G., S. A. Edwards, S. Jagger, and S. Hoste. "Effects of sow, udder section and time on colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and piglet colostrum intake." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1998 (1998): 159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600033729.
Full textAbstract:
Relationships between sow nutrition, milk yield, milk composition and piglet performance during lactation have been studied in numerous experiments. However, the subsequent effects of these pre-weaning factors on post-weaning piglet performance are less well studied. Commonly a growth check in piglets in response to weaning is noted, but to date it is unknown why some piglets do better than others in this period. The present experiment explored some of the pre-weaning factors that could explain the variability in piglet post-weaning growth.The performance of piglets from 41 litters was monitored during a lactation period of 26 days. Litter size was standardised to 10 piglets, which were not offered creep food. Piglets were weighed individually on a weekly basis from farrowing to weaning at 26 days. Daily litter milk intake was estimated by a weigh-suckle-weigh technique in 24 litters on 4 occasions at 5 day intervals across lactation. On the day after each of these days, the composition of milk was determined from milk samples obtained by hand milking following oxytocin injection. Litter milk intake and composition of milk were used to calculate the mean daily piglet nutrient intakes during lactation. After weaning some piglets were sacrificed for the analysis of body composition and 310 piglets out of the 41 litters were penned in litter groups in controlled environment flat decks for two weeks to monitor daily group feed intakes and weekly individual growth rates.
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Lindberg, Jan Erik, Maria Neil, and Mari-Ann Cidh. "Effect of ad libitum access to milk replacer to piglets on performance of piglets, slaughter pigs and sows." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1997 (1997): 58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s175275620059499x.
Full textAbstract:
One way of improving the growth rate of piglets could be to provide a palatable diet with high nutritive value (Pluske et al., 1995). Several earlier studies have shown that this is possible by improving the piglet diet either by selecting ingredients or by processing the cereals in the diet (Hardy, 1992). An alternative could be to offer the piglets a milk replacer, in addition to a dry piglet feed, in order to make the transition to a complete dry feeding smoother. Recent data suggest that villus height and crypt depth are maintained after weaning in piglets when fed cows whole milk and that the capacity to absorb monosaccharides was increased (Pluske et al., 1996). The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of ad libitum access to milk replacer to piglets, in addition to dry piglet feed and sows milk, on the performance of piglets, slaughter pigs and sows.
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Metzler-Zebeli, Barbara U. "The Role of Dietary and Microbial Fatty Acids in the Control of Inflammation in Neonatal Piglets." Animals 11, no. 10 (September 24, 2021): 2781. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11102781.
Full textAbstract:
Excessive inflammation and a reduced gut mucosal barrier are major causes for gut dysfunction in piglets. The fatty acid (FA) composition of the membrane lipids is crucial for mediating inflammatory signalling and is largely determined by their dietary intake. Porcine colostrum and milk are the major sources of fat in neonatal piglets. Both are rich in fat, demonstrating the dependence of the young metabolism from fat and providing the young organism with the optimum profile of lipids for growth and development. The manipulation of sow’s dietary polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) intake has been shown to be an efficient strategy to increase the transfer of specific FAs to the piglet for incorporation in enteric tissues and cell membranes. n-3 PUFAs, especially seems to be beneficial for the immune response and gut epithelial barrier function, supporting the piglet’s enteric defences in situations of increased stress such as weaning. Little is known about microbial lipid mediators and their role in gut barrier function and inhibition of inflammation in neonatal piglets. The present review summarizes the current knowledge of lipid nutrition in new-born piglets, comparing the FA ingestion from milk and plant-based lipid sources and touching the areas of host lipid signalling, inflammatory signalling and microbially derived FAs.
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Dumniem, Natchanon, Rafa Boonprakob, Thomas D. Parsons, and Padet Tummaruk. "Pen Versus Crate: A Comparative Study on the Effects of Different Farrowing Systems on Farrowing Performance, Colostrum Yield and Piglet Preweaning Mortality in Sows under Tropical Conditions." Animals 13, no. 2 (January 8, 2023): 233. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13020233.
