Causes of Piglet Death From Birth to Weaning

Dyck, G. W.; Swierstra, E. E.

doi:10.4141/cjas87-053

Cited by 102 publications

(50 citation statements)

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“…If the parturition is prolonged, both due to the primary or secondary hypocontractility, the interval between the ejected piglets is longer and the risk of hypoxia or asphyxia is higher (Fraser et al, 1997). The chance for piglets to survive decreases with an increasing litter size because in numerous litters the birth weight is reduced and competition for teats is higher (Dyck and Swierstra, 1987;Roehe and Kalm, 2000). However, some studies reported an increased stillbirth occurrence with decreasing litter size (Šovljanski et al, 1971).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The dynamics of changes in selected parameters in relation to different air temperature in the farrowing house for sows

Odehnalová¹,

Vinkler²,

Novák³

et al. 2008

Czech J. Anim. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:The purpose of this study was to analyse the influence of different external air temperature on changes in the air temperature of housing environment in the farrowing house for sows and consequent changes in selected parameters of performance in purebred Landrace sows and gilts. Raw data were analysed for 236 litters. The litters were born from October 2004 to March 2006. Air temperature in the farrowing house was monitored in the sow's living zone and was closely related to changes in external air temperature (P < 0.01). At the optimal internal temperatures for lactating sows (16-22°C) during mild winter the lowest incidence of stillbirths (9.92%) was detected, whereas at high internal temperatures (above 28°C) the incidence of stillbirths was 11.32% (P < 0.01). The lowest average daily weight gain was recorded during mild winter (P < 0.05).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The dynamics of changes in selected parameters in relation to different air temperature in the farrowing house for sows

Odehnalová¹,

Vinkler²,

Novák³

et al. 2008

Czech J. Anim. Sci.

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“…Hyper-prolific sows with more than 16 live-born piglets per litter often have a greater heterogeneity in piglet birth weight and a higher number of weak piglets at birth (Devillers et al 2011), which was confirmed by the litter size and number of low weight piglets in the present study. It is widely recognized that pre-weaning mortality is positively correlated with litter size (Dyck and Swierstra 1987) and still remains an unsolved problem. Low birth weight is unanimously associated with reduced chances of survival (Cabrera et al 2012) and thus increasing survival rates of vulnerable piglets is one of the biggest challenges.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of bovine colostrum on performance, survival, and immunoglobulin status of suckling piglets during the first days of life

Viehmann¹,

Unterweger²,

Ganter³

et al. 2015

CZECH J ANIM SCI

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Supplementation of bovine colostrum (BC) has shown to improve growth performance, intestinal development, and immune response in early-weaned pigs. Little is known about whether BC may have similar effects in neonatal piglets. In the present study, the effect of BC supplementation on mortality, growth performance, and blood parameters (plasma proteins and white blood count) of suckling piglets in the first 10 days of life was investigated under practical conditions with special emphasis on low birth weight piglets. In total, 258 newborn piglets from 30 multiparous sows in a commercial breeding unit were randomly assigned to two different treatment groups. Piglets received either 1 ml of BC orally on days 1-3 of life (group BC, n = 128) or 1 ml of saline (0.9%) (control (CON) group; n = 130). Body weight was measured on days 1, 4, and 10 of life. Blood was collected on days 1 and 4 from 60 piglets per group. No differences in mortality, body weight, and average daily weight gain were observed between treatment groups in days 1-10. However, compared to CON, particularly in low birth weight piglets the administration of BC supported (P < 0.01) their survival. Group BC exhibited lower plasma total protein (P = 0.03) and beta-globulin (P = 0.02) concentrations compared to group CON. In conclusion, BC improved low and normal birth weight piglets' survival during their first 10 days of life. Further research is needed to clarify whether the survival rate is related to earlier gut closure indicated by lower plasma protein levels, which might be beneficial due to a lower uptake of potential antigenic substances.

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“…The contradictory results from the different work indicate that satisfactory results in the form of acceptable pre-weaning mortality have yet to be consistently achieved. The majority of piglets that die pre-weaning die within the first day postpartum (Holyoake et al, 1995;Marchant et al, 2000), mainly because of crushing and starvation (Dyck and Swierstra, 1987;Pedersen et al, 2006). This means that potentially lactating sows do not have to be restrained during the entire lactation period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Confinement of lactating sows in crates for 4 days after farrowing reduces piglet mortality

Moustsen

Hales

Lahrmann

et al. 2013

Animal

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To reduce mortality among suckling piglets, lactating sows are traditionally housed in farrowing crates. Alternatively, lactating sows can be housed in farrowing pens where the sow is loose to ensure more behavioural freedom and consequently a better welfare for the sow, although under commercial conditions, farrowing pens have been associated with increased piglet mortality. Most suckling piglets that die do so within the first week of life, so potentially lactating sows do not have to be restrained during the entire lactation period. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate whether confinement of the sow for a limited number of days after farrowing would affect piglet mortality. A total of 210 sows (Danish Landrace × Danish Yorkshire) were farrowed in specially designed swing-aside combination farrowing pens measuring 2.6 m × 1.8 m (combi-pen), where the sows could be kept loose or in a crate. The sows were either: (a) loose during the entire experimental period, (b) crated from days 0 to 4 postpartum, (c) crated from days 0 to 7 postpartum or (d) crated from introduction to the farrowing pen to day 7 postpartum. The sows and their subsequent litters were studied from introduction to the combi-pen ∼1 week before expected farrowing and until 10 days postpartum. Confinement period of the sow failed to affect the number of stillborn piglets; however, sows that were crated after farrowing had fewer live-born mortality deaths (P < 0.001) compared with the sows that were loose during the experimental period. The increased piglet mortality among the loose sows was because of higher mortality in the first 4 days after farrowing. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that crating the sow for 4 days postpartum was sufficient to reduce piglet mortality.

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Causes of Piglet Death From Birth to Weaning

Cited by 102 publications

References 0 publications

The dynamics of changes in selected parameters in relation to different air temperature in the farrowing house for sows

The dynamics of changes in selected parameters in relation to different air temperature in the farrowing house for sows

Effects of bovine colostrum on performance, survival, and immunoglobulin status of suckling piglets during the first days of life

Confinement of lactating sows in crates for 4 days after farrowing reduces piglet mortality

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