Individual physical characteristics of neonatal piglets affect preweaning survival of piglets born in a noncrated system1

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of individual physical characteristics on preweaning survival and growth of piglets born in a noncrate system. Data were collected from 3,402 neonatal piglets from 203 Landrace × Yorkshire sows housed in noncrate pens in a commercial Danish sow herd. Piglets were categorized into groups according to their survivability: surviving to weaning (SURV), stillborn (STILL), or dead between birth and weaning (DBW), which was subdivided into dead d 0 to 1 after farrowing (DEAD1) or dead d 2 to 26 after farrowing (DEAD26). Linear models were used to determine which physical characteristics affected survivability and growth of piglets. Results showed that characteristics related to the individual piglets had a greater degree of explanatory power in relation to survival than variables related to the sow. Survival of piglets increased if piglets were females (P < 0.001), had a greater body mass index (P < 0.001), and were born to sows of parity 3 or more (P = 0.017). Piglets with a greater birth weight were more likely to survive (P < 0.001), but birth weight was inferior to body mass index in explaining differences between SURV and DBW. Piglets that died 2 to 26 d after birth had a lower birth weight (P < 0.001), were born to sows of parity 1 or 2 (P = 0.014), and were born after a shorter gestation (P = 0.011) compared with SURV. Piglets that died on d 0 to 1 after birth had a lower body mass index (P < 0.001), displayed a greater degree of growth restriction (P = 0.004), and were born in large litters (P = 0.005). The gender of the piglets affected survivability at both d 0 to 1 (P < 0.001) and d 2 to 26 (P < 0.001). Piglets in DEAD1 differed from STILL by having a shorter crown to rump length (P < 0.001), a birth weight that deviated more from the mean weight of the litter (P = 0.001), and being more likely to be born before d 116 of gestation (P = 0.008). The only physical characteristic that was important for growth performance in the suckling period was birth weight (P < 0.001), yet using only birth weight as an indicator for survivability was too simplistic. The results of this study emphasize that individual characteristics of neonatal piglets could serve as indicators of survivability of piglets born in noncrate systems; however, the results suggest that the importance of characteristics differed in different periods of the preweaning period.

Structure and Function of Enterocyte in Intrauterine Growth Retarded Pig Neonates

“…Intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) newborn piglet is born on time, and it is characterised by low birth body mass (below 1.1 kg), high perinatal mortality, and a “dolphin-like” head shape compared with “normal” piglets [1, 2]. The abnormality of head morphology is explained by prioritized brain development due to the “brain sparing effect” as part of a foetal adaptive reaction to placental insufficiency [3].…”

Confinement of sows for different periods during lactation: effects on behaviour and lesions of sows and performance of piglets

“…Compared to loose-housing, these systems require also less space and are easier to manage, that is handling of animals and manure removal (Blackshaw et al, 1994;Barnett et al, 2001;Baxter et al, 2012;Hales et al, 2013). Nevertheless, crates are currently under discussion because the movement of the sows, and thus the natural animal behaviour and welfare are highly impaired (Lawrence et al, 1994;Jarvis et al, 1997).…”

L‐arginine supplementation during the final third of gestation improves litter uniformity and physical characteristics of neonatal piglet thermoregulation

“…Thus, the observation of higher body mass index values in low‐weight classes suggests L‐arginine's potential to modulate body mass index values in the pre‐natal period and improve the body mass index of low‐weight piglets. This is reflected in a higher pre‐weaning survival capacity (Hales, Moustsen, Nielsen, & Hansen, ).…”

“…The relationship between piglet body mass index and physiology remains unclear. Hales et al () assessed body mass index and other survival‐related variables and observed that piglets with a high body mass index could adequately nourish themselves and were not subjected to physiological challenges, such as hypothermia, and that the piglets that died on days 0 or 1 after birth had lower body mass indexes. These authors also observed that piglets with the same birthweight but different body mass index values differed in mortality risk.…”