118 Examining Factors That Influence Pig Quality Measured By Weaning Weight.

Bruns, Caitlyn E.; Noël, Romain; McNeil, Brady; Sonderman, John; Rathje, Tom

doi:10.1093/jas/sky073.116

Cited by 5 publications

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“…The pre-weaned weight gain is an important performance trait of piglets in the intensive pig production, and it has already been used as an indicator trait of pig quality in this industry 6 . In this study, the birth weight vs. weaning weight displays correlation exited between these two growth performance parameters (r = 0.464, P = 0.01) supported the theory that the smaller piglets at birth will be accompanied with many adversity for the subsequent daily growth 3 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2018) that the decades of selection in the intensive pig production industry for increasing litter size has resulted in a too high stock density in each litter which may be a risk factor and may have the potential to intervene the growth of piglets 6,29 . Although a management practice, cross-fostering, has already been implemented to manage the large litter size, Brans CE still found that this management practice cannot benefit the pre-weaned weight gaining performance and bring heavier weaning weight of the piglets 6 . Therefore, obtaining the knowledge about the attribution of a causal link between the molecular biological physiology and the pre-weaned weight gain can aid producers to implement the corresponding management practices in enhancing the pig quality in the intensified pig production.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…And smaller piglets at weaning presents many challenges such as lower survival rate, lower feed intake, lower daily gain, larger medication consumption, and longer raising period 5 . There is a theory in pig production industry that is a good weight gaining performance of piglets in pre-weaned period can benefit their subsequent daily gain and survivability, shorten their raising period, and decrease the operational cost and medication consumption of the pig producers 5,6 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring possible associations of the intestine bacterial microbiome with the pre-weaned weight gaining performance of piglets in intensive pig production

Ding

Lan

Liu³

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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The pre-weaned weight gain is an important performance trait of pigs in intensive pig production. The bacterial microbiome inside the host is vital to host health and growth performance. The purpose of this study was to explore the possible associations of the intestinal microbiome with the pre-weaned weight gain in intensive pig production. In this study, several anatomical sites (jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon) were examined for bacterial microbiome structure using 16S rRNA V4-V5 region sequencing with Illumina Miseq. The results showed that the microbial richness (estimated by Chao1 index) in jejunum was positively correlated with the pre-weaned weight gain. This study also revealed that the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in colon were the weight gaining-related phyla; while the Selenomonas and Moraxella in ileum and the Lactobacillus in both cecum and colon were the weight gaining-related genera for the pre-weaned piglets in intensive pig prodution. Several intra-microbial interactions within commensal microbiome correlated with the pre-weaned weight gain were excavated, as well. Overall, this study provides an expanded view of the commensal bacterial community inside four anatomical intestinal sites of the commercial piglets and the associations of the intestinal microbiome with the pre-weaned weight gaining performance in intensive pig production.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Exploring possible associations of the intestine bacterial microbiome with the pre-weaned weight gaining performance of piglets in intensive pig production

Ding

Lan

Liu³

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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“…Advances in genetics, combined with improved management, has resulted in significant increases in litter sizes within commercial pig production ( Bruns et al, 2018 ). This has been accompanied by an increase in the number of low birthweight (Low BW) and potentially unviable piglets, largely due to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) ( Antonides et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of sow lactation feed intake on the growth and suckling behavior of low and average birthweight pigs to 10 weeks of age

