Effect of Location of the Teat Suckled, Breed and Parity on Piglet Growth

Dyck, G. W.; Swierstra, E. E.; McKay, Robert; Mount, K.

doi:10.4141/cjas87-098

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…It must be noted that in our study primiparous sows were investigated. It may be that the weight gain advantage of the piglets suckling at the anterior teats becomes more apparent with increasing parity number of the sow (Dyck et al, 1987;Fraser, Thompson & Rushen, 1992;Kornblum, Molnar & Guenther, 1993). Then, the offspring may bene®t more from the behaviour of the previous litter(s) of a sow (e.g.…”

Section: Daily Weight Gain (G)mentioning

confidence: 94%

Developmental and territorial aspects of suckling behaviour in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa f. domestica)

Puppe

Tuchscherer²

1999

Journal of Zoology

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The suckling behaviour of 327 piglets from 39 litters of primiparous domestic sows Sus scrofa f. domestica was analysed regarding the development of territorial suckling consistency during a 5-week suckling period. Additionally, the consistent use of a certain teat pair (1±7) during the whole suckling period was related to weight gain within the suckling period and to social dominance after weaning and mixing of the piglets. The piglets increased their suckling stability consistent with a three-parametric exponential model delivering a time-dependency that is typical for learning curves and which may be a useful methodological approach for studies on behavioural ontogeny. Thus, the development of suckling stability can be regarded as a continuous learning process. After extremely rapid learning within the ®rst 4 days of life a moderate increase of suckling consistency with ®nal stabilization occurred within the second week. After this time, the piglets maintained a high suckling consistency of about 95% up to the end of the observed suckling period. The anterior teats were preferred, whereas piglets suckling at the posterior teats showed a tendency to have lower weight gains and poorer dominance values. However, the lowest suckling stability (consistency) was found with piglets occupying the middle teats. The study shows that individual differences (e.g. weight gain, position in a social hierarchy) have their roots in early ontogenetic characteristics of the neonates (e.g. suckling behaviour, physical strength). The results are discussed with regard to ®ndings and interpretations of behavioural ontogeny in pigs.

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Section: Daily Weight Gain (G)mentioning

confidence: 94%

Developmental and territorial aspects of suckling behaviour in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa f. domestica)

Puppe

Tuchscherer²

1999

Journal of Zoology

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“…For example, Barber et al (1955) and Hartman et al (1962) attached very different interpretations to correlations which were actually almost identical (Fraser and Jones, 1975). Results by Dyck, Swierstra, McKay and Mount (1987) indicate that the same trend continues to later parities. Fraser and Thompson (1986) found little tendency for piglet weight gains to decline from anterior to posterior teats with first-parity sows, whereas a marked decline was seen when the same sows were studied in the second lactation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Teat productivity in second lactation sows: influence of use or non-use of teats during the first lactation

1992

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Previous research has shown that piglets using the sow's more anterior teats tend to have greater average weight gains, but this difference is often slight in the first lactation and increases in subsequent lactations. In this study, 27 sows were used to determine whether this difference develops because of the piglets' preferential use of the anterior teats during the first lactation. In their first lactation, 14 sows had their anterior teats (pairs 1 to 3) and 13 sows had their posterior teats (pairs 4 to 7) covered so that the piglets could use only one end of the udder. In the second lactation, all the teats were left uncovered and the sucking positions and weight gains of the piglets were studied. Piglets in the second lactation showed the usual preference for anterior teats regardless of which teats had been used in the first lactation. Where the anterior teats had been covered in the first lactation, there was no difference in weight gain between anterior-and posterior-sucking piglets in the 1st week of the second lactation, but a degree of anterior superiority had developed by the 3rd week (P < 0-01). Where posterior teats had been covered in the first lactation, piglets using anterior teats showed substantially greater weight gains than those using posterior teats throughout the first 3 weeks of the second lactation (P < 0-001). Thus, non-use of a teat in the first lactation tended to reduce its productivity, at least in the early part of the next lactation. We conclude that previous non-use of posterior teats can contribute to their tendency for lower productivity, but the effect does not explain completely the greater piglet weight gains usually associated with using the anterior teats.

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“…Fraser et al (1992) first attempted to elucidate that question by undertaking a project where the rear teats of sows were taped in first lactation and growth rate of piglets suckling either the front or the rear teats in second lactation was determined. It is known that piglets suckling front teats are generally heavier than piglets suckling rear teats (Dyck et al, 1987), and the difference in weight gain between piglets suckling the front v. the rear teats was even greater in sows that had previously taped rear teats. Differences in BW gain between the two groups were greater in the first compared with the 2 nd or 3 rd weeks of lactation (Fraser et al, 1992).…”

Section: The Importance Of Sucklingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Review: Mammary development in lactating sows: the importance of suckling

Farmer

2019

Animal

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Mammary development takes place during the growing and gestation periods in swine but it also continues after farrowing. In fact, a significant proportion of mammary accretion occurs during lactation and is stimulated by suckling. After piglets are weaned, there is involution of the mammary glands and the process of mammogenesis starts again during the next parity. Suckling of a teat for the first 12 to 14 h after farrowing is not sufficient to maintain lactation, and mammary involution accompanied by alterations in gene transcription will take place. The involution process is reversible within 1 day postpartum but is not reversible if a mammary gland is unsuckled for 3 days. Mammary glands that undergo involution early in lactation do not show further involution in the post-weaning period. The action of a teat being suckled does not only affect mammary development in the ongoing lactation but it also impacts mammogenesis in the following lactation. Indeed, when a mammary gland is not suckled in first parity it has a diminished development and lower milk yield in second parity. Furthermore, it was shown that suckling of a teat for only the first 2 days postpartum in primiparous sows is sufficient to ensure optimal mammary development and milk yield from that teat in the next lactation. The behavior of nursing piglets in early lactation is also affected by whether or not a teat was previously used. Such knowledge on lactation biology is essential in order to develop the best adapted management strategies for the currently used hyperprolific sow lines and to optimize growth rate of their piglets. This review gives an update on the role of suckling for mammary development in lactating sows and on how it can affect management strategies of primiparous sows.

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Effect of Location of the Teat Suckled, Breed and Parity on Piglet Growth

Abstract: location of the teat suckled, breed and parity on piglet growth. Can. J. Anim. Sci. ti1:929-939. The

Cited by 17 publications

References 13 publications

Developmental and territorial aspects of suckling behaviour in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa f. domestica)

Developmental and territorial aspects of suckling behaviour in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa f. domestica)

Teat productivity in second lactation sows: influence of use or non-use of teats during the first lactation

Review: Mammary development in lactating sows: the importance of suckling

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