Full textAbstract:
The present study was performed to determine the farrowing performance of sows, newborn piglet characteristics, colostrum yield, milk yield and piglet preweaning mortality in a free-farrowing pen compared to a conventional farrowing crate system in a tropical environment. A total of 92 sows and 1344 piglets were included in the study. The sows were allocated by parity into two farrowing systems, either a free-farrowing pen (n = 54 sows and 805 piglets) or a crate (n = 38 sows and 539 piglets). Backfat thickness and loin muscle depth of sows at 109.0 ± 3.0 days of gestation were measured. Reproductive performance data including total number of piglets born (TB), number of piglets born alive (BA), percentage of stillborn piglets (SB) and percentage of mummified foetuses (MF) per litter, farrowing duration, piglet expulsion interval, time from onset of farrowing to the last placental expulsion, piglet preweaning mortality rate, percentage of piglets crushed by sows and number of piglets at weaning were analysed. In addition, piglet colostrum intake, colostrum yield, Brix index and milk yield of sows were evaluated. On average, TB, BA, farrowing duration, colostrum yield and milk yield during 3 to 10 and 10 to 17 days of lactation were 14.7 ± 2.8, 12.8 ± 3.1, 213.2 ± 142.2 min, 5.3 ± 1.4 kg, 8.6 ± 1.5 kg, and 10.4 ± 2.2 kg, respectively. Sows kept in the free-farrowing pen tended to produce more colostrum than crated sows (5.5 ± 0.2 vs. 4.9 ± 0.2 kg, p = 0.080). Piglets born in the free-farrowing pen had a higher colostrum intake than those in the crate system (437.0 ± 6.9 and 411.7 ± 8.3 g, p = 0.019). However, the piglet preweaning mortality rate (26.8 ± 2.9 vs. 17.0 ± 3.8, p = 0.045) and the proportion of piglets crushed by sows (13.1 ± 2.1 vs. 5.8 ± 2.7, p = 0.037) in the free-farrowing pen were higher than those in the crate system. Interestingly, in the free-farrowing pen, piglet preweaning mortality rate in sows with high backfat thickness was higher than that in sows with moderate (37.8 ± 5.1% vs. 21.6 ± 3.6%, p = 0.011) and low (21.0 ± 6.2%, p = 0.038) backfat thickness. Moreover, the incidence of crushing in sows with high backfat thickness was higher in the free-farrowing pen than in the crate system (17.6 ± 3.6 vs. 4.0 ± 5.7, p = 0.049), but this difference was not detected for sows with moderate and low backfat thickness (p > 0.05). Milk yield of sows during 3 to 10 days (8.6 ± 0.2 vs. 8.6 ± 2.3, p > 0.05) and 10 to 17 days (10.2 ± 0.3 vs. 10.4 ± 0.4, p > 0.05) did not differ between the two farrowing systems. In conclusion, piglets born in the free-farrowing pen had a higher colostrum intake than those in the crate system. However, the piglet preweaning mortality rate and the proportion of piglets crushed by sows in the free-farrowing pen were higher than in the crate system. Interestingly, a high proportion of piglet preweaning mortality in the free-farrowing system was detected only in sows with high backfat thickness before farrowing but not in those with low and moderate backfat thickness. Therefore, additional management in sows with high backfat thickness (>24 mm) before farrowing should be considered to avoid the crushing of piglets by sows.
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Kristen, Ryan, Roslyn Bathgate, Greg M. Cronin, Evelyn Hall, Malcolm Possell, and Cormac John O’Shea. "Effect of Maternal Flavour Conditioning Combined with Organic and Inorganic Iron-Supplemented Creep Feed on Piglet Performance and Haemoglobin Status." Animals 14, no. 9 (April 23, 2024): 1263. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani14091263.
Full textAbstract:
Iron injections are vital but imperfect against iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). This experiment explored the effects on piglets of maternal flavour conditioning and the voluntary intake of anise flavoured, iron-supplemented creep feed compared with iron injections. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: ±maternal exposure to dietary anise flavour and ±intramuscular injections of piglets. Twenty-three sows and their litters (242 piglets) were randomly allocated to one of four treatments (n = 5 or 6 per treatment): no flavour plus no injection (NF + NI); no flavour plus iron injection (NF + I); flavour plus no injection (F + NI); and flavour plus iron injection (F + I). All piglets could access anise flavoured, iron-supplemented creep feed (organic and inorganic forms) from D2 of birth. Sow feed intake and milk anethole concentration, piglet body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG), creep feed disappearance, piglet behavioural time budgets, and piglet blood glucose and haemoglobin concentrations were determined. Over the four-week study, the only significant differences found were that iron-injected piglets had reduced blood glucose (p = 0.036) on D14 and that maternal flavour provision increased the frequency of piglet creep feed interaction (p = 0.023) and decreased the frequency of suckling events (p = 0.009). In summary, maternal flavour conditioning reduced piglet creep feed neophobia without influencing consumption. The supplementation of creep feed with iron and anise flavour to piglets under the conditions of this trial was effective in preventing IDA, regardless of exposure to maternal flavouring conditioning.
