A Survey of Preweaning Mortality in the Pig

Glastonbury, J. R. W.

doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1976.tb00105.x

Cited by 37 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…We observed a mortality of 20% before the age of 2 months. This level is comparable to veteri nary studies which also report causes of death similar to those observed here [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…In addition, they have a rapid rate of reproduction and can be approached easily providing the possibility of close clini cal observation. Veterinary studies would sug gest that a portion of the early mortality occurring in this species is unexplained [1][2][3][4][5][6]. We therefore conducted a prospective study to determine whether piglets present a pathol ogy which is comparable to SIDS in human beings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is the Piglet a Useful Animal Model of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?

Lavoué

Dagorne²,

Morvan³

et al. 1994

Neonatology

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A prospective study of early death was conducted in a large population of piglets in order to investigate the causes of mortality and determine whether this species could be useful as an animal model of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 1,921 live-born piglets were closely monitored from birth to 2 months of age. The cause of death was analyzed in all the animals which died during this period. Complete histological, bacteriological and virological examinations of all sudden death animals were compared to identical examinations performed in age-matched control animals. 384 animals (20%) died during the study period and 8 sudden deaths were observed (0.4%). The principal causes of nonsudden death were overlaying (9.4%), hypotrophy (6%), infection (2%) and acute fetal suffering (1.4%). Bacterial infection was found in 6 of the sudden deaths. There was 1 case of suffocation and 1 unexplained sudden death. Compared to controls, there was a significantly greater prevalence of pathology (p < 0.01) and of positive tissue bacteriology (p < 0.05) in sudden death animals. The 6 sudden deaths due to bacterial infections were clearly different from the human syndrome. Suffocation is a known cause of sudden infant death. In the final analysis, only 1 animal (0.5 %o) had an outcome which could be assimilated with SIDS. It is concluded that although there probably exists a syndrome in the piglet equivalent to SIDS, its incidence is very low and major obstacles related to the high level of early mortality in this species hinder investigation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the Piglet a Useful Animal Model of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?

Lavoué

Dagorne²,

Morvan³

et al. 1994

Neonatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Over half of piglet losses have been reported to occur in the first 2 to 3 d after birth (Bauman et al 1966;English and Smith 1975;Glastonbury 1976), and presumably a sizeable percentage of these deaths occur during the farrowing process itself. This might help to explain how a treatment imposed for a relatively short period (only until the last gilt in the room had finished farrowing) had such an impact on total pre-weaning mortality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Savaging behaviour in domestic gilts: A study of seven commercial farms

Harris¹,

Gonyou²

2003

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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Harris, M. J. and Gonyou, H. W. 2003. Savaging behaviour in domestic gilts: A case study of seven commercial farms. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 83: 435-444. Piglet-directed aggression at farrowing was investigated on seven large, new pig units. Gilts were subject to a light (continuous or diurnal light) and/or sound (newborn piglet vocalisations or no vocalisations) treatment around the time of farrowing. Behaviour records were collected for the first farrowing of 6625 crossbred gilts. The incidence of savaging, number of piglets affected by it and factors associated with piglet-directed aggressive behaviour were recorded. Piglet-directed aggression was scored as 0 (none), 1 (moderate) or 2 (severe). Effects of the light and sound treatments, situation of the farrowing crate within the farrowing room and time (from first to fourth fill of the farrowing rooms) were examined.Three hundred and thirty-one gilts (5.3%) displayed some degree of aggression towards their piglets (scoring either 1 or 2), while 201 (2.9%) killed piglets. Three hundred and ninety-two piglets (0.6%) were killed by savaging. There was marked variation among farms in the reported incidence of savaging. Savaging deaths represented on average 11.2% of total reported pre-weaning mortality.Continuous light resulted in a reduction in the percentage of gilts fatally savaging piglets (P < 0.05), reduced the number of piglets per litter killed by savaging by 40% (P < 0.05), and decreased total piglet mortality (P < 0.05). The sound treatment did not reduce piglet-directed aggression and in some cases appeared to increase it. Savaging decreased over time on 600 gilt but not 2400 gilt units. Les auteurs ont étudié les attaques subies par les porcelets à la naissance dans sept nouveaux gros éle-vages de truies nullipares. Les animaux ont été assujettis à un traitement visuel (éclairage continu ou diurne) ou sonore (vocalisation des nouveau-nés ou pas) à l'époque de la mise bas. Les auteurs ont observé le comportement de 6 625 cochettes hybrides à la première mise bas. Ils ont évalué le degré de sauvagerie, le nombre de porcelets atteints et les facteurs associés à l'agressivité de la mère envers sa progéniture. L'agressivité a été cotée 0 (aucune), 1 (moyenne) ou 2 (forte). Les auteurs ont ensuite examiné les effets de la lumière et du bruit, de l'emplacement de la cage dans le bloc de mise bas et de la durée (du premier au quatrième passage dans la stalle de mise bas). Trois cent trente et une cochettes (5,3 %) ont agressé leurs rejetons (cote 1 ou 2) et 201 (2,9 %) les ont tués. Trois cent quatre-vingt-douze porcelets (0,6 %) ont perdu la vie à la suite de ces attaques. L'incidence de la sauvagerie varie nettement avec les exploitations. Les décès attribuables à l'agressivité de la mère représentent en moyenne 11,2 % du taux de mortalité avant sevrage. Un éclairage continu diminue la proportion de truies nullipare causant des blessures mortelles à leur progéniture (P < 0,05), réduit de 40 % le nombre de porcelets par litière morts des suites d'une attaque (P <...

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“…It may occur in both piglets and young pigs (3) and as many as 2% of the population may die from this (8). E. coli is the most common cause, but also another alpha-gal epitope expressing bacterium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, is a common cause (13,21). In the pig, all components of the native and the acquired immune systems develop in utero and are functional at birth, although less efficient (15).…”

Section: Health Protection In Xenograft Donor Pigsmentioning

confidence: 99%