Early piglet mortality in loose-housed sows related to sow and piglet behaviour and to the progress of parturition

The objective of the study was to estimate genetic trends from 1977 to 1998 in the French Large White (LW) breed for stillbirth and associated traits measured at farrowing using frozen semen. Two groups of pigs (G77 and G98) were obtained by inseminating LW sows with semen from LW boars born either in 1977 or in 1998. A second generation was produced by inter se mating in each group. Farrowing was thoroughly supervised through both direct observations and video recording all long farrowing on a total of 137 first-and second-parity litters produced by sows from this second generation (68 G77 and 69 G98 litters, respectively). Measurements included birth time, weight and birth characteristics (including orientation, presence of cyanosis or oedema, membrane obstruction, umbilical cord length/content) of each piglet, as well as sow traits (weight and backfat thickness, farrowing duration, litter size and within-litter variation of weights at birth). The data were analysed using linear or generalised linear mixed models, according to the definition of the trait (continuous or binary data). The importance of several effects to piglet probability of stillbirth was then quantified by computing the reduction of variance associated with the addition of each effect in the model. Litter size did not significantly differ in first parity, but was higher in G98 second-parity sows: the differences for global (including pre partum dead piglets) and total numbers of piglets born per litter were 12.3 6 1.1 and 11.3 6 0.6, respectively. G98 sows also had a higher number of stillbirths in both parities (10.7 6 0.3 stillborn per litter). Piglets from G98 litters were heavier at birth (1130 6 40 g for birth weight adjusted for litter size), without any increase in within-litter heterogeneity of birth weight. No significant difference was detected between G77 and G88 groups for farrowing length and the distribution of time interval between piglet births. G98 stillborn piglets had longer and more often empty umbilical cords at birth. G98 piglets born alive also had more often umbilical nodes than G77 piglets. These characteristics were considered as indicators of increased farrowing difficulties and risk of hypoxia at birth in G98 pigs. Time of birth of each piglet, sow fatness at farrowing and time of first placenta expulsion were the main factors of variation of the piglet's probability of stillbirth.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have demonstrated the important association between farrowing kinetics (duration and rhythm) and stillbirth (e.g. Fahmy and Flipot, 1981;Fraser et al, 1997;Canario et al, 2006a;Pedersen et al, 2006). Birth weight is another major component of farrowing survival (Knol et al, 2002b;Canario et al, 2006a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of genetic trends from 1977 to 1998 for farrowing characteristics in the French Large White breed using frozen semen

Canario

Rydhmer

Gogué³

et al. 2007

“…Melisova et al (2014) demonstrated a higher activity level of sows in pens when compared to crates, while crushing rates did not increase and weight gain of piglets benefitted from free farrowing pens. Therefore, a system that can be altered between confinement and loose-housing of the sows might be most feasible to increase the sow's ability to move without leading to higher piglet mortality rates (Marchant et al, 2000;Pedersen et al, 2006) and still offering a sufficient safety for the farmer while handling animals during lactation . Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of crating sows during lactation for different periods on their behaviour and integument alterations and on piglets' performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Confinement of sows for different periods during lactation: effects on behaviour and lesions of sows and performance of piglets

Lambertz

Petig

Elkmann³

et al. 2015

Alternatives to farrowing crates with continuous confinement of the sow are urgently needed because the animal welfare is negatively impacted. Given the increase of herd sizes, practical experience with loose-housing is needed to force the implementation of these systems in the field. Next to aspects of labour efficiency, detrimental piglet mortality rates that may occur during the first days postpartum (pp) is a major criticism. Therefore, loose-housing after a crating period limited to the first days pp might be a feasible alternative to improve welfare under intensive production conditions. The aim was to investigate the effect of crating sows during lactation for different periods on their behaviour and integument alterations and on piglets' performance. Gilts from a commercial herd were observed from 5 to 26 days pp and housed in farrowing crates (1.85 × 2.50 m) that could be altered between confinement crates and loose-housing pens. Animals were divided into three groups, that were either crated continuously from birth until weaning (Group A, n = 55), until 14 days pp (Group B; n = 54) or 7 days pp (Group C, n = 59). The behaviour of six randomly selected gilts per group was video recorded from 5 to 26 days pp and analysed by time sampling technique. Lesions on the legs, shoulder and lumbar vertebra were scored on days 7, 14 and 25 pp. Piglets were weighed weekly, causes of losses recorded and weight losses of gilts measured. Not different between groups ( P > 0.05), animals spent 72 to 76% lying laterally, 14 to 17% lying in abdominal or semi-abdominal position, 9 to 10% standing and 1 to 3% sitting. B-sows were lying longer in week 3 and 4 of lactation compared to A-and C-sows ( P < 0.05). The incidence of slight shoulder lesions rose from <1% on day 7 to 4% on day 14 and 14% on day 25 pp. On day 25 pp, 5% of all studied gilts showed moderate shoulder lesions. Piglet mortality rates were 11.4%, 12.9% and 13.3% for groups A, B and C, respectively ( P > 0.05), whereas almost 90% of the losses occurred in the first week pp. In conclusion, loose-housing of lactating gilts after a reduced postnatal crating period of 7 days affected neither the activity level of the gilts and lesions on the integument nor pre-weaning mortality. Therefore, it is recommended to allow sows to move around to some extent during the later lactation period.

“…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

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.