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Prodanov Radulović, Jasna, Radoslav Došen, Igor Stojanov, Vlada Polaček, Dubravka Milanov, Ivan Pušić, and Siniša Grubač. "NEONATAL DIARRHEA IN PIGS CAUSED BY Clostridium perfringens." Archives of Veterinary Medicine 7, no. 1 (January 21, 2015): 49–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.46784/e-avm.v7i1.124.
Full textAbstract:
The outbreaks of enteritic infections in piglets caused by Clostridium perfringens belongs to the disease group with marked age incidence i.e. it normally occurs in suckling piglets aged to 7 days, usually on 2nd or 3rd day. At necropsy, the predominant pathomorphological lesions are most frequently observed in small intestine, especially in jejunum. However, in some cases the pathomorfological lesions may macroscopically be absent. For that reason, diagnostic criteria should consider: the disease history data (mortality pattern), clinical signs of the disease (bloody diarrhea in suckling piglts), patomorhological lesions and bacteriologic fi ndings. The material for research included samples from 5 swine farms, where health problems (diarrhea, increased mortality) in suckling piglets of different age were detected. In total 69 piglet carcases were submitted to necropsy. In typical cases the presence of bloody content in small intestine, snaky appereance of aff ected intestinal loops, the presence of emphysema in the intestinal wall were observed. Applying bacteriology testing (anaerobic cultivation) in the most examined cases Clostridium perfringens was detected in tissue samples.
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Skok, Janko, and Dejan Škorjanc. "A note on precise tracking of suckling position by piglets." Archives Animal Breeding 57, no. 1 (May 23, 2014): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.7482/0003-9438-57-011.
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Abstract. Piglets establish a relatively stable teat order after the first week of lactation, when each piglet chooses a preferred teat or teat pair where they tend to suckle permanently. The mechanism underlying the choice that leads each piglet to the same suckling position is still not clarified. In the present case study, piglets with different preferred suckling positions (anterior, posterior) were transferred to a foster sow after completion of the regular 4 weeks of lactation by their biological mother. For both sows, which were identical based on parity, litter size and farrowing date, we examined the suckling positions of the experimental piglets. Piglets occupied exactly the same suckling positions on both sows. Thus, piglets precisely track positions on the mammary complex of a sows udder even when previously learned discriminable stimuli have been changed, such as odours, tastes, morphologies (of sows udder or the sow itself), vocalizations, and neighbouring littermates. Our observation indicates that the spatial configuration of the mammary complex, which is determined by two parallel rows of teats arranged in pairs, can hypothetically be proposed as an important cue for piglet suckling orientation. Therefore, additional attention should be given to the exact spatial position of piglets (and vacant positions) on the mammary complex of biological and foster mothers in order to reduce stress from cross-fostering, which is standard practice in contemporary piglet production.
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Fraser, David, and Jeffrey Rushen. "Colostrum intake by newborn piglets." Canadian Journal of Animal Science 72, no. 1 (March 1, 1992): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjas92-001.