Hawe

Scollan

Gordon

et al. 2020

Translational Animal Science

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Improved genetics in commercial pig production have resulted in larger litter sizes. However this has increased the prevalence of compromised pigs exhibiting inferior birthweights, weaning weights, and lifetime performance. This study aimed to determine the effects of increased sow lactation feed intake on growth of low and average birthweight piglets until 10 wk of age. Low (Low BW; <1 kg) and average (Av BW; 1.3–1.7 kg) birthweight animals were reared in uniformly weighted litters comprising 14 piglets on a foster mother offered either a low (Low FA; max 7.5 kg/d) or high (High FA; max 11 kg/d) feed allowance over a 28- ± 1-d lactation. Piglet performance was monitored from birth until 10 wk of age. Sows offered a High FA consumed 42.4 kg more feed on average than those offered Low FA, resulting in a greater derived milk yield (P < 0.05). Animals of Av BW remained heavier than Low BW pigs throughout the trial (P < 0.05). Piglets reared by High FA sows were heavier at weeks 3, 4, 5, and 7 (P < 0.05) but not week 10 (P > 0.05). Growth rate of piglets relative to their birthweight was significantly greater for Low BW piglets than those of Av BW during lactation (P < 0.001). Piglets reared by sows offered a High FA expressed greater relative growth preweaning (P < 0.05); however, postweaning relative growth for piglets reared on sows offered a Low FA was greater (P < 0.05) suggesting compensatory growth. Neither birthweight nor sow feed allowance significantly affected preweaning mortality (P > 0.05). However, Low BW animals on sows with a High FA recorded half the preweaning mortality of Low BW pigs on sows with a Low FA. During week 1 of lactation, Av BW litters recorded a greater total suckling duration compared to Low BW litters (P < 0.05) but there was no difference in suckling frequency (P > 0.05). During week 3 of lactation, High FA litters displayed a significantly lower suckling frequency (P < 0.05) yet a greater total suckling duration (P < 0.001). Average daily gain was greater for Av BW pigs during weeks 4–7 (P < 0.001) but no difference was recorded between weeks 7 and 10 (P > 0.05). Average daily feed intake was greater for Av BW pigs throughout the nursery period (P < 0.05) but feed–conversion ratio did not differ compared to Low BW pens (P>0.05). In conclusion, offering sows a High FA increased weaning weight of all animals; however, birthweight was the major determinant of postweaning performance.

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“…In recent years, the incorporation of prolific genetics, combined with improved management systems, has resulted in significant increases in pig litter size ( Bruns et al, 2018 ). In Northern Ireland (NI), this has resulted in an increase of 3.5 pigs born alive per litter as well as an increase of 5.3 pigs weaned per sow per year over the last 10 years, resulting in sows in NI weaning an average of 29.8 pigs per year in 2019 ( Donnelly, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What is the current significance of low birthweight pigs on commercial farms in Northern Ireland in terms of impaired growth and mortality?

Hawe

Scollan

Gordon

et al. 2020

Translational Animal Science

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There is little modern data addressing the differential lifetime growth of commercially reared low and average birthweight pigs born into large litters (>14 piglets). As such, the main aim of this study was to quantify the lifetime growth and mortality rate of low and average birthweight pigs on commercial farms in Northern Ireland. It was also aimed to analyse the level, stage and cause of mortality within each birthweight category. A total of 328 low birthweight (LOW BW; <1kg) and 292 average birthweight (AV BW; 1.3kg-1.7kg) pigs were individually identified across four commercial farms and one research farm. Animal growth and mortality was monitored on an individual basis from birth until slaughter age. Av BW pigs were heavier than Low BW pigs throughout the trial (P<0.001), with a weight advantage of 1.16kg at weaning increasing to over 9kg at slaughter age. Av BW pigs recorded a superior ADG to Low BW pigs throughout the trial (P<0.05), with the greatest difference recorded immediately post-weaning between weeks 4 to 8 and weeks 8 to 12 when a 77g/day and 85g/day difference was recorded respectively. Av BW pigs which were cross-fostered were significantly lighter than those remaining with their birth mother at weaning (0.9kg), week 8 (1.7kg) and week 12 (3.1kg) (P<0.05 respectively). Variance of weight was significantly greater for the Av BW pig population than the Low BW pig population at week 4 (P<0.001) and 8 (P<0.05). Pre-weaning mortality of Low BW pigs was over three times greater than that of Av BW pigs (21% vs 6%; P<0.001), with Low BW deaths occurring earlier (9.2 days vs 15.4 days; P<0.001) and at a lighter weight (1.2kg vs 2.4kg; P<0.001) than Av BW pigs. There was a clear association between birthweight and cause of pre-weaning death (P<0.05), with starvation (49%) and overlying (28%) accounting for the majority of Low BW mortalities. Birthweight had no effect on rate, age or weight of post-weaning mortalities (P>0.05). The alimentary tract (27%) and respiratory tract (27%) were the most commonly implicated body systems following post-mortem examination of post-weaning deaths. In conclusion, this study quantified the inferior weight, growth rate and mortality of Low BW pigs, identifying the lactation and immediate post-weaning periods as having greatest potential in reducing this birthweight associated growth differential.

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118 Examining Factors That Influence Pig Quality Measured By Weaning Weight.

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Exploring possible associations of the intestine bacterial microbiome with the pre-weaned weight gaining performance of piglets in intensive pig production

Exploring possible associations of the intestine bacterial microbiome with the pre-weaned weight gaining performance of piglets in intensive pig production

Impact of sow lactation feed intake on the growth and suckling behavior of low and average birthweight pigs to 10 weeks of age

What is the current significance of low birthweight pigs on commercial farms in Northern Ireland in terms of impaired growth and mortality?

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