Colostrum Intake and Thermoregulation in the Neonatal Pig in Relation to Environmental Temperature

Abstract

Colostrum consumption and rectal temperature (RT) have been measured on piglets kept at 18–20 °C (CG = cold group) and at 30–32 °C (WG = warm group) during the first day of life. At an ambient temperature of 18–20 °C, piglets consumed 36.8% less (p < 0.01) colostrum than their littermates at 30–32 °C. There was a positive correlation between birth weight and colostrum intake in both groups of piglets. From birth weight and weight gain measurements, colostrum intake could be accurately predicted (R2 = 0.75). RT of piglets significantly dropped after birth and subsequently rose, the extent of the initial fall and the rate of the subsequent rise depended on the environmental temperature. RT of CG remained significantly lower than that of WG, and a further significant decrease was found from 15 h after birth in CG. At 18–20 °C, a progressive decline of the effect of birth weight and a concomitant increase in the effect of colostrum intake on RT was found, whereas in WG, RT was influenced by neither birth weight nor colostrum intake. 5 of the 39 CG died within 3 days after birth, while all 41 WG survived. Results provide evidence for cold stress as a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the neonatal pigs.

Influence of colostrum intake on piglet survival and immunity

“…When all the piglets are considered, the relationships between colostrum intake and rectal temperature (Figure 2a), glycemia (Figure 2b), cortisol concentration ( Figure 2c) and passive immunity (Figure 3a) confirm the important role of the colostrum in thermoregulation (Le Dividich and Noblet, 1981), glucose homeostasis (Herpin et al, 1992) and immune transfer . Plasma IgG concentration is logically related to colostrum intake, colostrum IgG concentration and birth rank.…”

Effect of radiant heat at the birth site in farrowing crates on hypothermia and behaviour in neonatal piglets

“…These circumstances make low BW piglets more prone to experiencing deep hypothermia. Le Dividich and Noblet (1981) showed that RT depended on BW in a cold environment but not in a warm environment. Based on that, we expected that low BW piglets would have benefitted more from the heat treatment than high BW piglets, but no interaction between treatment and BW was found in the present study.…”

“…Le Dividich and Noblet, 1981), even when piglets are placed in a climate chamber heated to 38°C to 40°C (Kammersgaard, 2013). The extent of the initial drop and the rate of the subsequent rise depend on the external environment (Le Dividich and Noblet, 1981;Malmkvist et al, 2006;Pedersen et al, 2013) and are negatively correlated to the chance of survival of the piglets (Tuchscherer et al, 2000;Baxter et al, 2009;Pedersen et al, 2011). The first critical step to avoid hypothermia is to reduce the initial fall in RT as much as possible (Lossec et al, 1998).…”

The dynamics of changes in selected parameters in relation to different air temperature in the farrowing house for sows

“…For domestic piglets in a production situation, the lower critical temperature is about 34°C (Curtis, 1983), and a room temperature of 18-20°C is cool enough to depress the rectal temperature and colostrum intake of newborn piglets (Le Dividich and Noblet, 1981). However, the piglets' need for warmth creates a problem for the sow, because her own thermal comfort zone is generally much lower, with the lower limit estimated at about 18-20°C by Curtis (1983).…”