Full textAbstract:
Colostrum intake by newborn piglets was studied by weighing piglets every 10 min for their first 1–4 h with the sow, and their cumulative weight increases were used as estimates of colostrum intake. In seven litters, four piglets were monitored for 4 h beginning about 2 h after the birth of the first piglet in order to determine if colostrum is available continuously or released in discrete ejections. There was little synchrony between litter-mates in their intake in the first hour, but by the second hour of monitoring (starting about 3 h after farrowing began), much of the colostrum was released in discrete ejections and piglets achieved most of their intake during the few 10-min intervals when an ejection occurred. To examine the effect of birth sequence, four piglets were added to the udder each hour for 3 consecutive hours. Piglets added in the last hour showed a small but significant tendency (P < 0.05) to obtain less colostrum than those added in the middle of the sequence. In nine litters, three piglets were confined to posterior and three to anterior teats for 1.5 h to examine the effect of teat position. Those on posterior teats had slightly but significantly (P = 0.02) lower estimated intake than piglets on anterior teats. Although low-birth-weight piglets, late-born piglets, and piglets sucking only posterior teats tended to obtain less colostrum, the differences were small, and most piglets obtained an amount of colostrum consistent with normal serum immunoglobulin concentration. Key words: Piglet, colostrum, suckling behavior, milk ejection, parturition
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Rooney, Hazel B., Keelin O’Driscoll, John O’Doherty, and Peadar Lawlor. "95 The effect of incremental dietary energy density from 13.8 to 15.9 MJ DE/kg on piglet vitality and growth to weaning." Journal of Animal Science 97, Supplement_2 (July 2019): 54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz122.098.
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Abstract Genetic selection for hyper-prolificacy in sows has resulted in a significant increase in the number of piglets born alive per litter; however, a consequence has been a reduction in piglet vitality and survival. Increasing lactation dietary energy density can increase sow energy intake and the survival and growth of piglets from large litters. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of increasing sow lactation dietary energy density on piglet vitality and growth to weaning. At d 108 of gestation, sows (n = 115) were blocked by parity, BW and backfat, and randomly assigned to one of four energy density diets until weaning; 13.8, 14.5, 15.2 and 15.9 MJ DE/kg. At birth, body temperature, IUGR traits and muscle tone were recorded in piglets. At 24 h, piglet body temperature and blood glucose concentration were recorded. Piglets were weighed throughout lactation. Data were analysed using the mixed models procedure in SAS (v.9.4). Average daily energy intake was highest for sows fed 15.9 MJ DE/kg compared to sows fed 13.8, 14.5 and 15.2 MJ DE/kg (115.1 v 98.92, 102.33, 107.83MJ DE/d±1.51; P < 0.01). Piglets from sows fed 13.8 and 15.9 MJ DE/kg were more likely to have more IUGR traits and a higher muscle tone score, respectively, compared with all other treatments (P < 0.01). The 24 h body temperature was higher for piglets from sows fed 13.8 and 15.2 MJ DE/kg than piglets from sows fed 15.9 MJ DE/kg (35.47 and 35.48 v 35.22⁰C±0.05; P < 0.01). Glucose concentration was higher for piglets from sows fed 14.5 MJ DE/kg than piglets from sows fed 15.9 MJ DE/kg (4.70 v 4.15mg/ml±0.14; P < 0.01). Litter weaning weight was heaviest for sows fed 13.8 MJ DE/kg compared with sows fed 14.5 MJ DE/kg (92.90 v 84.97kg±1.59; P < 0.01). In conclusion, feeding lactating sows 15.9 MJ DE/kg increased daily sow energy intake and improved piglet development.
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Bilsborrow, Kayla, Yolande M. Seddon, Jennifer Brown, Cheryl Waldner, and Joseph M. Stookey. "An investigation of a novel behavioural test to assess pain in piglets following castration." Canadian Journal of Animal Science 96, no. 3 (September 1, 2016): 376–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2015-0109.
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A novel behavioural test using a handling chute was evaluated over two trials as an objective method to assess pain in piglets following castration. Piglet (n = 98) navigation time (NT) through a handling chute was measured at specific time points up to 24 h post treatment. In trial 1, comparing the NT of castrates (C) and sham castrates (SC), C piglets had a longer NT than SC at 0 and 15 min post treatment (P < 0.05), with no differences thereafter. In trial 2, the effect of an analgesic to control postoperative pain on NT was examined, with castrated piglets given a half (CH) or full (CF) dose of meloxicam 1 h prior to treatment, compared with piglets castrated and given saline (CS) or sham castrated and given saline (SS). Post treatment, CS piglets had a longer NT than SS at 0 min (P < 0.005), and at 15 min, piglets CS had a longer NT than all groups (P < 0.001). No significant associations were found between piglet behaviour in the home pen and NT during the 60 min following treatment. These data demonstrate potential for the use of a handling chute to measure NT as a quick, standardized, method to assess piglet pain in response to castration.
