A Single Dose of Fat-Based Energy Supplement to Light Birth Weight Pigs Shortly After Birth Does Not Increase Their Survival and Growth

Abstract

Low birth weight piglets are at high risk of mortality, because of the rapid depletion of their energy reserves after birth. At 3 h postpartum, 405 piglets weighing <1.1 kg were either dosed orally with 2 mL of (1) coconut oil (CO, 74 kJ/2 mL, n = 107 piglets), (2) commercial product (CP, 71 kJ/2 mL, n = 101 piglets), (3) water (W, 0 kJ/2 mL, n = 100 piglets) or (4) were sham-dosed (S, n = 97 piglets). Treatments were applied within litter (97 sows). Before treatment piglets were weighed, scored for vitality and blood glucose concentration (subset: CO = 45 piglets, CP = 38 piglets, W = 49 piglets and S = 44 piglets) and rectal temperature were measured. Rectal temperature was remeasured 1 h post-treatment (4 h postpartum). At 24 h post-treatment (27 h postpartum), vitality, weight and blood glucose were remeasured. Piglets were weighed on D5, D7, D10, D14, D21 and at weaning (27 ± 0.1 day old). Mortality rate and cause were recorded until 24h period post-treatment and until weaning. Data were analysed using Generalised Linear Mixed Models in SAS. There was no overall effect of treatment on any of the parameters measured. In conclusion, a single oral of fat-based energy supplement dose at birth did not improve growth, survival, rectal temperature or vitality of low birth weight piglets.

Are Larger Litters a Concern for Piglet Survival or An Effectively Manageable Trait?

“…Additionally, once the uterus has surpassed normal limits of uterine space, every additional littermate is associated with a reduction in individual fetal growth [16,17]. In turn, larger litters are strongly correlated with a proportion of piglets born underweight (<1.0 kg) [8,10]. Observing the performance of 965 litters, Quiniou et al [7] found that larger litters had a 33 g decrease in mean birth weight average over 'normal' litters at 11 pigs.…”

“…As advances in genetics [1][2][3], reproductive management [4], and nutrition [5,6] continue to increase the number of piglets a sow can produce per litter [7,8], it is important to consider the issues that are associated with larger litters, particularly surrounding piglets and pre-weaning survival. Issues surrounding large litters include the effects of intrauterine crowding and so birth weight variation, piglet hypoxia during delivery and litter-mate competition post-partum.…”

Administration of Glucose at Litter Equalization as a Strategy to Increase Energy in Intrauterine Growth Restricted Piglets

“…Similarly, Muns et al [12] found that giving light birth weight piglets (<1.35 kg) a commercial product consisting mainly of glycerol and colostrum replacer decreased mortality rate the first 24 h after birth and mortality rate until day 21 in lactation, respectively. In contrast, Schmitt et al [21] found that giving low birth weight piglets (<1.1 kg) coconut oil and a commercial product consisting mainly of fat did not affect survival rate or BW gain during lactation. The studies gave different doses of supplement (3 g in Declerck et al [13]; 2 × 1 and 5 mL in Muns et al [12]; 2 mL in Schmitt et al [21]) equaling to different approximate total amount of energy (163 kJ in Declerck et al [13]; 32 kJ and 83 kJ in Muns et al [12]; 71 kJ in Schmitt et al [21]).…”

“…In contrast, Schmitt et al [21] found that giving low birth weight piglets (<1.1 kg) coconut oil and a commercial product consisting mainly of fat did not affect survival rate or BW gain during lactation. The studies gave different doses of supplement (3 g in Declerck et al [13]; 2 × 1 and 5 mL in Muns et al [12]; 2 mL in Schmitt et al [21]) equaling to different approximate total amount of energy (163 kJ in Declerck et al [13]; 32 kJ and 83 kJ in Muns et al [12]; 71 kJ in Schmitt et al [21]). In comparison, the present study gave a higher dose of supplement to GLUC12 piglets (2 × 12 mL), however, this equals to a lower total amount of energy (19 kJ).…”

Does Diversity Matter? Behavioural Differences between Piglets Given Diverse or Similar Forms of Enrichment Pre-Weaning

“…At 10 days post farrowing, creep feed was introduced to habituate the piglets to post-weaning solid feeding. Details of the sow diets and creep feed given to piglets during lactation can be found in Schmitt et al [ 14 ].…”