Animal Welfare Compromises Associated with Causes of Death in Neonatal Piglets

Abstract

This pilot study aimed to assess the welfare impacts of different causes of pre-weaning deaths in piglets. Piglets that died between 0–7 days after birth (n = 106) were collected from two commercial pig farms and subject to post-mortem examination to confirm their cause of death as well as any contributing factors. Using the Five Domains Model, the most likely affective experiences associated with the pathological findings were carefully inferred to better understand affective experience as it related to known causes of liveborn piglet mortality. The most common causes of liveborn piglet mortality were starvation (23%), crushing (23%) and non-viable (21%). Thirty one piglets had evidence of starvation, but it was only considered the primary cause of death in 15 piglets, as cofactors such as poor viability (n = 13) were also present in many piglets with evidence of starvation. All 15 piglets that were crushed died within 24 h after birth and most had evidence of thoracic and/or abdominal internal bleeding. This study found that common causes of liveborn piglet death were associated with compromises in Domains 1 (Nutrition/hydration), 3 (Health/function), and4 (Behavioural interactions), with the most likely resulting affective states described in Domain 5 (Mental state). This highlights the interaction between physical/functional and situation-related (behavioural) aspects that influence an animals’ welfare status.

The Role of Brown Adipose Tissue and Energy Metabolism in Mammalian Thermoregulation during the Perinatal Period

“…This change is potentially stressful even in precocial species such as lambs, who, regardless of the thermoregulatory advantages (e.g., adipose tissue deposits, motor ability to stand up immediately after birth) are still exposed to body temperature drops. This could be attributed to newborns being vulnerable to thermal changes that could cause hypothermia from birth until 36 h of life, and because they may experience excessive heat loss and depletion of their energy reserves [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In fact, in preterm infants, the mortality rate can increase markedly, even with short periods of hypothermia [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels—particularly TRPM8 and TRPA1 to detect cold—[ 15 ] receive signals associated with changes in the environmental temperature [ 16 ]. For this reason, it is relevant to know the thermoregulation procedures used by various species, as well as the factors that can influence their development, since all this knowledge can be useful for the creation of strategies that ensure the welfare and survival of newborns, an aspect of great interest for production systems that present significant economic losses due to neonatal mortality of up to 50% [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Thus, this article aims to discuss the neuromodulation mechanisms of thermoregulation and the importance of BAT in the thermogenesis of newborn mammals, emphasizing the analysis of the biochemical, physiological, and genetic factors that determine the distribution, amount, and efficiency of this energy resource in newborns of different species.…”