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Ledergerber, Karlie, Benjamin Bennett, Nicole Diefenbacher, Crystal Shilling, and Brian D. Whitaker. "The effects of socializing and environmental enrichments on sow and piglet behavior and performance." Ohio Journal of Science 115, no. 2 (June 18, 2015): 40. http://dx.doi.org/10.18061/ojs.v115i2.4564.
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This study was conducted to, 1) determine the effects of socializing piglets prior to weaning on piglet behavior and performance and sow behavior, and 2) determine the effects of socializing piglets prior to weaning and inclusion of pen enrichment on nursery pig behavior and performance. Socialized piglets spent a shorter amount of time lying down during the first 24 hours following barrier removal compared to all other times and exhibited an increase in agonistic behavior. Sows had higher levels of cortisol and spent less time lying down during the first 48 hours after piglet socialization compared to all other times. In the nursery, piglets that were socialized prior to weaning had higher average daily gain (ADG) (0.48 ± 0.02 kg) and lower occurrence of agonistic behavior (30.0 ± 2.5 percent) during the first six hours after weaning compared to those piglets that were not socialized prior to weaning (0.39 ± 0.03 kg and 85.0 ± 3.5 percent, respectively). Pens with environmental enrichment contained fewer piglets displaying agonistic behavior compared to pens without environmental enrichment during the first 12 hours after weaning. The results of this study suggest that socializing piglets from different litters prior to weaning leads to temporary stress in lactating sows and an increase in agonistic behavior in piglets, but improves their performance after weaning. Inclusion of environmental enrichment in the nursery is an effective means to reduce agonistic behavior between piglets.
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Zhukorskyi, О. М., О. М. Tsereniuk, T. V. Sukhno, A. M. Saienko, A. A. Polishchuk, Y. V. Chereuta, B. S. Shaferivskyi, and P. А. Vashchenko. "The influence of genotype and feeding level of gilts on their further reproductive performance." Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems 14, no. 2 (May 27, 2023): 312–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.15421/022346.
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Since the efficiency of pig breeding largely depends on the reproductive ability of sows, one of the promising areas of research in animal husbandry is the study of factors whose correction can improve the fertility and quality of the offspring. Our work purpose was to investigate the effect of gilts’ feeding level, MC4R genotype and interaction of these factors on the reproductive traits pigs after reaching puberty. The object of the study was crossbred pigs obtained as a result of the combination of sows of the Large White breed with boars of the Landrace breed. To carry out the research, the animals were divided into four groups that differed among themselves by the genotype of the melanocortin 4 receptor gene and the level of feeding of the experimental animals. To determine the genotype, the PCR-RFLP method was utilized. Genetic studies were conducted in a certified laboratory of the Institute of Pig Breeding and Agroindustrial Production. The reproductive capacity of the pigs was determined after receiving the farrowing by the following traits: piglets born alive per farrowing (animals), weight of litters of piglets at birth (kg), average weight of piglet at birth (kg), number of weaning piglets (animals), weight of litters of piglets at 28 days (kg), average weight of piglet at 28 days (kg), average daily gain of suckling piglets from 0 to 28 days (g). It was established that the traits of reproductive ability of crossbred Large White × Landrace pigs were affected by the interaction of genotype and feeding factors. When limiting the nutritional value of the daily diet, sows with the AG genotype outperformed those with the GG genotype by 1.2 piglets born alive per farrowing, by 3.0 kg for litter weight at birth, and by 0.1 kg for the average weight of a piglet at birth. The advantage of the AG genotype for average piglet weight at 28 days was even larger. Conversely, in conditions of a high level of feeding, animals with the GG genotype had higher productivity in terms of such traits as piglets born alive per farrowing – by 1.6 animals; weight of litters of piglets at birth – by 4.1 kg; for average weight of piglet at birth – 0.2 kg; by number of weaning piglets – 2.0 animals; by weight of litters of piglets at 28 days – 28.8 kg; for average weight of piglet at 28 days – 1.1 kg and for average daily gain from 0 to 28 days – 34.6 g. In the future, the goal is to develop a system of differentiated rationing of pigs' diets depending on their genotype.
