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

Abstract

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.

Vocal Communication in Pigs: Who are Nursing Piglets Screaming at?

“…Subjects were lactating sows and their litters (of between seven and 12 piglets) from a Yorkshire and Landrace research herd, housed in farrowing pens 1.9 × 2.1 m, with food and water available ad libitum. Recording and testing were carried out between 09.30 and 16.00 h. To obtain screams reliably we waited until individual teat preferences were established and supernumerary teats had regressed, and then temporarily covered two or more teats with adhesive tape (see Fraser et al . 1992 ); this procedure ensured that not all piglets could have access to a functional teat and thus increased the number of teat disputes and associated calling.…”

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

“…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.…”

The Influence of Piglet Birth Weight on Physical and Behavioural Development in Early Life

“…Therefore, the postnatal nutritional supply low-birth-weight piglets is further impaired by occupancy of the less productive posterior teats. Whilst piglets who suck from the anterior teats tend to exhibit higher growth rates [12], it has yet to be established whether their behaviour patterns differ from those animals occupying the posterior teats. The objective of this study was to determine whether birth weight influences physical and behavioural development during the neonatal period.…”