Effects of the level of asphyxia during delivery on viability at birth and early postnatal vitality of newborn pigs.

226

154

Colostrum intake from birth to 24 h after the onset of parturition ( T 24 ) was estimated for 526 piglets from 40 litters. Plasma concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), lactate, glucose and cortisol were determined at T 24 for six piglets per litter. Plasma IgG concentration was also assayed at weaning (28 days) on the same piglets. Rectal temperature was measured at T 24 on all piglets. Mortality was recorded until weaning and comparisons were made between piglets that died before weaning and those that were still alive at weaning. The piglets that died before weaning had lower birth weight, lower colostrum intake, lower weight gain between birth and T 24 , and had a lower rectal temperature, higher plasma cortisol concentration and lower plasma IgG and glucose concentrations at T 24 than piglets still alive at weaning. In addition, a higher proportion of piglets that died before weaning had difficulty taking their first breath after birth and were affected by splayleg. Considering all piglets, colostrum intake was positively related to rectal temperature and plasma glucose concentration and negatively related to plasma cortisol concentration at T 24 . Plasma IgG concentration at T 24 was explained by colostrum intake, IgG concentration in the ingested colostrum, birth weight and birth rank (P , 0.0001). Plasma IgG concentration at weaning was related to plasma IgG concentration at T 24 (r 5 0.54; P , 0.0001) and to colostrum intake (r 5 0.32; P , 0.0001). Finally, body weight was explained by colostrum intake, birth weight and age until 6 weeks of age (P , 0.0001). These results show that colostrum intake is the main determinant of piglet survival through provision of energy and immune protection and has potential long-term effects on piglet growth and immunity.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of colostrum intake on piglet survival and immunity

Devillers

Dividich

Prunier

2011

226

154

“…At birth, piglets were weighed and time of day was recorded. Because of their link to hypoxia during delivery (Herpin et al, 1996), some birth characteristics were also recorded to assess vitality (umbilical cord already ruptured, difficulty to breathe (more than 5 s until first attempt to breathe), piglet still inside placental membranes). Piglets born in placental membranes were extirpated from them and reanimated, if necessary.…”

Section: Animals and Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Colostrum intake by piglets depends not only on their ability to extract colostrum from teats but also on the ability of sows to produce enough colostrum for the whole litter (Hoy et al, 1997). Indeed, negative effects of low birth weight and poor vitality (asphyxia during delivery, long time from birth to first suckling) on colostrum intake were demonstrated in several studies (Herpin et al, 1996;Tuchscherer et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability of colostrum yield and colostrum intake in pigs

Devillers

Farmer²,

Dividich³

et al. 2007

222

158

Colostrum yield and composition of 40 Landrace3Large White sows were determined from the onset of parturition until 24 h post partum. Colostrum yield was calculated by adding individual piglets' colostrum intakes for each litter. Colostrum was assayed for prolactin, progesterone, oestradiol-17b, immunoglobulin G and its nutritional composition was determined. Piglets' individual colostrum intake averaged 300 6 7 g and sows' colostrum yield averaged 3.67 6 0.14 kg (minimum 1.91 kg, maximum 5.31 kg). Live weight and characteristics at birth (umbilical cord already ruptured, splayleg, difficulty to breathe) were the major factors influencing individual colostrum intake. Colostrum yield was not affected by litter size, tended to be influenced by parity (P 5 0.059) and was lower when farrowing was induced (P 5 0.017). On the other hand, no relationships were found between hormone concentrations in colostrum and colostrum yield. Mean piglet birth weight and litter weight variation at birth were related to colostrum yield (r 5 0.38; P 5 0.015 and r 5 20.34; P 5 0.030, respectively). These results suggest that determinism of colostrum yield depends, in part, on global vitality of the litter but seems to be, most probably, affected by the capacity of sows to produce enough colostrum for the whole litter. Further studies are needed to understand the endocrine regulation of colostrum secretion in sows.

“…It may be due to a higher risk of hypoxia resulting from uterine contractions that reduce oxygenation of the unborn piglets, early placenta detachments, or damage or premature ruptures of the umbilical cords. Such disturbances are more frequent in large litters (Herpin et al, 1996;Alonso-Spilsbury et al, 2005). Several studies have demonstrated the important association between farrowing kinetics (duration and rhythm) and stillbirth (e.g.…”

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

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.