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Kramarenko, Alexander, Serhii Luhovyi, Olena Karatieieva, and Serhii Kramarenko. "Risk factors associated with stillbirth of piglets in Ukrainian Meat breed sows." Scientific Horizons 26, no. 10 (August 29, 2023): 19–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.48077/scihor10.2023.19.
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Stillbirths often result in significant piglet losses shortly before or during the farrowing process. This issue leads to a high level of stillbirths, causing substantial losses in the swine industry and requiring immediate attention. The purpose of this study is to evaluate farrowing order, the total number of piglets born, the year and season of farrowing, the breed of the boar, and the average piglet weight in the litter at birth as risk factors for stillbirths in sows of the Ukrainian Meat breed. Experimental data obtained from 262 sows of the Ukrainian Meat breed in the main herd of LLC “Tavriyski Svyni” (Skadovsk district, Kherson region, Ukraine) were used for the study. The proportion of litters containing at least one stillborn piglet, the number and proportion of stillborn piglets in the litter were investigated over 11 years. At least one stillborn piglet was observed in 56.9% of litters, with an average number and proportion of stillborn piglets in the litter of 1.2 and 10.5%, respectively. The results indicate a highly significant impact of the farrowing year on the proportion of litters containing at least one stillborn piglet, the number, and proportion of stillborn piglets in the litter (in all cases: P<0.001). There was a decrease in estimates of stillbirths during 2007-2013, with a gradual increase until 2017. The farrowing season had a certain (P<0.05) influence on estimates of stillbirth rates, since the proportion of stillbirth piglets in litters born in summer was 9.5%, and in litters born in autumn – 12.0%. The proportion of stillborn piglets in litters sired by Duroc boars (15.0%) was significantly higher (P<0.001) than in litters sired by Ukrainian Meat breed, Large White, or Landrace boars (10.1-10.0%). From the first to the 10th farrowing, stillbirth rates gradually increased (in all cases: P<0.001). The number and proportion of stillborn piglets in the litter tended to increase among sows with larger litter sizes at birth (in both cases: P<0.001). Binary logistic regression results suggested that the probability of having at least one stillborn piglet in the litter was significantly associated with the average live weight of piglets at birth
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Marchetti, Rosa, Valerio Faeti, Maurizio Gallo, Massimo Pindo, Davide Bochicchio, Luca Buttazzoni, and Giacinto Della Casa. "Protein Content in the Diet Influences Growth and Diarrhea in Weaning Piglets." Animals 13, no. 5 (February 22, 2023): 795. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13050795.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this research has been to assess the effect of the dietary protein level on piglet growth and post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) incidence. Piglet fecal microbiota and feces composition were also assessed. The experiment was carried out on 144 weaned piglets (Duroc × Large White; 72 piglets per treatment) and lasted from weaning (at 25 days of age) until the end of the post-weaning phase (at 95 days). Two dietary protein levels were compared: high (HP; 17.5% crude protein on average, during the experiment) and low (LP; 15.5% on average). Lower (p < 0.01) average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were observed in LP piglets in the first growth phase. However, at the end of the post-weaning period, the growth parameters were not significantly different in the two diets. Diarrhea scores were lower in piglets fed LP diets than in piglets fed HP diets (28.6% of the total vs. 71.4% in the HP piglets). Fibrobacteres, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes were more abundant in the feces of the piglets fed LP diets. Feces nitrogen content was lower in piglets fed LP diets. In conclusion, low protein levels in the diet can reduce the incidence of PWD while only marginally affecting growth parameters.
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Viscardi, AV, and PV Turner. "Use of meloxicam, buprenorphine, and Maxilene® to assess a multimodal approach for piglet pain management, part 2: tail-docking." Animal Welfare 28, no. 4 (November 1, 2019): 499–510. http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/09627286.28.4.499.
