Effects of parity and litter size on cortisol measures in commercially housed sows and their offspring

Roelofs, Sanne; Godding, Lisa; Haan, Jeanne R. de; Staay, Franz Josef van der; Nordquist, Rebecca E.

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.12.014

Cited by 23 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Piglet weights at birth were similar (16,17) or slightly higher (3,22,23) than values reported in other studies. The administration of oral meloxicam at the beginning of farrowing tended to enhance the ADG of piglets from day +9 to weaning, and particularly for the lightest piglets.…”

Section: Piglet Mortality and Growthsupporting

confidence: 73%

Oral Meloxicam Administration in Sows at Farrowing and Its Effects on Piglet Immunity Transfer and Growth

et al. 2021

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Many factors can lead to an inadequate development of piglets during their first days of life, including poor maternal behavior, which can be due to pain caused by farrowing, and reduced colostrum ingestion. This study investigates the action of meloxicam administered orally at farrowing on piglet weight gain and immunity transfer. Thirty-five multiparous sows were divided into two groups and treated with 0.4 mg/kg of oral meloxicam (oral meloxicam group; n = 18) or with a mock administration (control group; n = 17). A total of 382 piglets were individually weighed on the farrowing day (day 0), as well as on days +9 and +20. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and A (IgA) concentrations in piglet serum and in sow's saliva, colostrum and milk were measured. Additionally, Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and Interferon gamma (IFN-⋎) in serum of piglets and in sow's milk or colostrum were studied. All samples were obtained on days +1, +9, and +20. Piglets from sows in the oral meloxicam group tended to grow faster from day +9 to day +20 than did piglets from control sows (p = 0.059), and this difference was also observed in piglets with low body weight (BW) at birth (p = 0.056). The oral meloxicam group sows tended to increase the colostrum levels of IgA and IgG, as compared with control sows on day +1 (p = 0.068 and p = 0.072, respectively). IgA levels in piglet serum from the oral meloxicam group were significantly higher than in the control group on day +1 and +9 (p = 0.019 and p = 0.011 respectively). Furthermore, IL-2 and IL-4 levels in the serum of piglets from sows in the oral meloxicam group tended to be higher than that in the control group on day +9 (p = 0.078 and 0.056, respectively). The administration of meloxicam orally at the beginning of farrowing in multiparous sows increased immunoglobin and cytokine concentrations in colostrum, improving both humoral and cellular immune response of piglets. Pre-weaning growth of piglets born with a low BW improved in the meloxicam-treated group.

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Section: Piglet Mortality and Growthsupporting

confidence: 73%

Oral Meloxicam Administration in Sows at Farrowing and Its Effects on Piglet Immunity Transfer and Growth

et al. 2021

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“…On average, pregnancy is initiated in sows with the presence of approximately 15-20 viable embryos [11]. In an average litter, 9-13 of these embryos will eventually develop into live-born piglets [12] but litters greater than 16 piglets are no longer uncommon in commercial production [13,14]. In larger litters, the uterus of a sow is crowded with embryos.…”

Section: Intrauterine Crowding and Its Impact On Piglet Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, although an increase in cortisol is necessary for triggering parturition [49], excessive levels of cortisol may lead to issues during farrowing. As both prolonged farrowing duration [13] and increases in litter size [50] have been found to increase circulating levels of cortisol in the sow, it would be important to review how stress can be minimized leading up to and during parturition.…”

Section: Intrapartum Hypoxia and Farrowing Difficultiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sows housed in farrowing crates in late gestation have reportedly higher concentrations of plasma cortisol than do sows housed in pens [86] and this may impact farrowing performance [87]. Farrowing crates are commonplace housing for farrowing sows [13] due to their lower space requirements and reduced risk of overlays [88,89]. In comparison to alternative systems like pens, farrowing crates limit the sow's movement to sitting and standing positions, which can increase stress as sows cannot exhibit natural pre-farrowing behaviours [88,89].…”

Section: Reducing Sow Stress To Improve Farrowing Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

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

Ward

Kirkwood

Plush³

2020

Animals

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As sows continue to be selected for greater prolificacy, it is important to review problems that arise in larger litters, and whether these issues can be appropriately managed. Although a proportion of piglets in larger litters can be born underweight, proper supervision around farrowing and adequate colostrum intake has the potential to improve the survival of low-birth-weight piglets and their ongoing growth to weaning. As larger litters can impart greater stress and discomfort on sows, implementing a low-stress environment leading up to parturition may improve sow performance and subsequent survival of piglets. Additionally, treating sows with anti-inflammatory compounds, either dietary or pharmacologically, shows some promise for alleviating sow discomfort and improving piglet survival in larger litters. Understanding that selecting sows for larger litters not only affects piglet survival but the well-being of the sow, the decision to continue selecting for larger litters, regardless of management strategies, remains a topic of ethical concern.

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“…The stress response involves the release by the hypothalamus of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), that stimulates the release of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) by the hypophysis and actives the adrenal cortex releasing glucocorticoids to the blood stream, which will trigger a response to that stressor. In mammals, except rodents, cortisol is the glucocorticoid involved in stress response, and cortisol can pass through the placenta reaching the fetus (MOLENAAR et al, 2019;ENLOW et al, 2019;ROELOFS et al, 2019;GRAHAM et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

>b<Premating stress alters the vaginal microbiota of gilts>/b<

Alves¹

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Effects of parity and litter size on cortisol measures in commercially housed sows and their offspring

Cited by 23 publications

References 57 publications

Oral Meloxicam Administration in Sows at Farrowing and Its Effects on Piglet Immunity Transfer and Growth

Oral Meloxicam Administration in Sows at Farrowing and Its Effects on Piglet Immunity Transfer and Growth

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

>b<Premating stress alters the vaginal microbiota of gilts>/b<

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