Postparturient disorders and backfat loss in tropical sows associated with parity, farrowing duration and type of antibiotic

Abstract

The present study investigated the incidence of postparturient disorders and backfat loss in primiparous and multiparous sows under tropical climates in relation to duration of farrowing and type of antibiotic used postpartum. In total, 81 sows (42 primiparous and 39 multiparous sows) were included. The sows were categorised according to the duration of farrowing into three groups: <2 (n = 58), 2-4 (n = 19) and >4 h (n = 4). According to the antibiotic used postpartum, the sows were divided into two groups: group I (enrofloxacin type 1, n = 36) and group II (enrofloxacin type 2, n = 45). Rectal temperature, the presence of abnormal vaginal discharge, the occurrence of postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) and the sows' appetite were determined at days 0, 1, 2 and 3 postpartum. Backfat thickness was measured before farrowing and at 21 days postpartum. The mean duration of farrowing was 114.5 ± 60.2 min. Stillborn piglets in the sows with a long duration of farrowing (>4 h, mean 287.9 min) was higher than in sows with a short duration (<2 h, mean 85.5 min) of farrowing (29.2 and 7.9 %, P = 0.044). Primiparous sows lost more backfat during lactation than multiparous sows (15.7 and 4.8 %, P = 0.004). The incidence of abnormal vaginal discharge (P = 0.046) and PDS (P = 0.057) was less frequent in group II than in group I sows. In conclusion, primiparous sows and sows with a long duration of farrowing had a high risk of postparturient disorders. The type of antibiotic had an effect on the incidence of abnormal vaginal discharge and PDS in sows.

Hormonal and metabolic indicators before and after farrowing in sows affected with postpartum dysgalactia syndrome

“…Previously established criteria were selected to identify sows suffering from PDS [ 4 , 45 – 51 ], but as already pointed out by others [ 52 – 54 ], these vary greatly and are associated with uncertainty. However, the present study, and previous results showing significant differences between PDS+ and PDS- sows for several inflammatory parameters [ 55 ] support the usefulness of our PDS definition.…”

“…Obstetric aid was more frequently given in sows diagnosed with mastitis, metritis and agalactia [ 57 ], coliform mastitis [ 58 ] and post-farrowing discharge [ 59 ], but the significance of the parturition duration in PDS is obscure [ 4 , 50 , 57 ]. Whether extended parturition and increased obstetric aid cause PDS or vice versa remains to be elucidated.…”

“…Commonly used indicators for PDS include fever, reduced appetite, mastitis, and signs of piglet starvation. These signs, however, may vary considerably [ 1 – 4 ]. Improved knowledge about the pathogenesis of PDS, including disturbances in hormonal and metabolic processes at parturition, may thus be relevant for future diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis.…”

The challenge of large litters on the immune system of the sow and the piglets

“…The humoral and cellular factors of maternal immunity in swine were reviewed by Salmon, Berri, Gerdts, and Meurens (2009). An increase F I G U R E 1 Relationship between litter size and the duration of farrowing in 20 studies from 1992 to 2018 (Björkman et al, 2017Canario, Roy, Gruand, & Bidanel, 2006;van Dijk, van Rens, van der Lende, & Taverne, 2005;Feyera et al, 2018;Gu et al, 2011;Guillemet et al, 2007;Hales, Moustsen, Devreese, Nielsen, & Hansen, 2015;Hansen, Hales, Weber, Edwards, & Moustsen, 2017;Kobek Thorsen et al, 2017;Madec & Leon, 1992;Oliviero, Heinonen, Valros, & Peltoniemi, 2010;Oliviero, Kothe, Heinonen, Valros, & Peltoniemi, 2013;Oliviero et al, 2008;Olsson, Botermans, & Englund, 2019;van Rens & van der Lende, 2004;Tummaruk & Pearodwong, 2015;Van Wettere, Toplis, & Miller, 2018;Yun et al, 2018;Zaleski & Hacker, 1993) F I G U R E 2 Relationship between litter size (total born) and the average piglet birthweight by litter (from Smit et al, 2013;Animal, Cambridge press, supplementary material) in production of mammogenic hormones, including oestrogen, relaxin and prolactin, accelerates mammary gland (MG) growth rapidly Since these cells were originally stimulated in the gut, they now produce sIgA of the same specificity as gut IgA, into milk. This is the basis of the so-called entero-mammary immune link (Salmon et al, 2009).…”

“…Relationship between litter size and the duration of farrowing in 20 studies from 1992 to 2018 (Björkman et al., , ; Canario, Roy, Gruand, & Bidanel, ; van Dijk, van Rens, van der Lende, & Taverne, ; Feyera et al., ; Gu et al., ; Guillemet et al., ; Hales, Moustsen, Devreese, Nielsen, & Hansen, ; Hansen, Hales, Weber, Edwards, & Moustsen, ; Kobek Thorsen et al., ; Madec & Leon, ; Oliviero, Heinonen, Valros, & Peltoniemi, ; Oliviero, Kothe, Heinonen, Valros, & Peltoniemi, ; Oliviero et al., ; Olsson, Botermans, & Englund, ; van Rens & van der Lende, ; Tummaruk & Pearodwong, ; Van Wettere, Toplis, & Miller, ; Yun et al., ; Zaleski & Hacker, )…”