Full textAbstract:
Piglets on commercial pig farms are often tail-docked to reduce the incidence of tail-biting. While this is a painful procedure, piglets are often not provided analgesia or anaesthesia for pain relief. The objectives of this study were to assess a multimodal approach to managing tail-docking pain in piglets, using 0.4 mg kg–1 meloxicam (MEL), 0.04 mg kg–1 buprenorphine (BUP), and Maxilene® (MAX), a topical anaesthetic. The effectiveness of each drug and drug combination was evaluated using behavioural indicators, vocalisation, and facial grimace analysis. This study also assessed whether male and female piglets responded differently to pain or pain treatments. Piglets were randomly assigned to one of six possible treatments: MEL, BUP, MEL + BUP, MEL + BUP + MAX, no treatment (tail-docked control), or sham (non-tail-docked control). Vocalisations were recorded at initial handling, injection, and tail-docking. Piglets administered MEL + BUP and BUP demonstrated significantly fewer pain behaviours than piglets in the MEL and no treatment group. MEL + BUP + MAX and BUP piglets displayed significantly lower facial grimace scores than piglets in the no treatment group. There were no significant differences in emitted vocalisations between the analgesia-treated piglets and the no treatment group and both injection and tail-docking elicited piglet vocalisations of similar frequency, power, and energy. There were no significant differences in behaviour, facial grimacing or emitted vocalisations between male and female piglets. All treatment groups with buprenorphine were able to alleviate tail-docking-associated pain, suggesting that opioid administration is highly effective for managing piglet pain.
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Plush, Kate, Alice Weaver, Lauren Staveley, and William van Wettere. "Maternal Magnesium Sulfate Supplementation in a Pre-Farrow Diet Improves Factors Important for Piglet Viability." Animals 8, no. 10 (October 22, 2018): 185. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani8100185.
Full textAbstract:
Piglet hypoxia during farrowing is common and can lead to increased stillbirth rates, reduced piglet vitality, and an increased risk of preweaning mortality. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has successfully been used as a neuroprotectant and readily crosses the placenta in humans. Based on this human data, the aim of this study was to determine if maternal dietary supplementation with MgSO4 prior to farrowing would reduce the impact of piglet hypoxia during the peri-natal period. Five days prior to farrowing, Large White × Landrace sows were fed either standard lactation sow diet (Cont; n = 30) or lactation diet supplemented to deliver 21 g/day MgSO4 (Mg; n = 31). There was no effect of treatment on the percentage of stillborn piglets (p > 0.05). However, Mg piglets tended to have higher vitality scores immediately after birth (p < 0.10), were quicker to suck, and had higher day one blood glucose concentrations when compared with Cont piglets (p < 0.05). Furthermore, hypoxic piglets born to Cont sows did not gain weight from birth to 24 h, but Mg piglets did (p < 0.05), suggesting improved colostrum ingestion. In conclusion, MgSO4 may reduce the negative impacts of birth hypoxia, improving piglet vitality, and colostrum intake during the peri-natal period.
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Lee, H. F., M. C. Appleby, and C. A. Morgan. "Effect of hunger and exploration on first consumption of solid food by piglets." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1999 (1999): 181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1752756200003367.
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Piglets are usually supplied with solid food - creep food - at a time when most are still obtaining adequate nutrition from milk. Getting piglets started on solid food may help their growth performance both before and after weaning. As young piglets are highly exploratory animals (A'Ness et al., 1997) and food restriction increases the tendency of older pigs to express foraging behaviour (Lawrence et al., 1988), the objective of this experiment was to examine the relative importance of exploratory behaviour and hunger on initiation of creep feeding by piglets.Eight litters of Large White x Landrace piglets were used in this study. Each piglet was ear tagged and weighed within 24h of birth. When a litter was 16 days old (d16), each piglet was weighed and 8 piglets were taken in pairs, between nursings, to one of two experimental pens for 30 mins familiarization and filming, twice each.
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Jarratt, Lillie, Sarah E. James, Roy N. Kirkwood, and Tanya L. Nowland. "Effects of Caffeine and Glucose Supplementation at Birth on Piglet Pre-Weaning Growth, Thermoregulation, and Survival." Animals 13, no. 3 (January 27, 2023): 435. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13030435.
