Hot environment on reproductive performance, immunoglobulins, vitamin E, and vitamin A status in sows and their progeny under commercial husbandry

Abstract

Hot environments can affect feed intake and lactation, and the subsequent unavailability of important micronutrients to the newborn piglet can impair piglet growth, reduce the viability of newborn piglets and limit their subsequent performance. This work addresses the effects of hot environments (summer season) upon the reproductive performance of sows during gestation and lactation as well as on the serum levels of vitamins and the concentration of immunoglobulins in their litters in comparison with the winter season. Fourteen sows were evaluated over 100 ± 2 days of gestation in each season. The temperature and humidity index (THI) was used as an indirect measure of heat stress during gestation. The reproductive performance, milk yield, and body condition of the sows were recorded. The concentrations of vitamin E and vitamin A in piglets and in sow serum, colostrum, milk and feed were determined by HPLC; immunoglobulins were assessed by an ELISA. The THI index indicated that animals were subject to heat stress only in during the summer. Although the effect was not significant, there were a lower number of piglets at birth and at weaning and the milk yield in summer compared with winter. There was no difference (p > 0.05) in the body condition of sows between seasons. Season had an effect (p < 0.05) on the vitamin A concentration of postpartum sow serum (0.29 μg/mL in winter vs 0.21 μg/mL in summer) and on the vitamin E concentration before birth (2.00 μg/mL in winter vs 0.90 μg/mL in summer). Vitamin E in milk was higher (p < 0.05) in winter than in summer (2.23 vs 1.81 μg/mL). Serum levels of vitamins A and E in piglets at birth were lower (p < 0.05) in winter than in summer. The concentrations of immunoglobulins (IgG and IgA) in colostrum and milk were similar between seasons (p > 0.05), but the IgA in piglet serum was higher in winter than in summer (p < 0.05). High temperatures produced heat stress in sows, which affected certain aspects of production that can be translated into economic losses for this sector.

Ovarian Follicle Growth during Lactation Determines the Reproductive Performance of Weaned Sows

“…Although not measured in the present study, such endocrine disturbance is presumably caused by a decrease in feed intake during lactation in SA caused by its usual high environmental temperatures [ 26 ]. In this regard, disorders on ovarian follicular growth have been related with environmental heat stress [ 7 , 27 ]. Sows weaned during SA showed poorer reproductive performance than those weaned in WS, which was in agreement with previous studies [ 23 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

“…In this regard, disorders on ovarian follicular growth have been related with environmental heat stress [ 7 , 27 ]. Sows weaned during SA showed poorer reproductive performance than those weaned in WS, which was in agreement with previous studies [ 23 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. The higher incidence of sows with small ovarian follicles at weaning would be the main cause of the comparatively lower reproductive performance showed by the sows weaned in SA.…”

Systematic review of animal-based indicators to measure thermal, social, and immune-related stress in pigs

“…The inclusion of environmental indices (environmental-based indicators) is justified, as the severity of the thermal stress model can be estimated from environmental information. For example, the temperature and humidity index (THI), calculated using environmental variables, has been used in several studies to indirectly measure if pigs are being subjected to thermal stress [ 44 , 57 , 63 – 65 ]. The environmental variables are as follows: temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH).…”

“…The goal of including the term “vitamin E” was to find studies that measure this metabolite as an indicator of the oxidative stress level in the animals under thermal stress conditions. Vitamin E is the primary antioxidant cell protector [ 57 ], and can be used as an antioxidant supplement in porcine diets to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative damage resulting from thermal stress [ 30 , 58 , 59 ].…”

MicroRNAs as Biomarkers for Animal Health and Welfare in Livestock

“…Furthermore, new pig genetic lines produce nearly 20% more heat than previous breeds (143). Heat stress affects several aspects of pig farming, including reproductive performance, feed intake, body condition, immune response, and milk production (144)(145)(146)(147)(148). Heat stress also influences muscle development, modifying the balance between protein synthesis and degradation (149).…”