Full textAbstract:
Piglet pre-weaning mortality of approximately 15% represents a major economic and welfare concern to the pork industry. Supplementing neonatal piglets with glucose and/or caffeine has the potential to counteract hypoxic stress experienced during parturition and provide an energy substrate, which may improve survival to weaning. This study investigated the effects of caffeine and glucose supplementation at birth, in combination or separately, on piglet growth, thermoregulatory ability, and pre-weaning survival. At birth, 398 piglets were assigned to one of four oral treatments: saline, glucose (300 mg), caffeine (30 mg), or caffeine and glucose combined (30 mg caffeine and 300 mg glucose), dissolved in 6 mL saline. Piglets were tagged at birth, and time taken to reach the udder was recorded. Rectal temperatures were recorded at 4 h and 24 h post-partum, and body weights recorded at birth and 1, 3, and 18 days of age. Colostrum intake was estimated using birth and day 1 weights, and all pre-weaning mortalities were recorded. Treatments did not affect rectal temperature, colostrum intake, or pre-weaning mortality (p > 0.05). Low birth weight piglets (< 0.9 kg) treated with caffeine and glucose had increased growth between 1 and 3 days of age (p < 0.05) compared to low birth weight piglets of other treatment groups. Caffeine supplementation alone reduced overall pre-weaning growth in low birth weight piglets compared to all other treatments (p = 0.05). Oral caffeine and glucose had no significant effect on piglet performance except in low birthweight piglets, where it improved growth in the first 3 days of life. Caffeine and glucose supplementation in combination may be beneficial for low birth weight piglets.
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Charneca, Rui, Amadeu Freitas, José Nunes, and Jean Le Dividich. "Effects of the Mean Weight of Uniform Litters on Sows and Offspring Performance." Animals 13, no. 19 (October 4, 2023): 3100. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13193100.
Full textAbstract:
This study aimed to determine the effects of uniform litters of different mean birth weights on colostrum production of sows and piglets performance. The study involved 98 multiparous sows from a commercial lean genotype and their piglets. Simultaneous farrowing were supervised and the piglets were divided into experimental litters of 12 piglets each of heterogenous litters (HET, CV = 23.8%, n = 20), uniform light litters (ULL, CV = 9.8%, n = 27), uniform average litters (UAL, CV = 8.2%, n = 23) or uniform heavy litters (UHL, CV = 8.6%, n = 28) piglets and allowed to suckle. Piglets were re-weighed at 24 h and 21 d of life and deaths registered. Colostrum intake (CI) of the piglets and sow’s colostrum yield (CY) was estimated using two prediction equations. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed in the CY of sows being higher in UHL, lower in ULL and intermediary in HET and UAL litters. CY was positively related to litter total weight at birth and litter weight gain in the first 24 h (p < 0.001). The CI differ between litter type being higher in UHL litters and lower in ULL litters. The coefficient of variation of CI in HET litters was higher than in uniform litters, regardless of their type. The mortality rate of piglets until 21 d was globally 9.6% and it was significantly higher in HET than in UAL (p = 0.033) and tended to be higher than in UHL litters (p = 0.052). No differences in piglet survival were observed between uniform litters. Results show the beneficial effect of uniformity in piglet survival and that the mean weight of uniform litter influences colostrum intake and piglet performance.
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Chapel, Nichole, Jeffrey Lucas, Scott Radcliffe, Kara Stewart, and Donald Lay. "Comparison of Vocalization Patterns in Piglets Which Were Crushed to Those Which Underwent Human Restraint." Animals 8, no. 8 (August 8, 2018): 138. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani8080138.
Full textAbstract:
Though many studies focused on piglet crushing utilizing piglet vocalizations to test sow response, none have verified the properties of test vocalizations against actual crushing events. Ten sows were observed 48 h after parturition, and crushing events were recorded from all sows. When a crushing event occurred, a second piglet within the same litter was used to solicit a vocalization through manual restraint to compare restrained piglets’ call properties to those of crushed piglets’. A total of 659 Restrained calls and 631 Crushed calls were collected. Variables were gathered at the loudest point in a call, and as an average across the entire call. Crushed piglets had a lower fundamental frequency (p < 0.01; Crushed: 523.57 ± 210.6 Hz; Restrained: 1214.86 ± 203.2 Hz) and narrower bandwidth (p < 0.01; Crushed: 4897.01 ± 587.3 Hz; Restrained: 6674.99 ± 574.0 Hz) when analyzed at the loudest portion of a call. Overall, piglets which were crushed had a lower mean peak frequency than those which were restrained (p = 0.01; 1497.08 ± 239.4 Hz and 2566.12 ± 235.0 Hz, respectively). Future research should focus on measuring sow reactivity to Crushed and Restrained piglets to continue to improve research practices.