Neonatal split suckling improves survival of small piglets

Huser, J. S.; Plush, K. J.; Pitchford, W. S.; Kennett, T. E.; Lines, D. S.

doi:10.1071/anv55n12ab079

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Low birth weight pigs born into high CV litters are disadvantaged with regards to colostrum intake as they are often out-competed at the udder by larger conspecifics. Split suckling involves removing the largest piglets from the sow after farrowing when weight disparities are evident, and successfully increases the survival of small piglets, presumably through improved colostrum intake [13]. This practice is performed routinely on the experimental site, and so, whilst survival of the small piglets was low overall, split suckling may have acted to dilute any impacts of high litter weight CV.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Dextrose Supplementation in the Pre-Ovulatory Sow Diet to Reduce Seasonal Influences on Litter Birth Weight Variation

Plush¹,

Glencorse²,

Alexopoulos³

et al. 2019

Animals

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Simple Summary: Seasonal infertility manifests in either pregnancy failure, or reduced litter size, or both in sows bred during summer. What is less clear is whether season influences piglet traits important for post-natal survival and growth, such as birth weight variation. Sows fed a diet with dextrose before ovulation gave birth to litters with reduced birth weight variation. Thus, this experiment had two aims: first, to identify if sows bred during summer would give birth to litters with higher birth weight variation, and second, to test if feeding sows dextrose before mating would reduce birth weight variation, especially during summer months. This experiment identified that there is evidence for increased birth weight variation in sows bred during the summer months despite the observed reduced litter size, suggesting that this is another way seasonal infertility can manifest. The 5% inclusion of dextrose in the pre-ovulatory sow diet increased litter size without compromising litter homogeneity at birth and resulted in higher piglet growth rates in those born to sows mated in winter (lactated in summer). Dextrose can be used successfully in a 'wean to mate' diet to boost the reproductive performance of sows.Abstract: In this experiment, we proposed two hypotheses: birth weight variation would increase in litters from sows bred in summer, and dextrose supplementation during the wean to mate period would ameliorate this manifestation of seasonal infertility. Five hundred and ninety-one multiparous sows were allocated to Control; standard diet, or Dextrose; control +5% dextrose diets from weaning until insemination during summer and winter. Dextrose sows farrowed 1.0 and 1.4 more total pigs born and pigs born alive than Control sows, respectively (p < 0.05). There was a tendency for a higher co-efficient of variation (CV) birth weight in summer than winter (16.6 ± 0.4 versus 15.8 ± 0.4; p = 0.1), but no effect of treatment or interaction between treatment and season was observed. Piglet average daily gain was unaffected in those born to sows bred in summer, but when born to sows bred in winter, Dextrose piglets grew 23 g per day faster than Control (p < 0.05). This experiment identified evidence for increased birth weight CV in sows bred during the summer months despite the reduced litter size, suggesting that this is another way seasonal infertility can manifest.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Dextrose Supplementation in the Pre-Ovulatory Sow Diet to Reduce Seasonal Influences on Litter Birth Weight Variation

Plush¹,

Glencorse²,

Alexopoulos³

et al. 2019

Animals

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“…However, when comparing the split-suckling treatments, mortality rates in nonisolated piglets were higher in SS3d than in SS1d. In contrast, Huser et al (2014Huser et al ( & 2015b reported an increased survival of 13% for small piglets (<0.85 kg) at weaning (24 ± 6 days) when heavy birth weight piglets were isolated during two hours split-suckling in the first day of life. Holyoake et al (1995) reported also a decrease in mortality (of low viability piglets) at an average weaning age of 21 days.…”

Section: The Effect Of Split-suckling On Growth and Mortality During ...mentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Furthermore, higher serum IgG-concentrations were observed by Vallet et al (2013) in low birth weight piglets and by Alonso et al (2012) in piglets of primiparous sows compared to those of multiparous sows within the split-suckling treatment. Very promising results were reported in two recent studies: increased neonatal growth (Morton et al, 2017) and reduced mortality (Huser et al, 2015b) of small piglets when applying split-suckling by isolating heavier piglets. The latter observation is interesting since the major proportion of piglet mortality during the nursery period occurs in the first days of life and is highest among the smaller piglets within the litter (Quiniou et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Piglet performance and colostrum intake in litters either or not split-suckled during the first day or during the first three days of life

et al. 2020

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“…Vallet [ 40 ] reported increased survival rates and increased serum protein values of small piglets when split suckling was implemented. Similarly, Huser et al [ 41 ] showed that the survival of small piglets was improved by 13% in split suckled litters. Other ways of ensuring adequate colostrum intake of piglets is through supplementation of either foreign sow colostrum [ 42 ] or artificial (usually bovine derived) colostrum products [ 43 ].…”

Section: The Importance Of Colostrummentioning

confidence: 94%

A Review of Success Factors for Piglet Fostering in Lactation

Alexopoulos¹,

Lines²,

Hallett³

et al. 2018

Animals

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Simple SummaryAn understanding of behavioural and physiological mechanisms responsible for piglet survival and growth will assist in developing the best recommendations in which to manage piglet movements in the farrowing house. This review has identified six key principles that should underpin successful piglet fostering. These fostering principles will improve productivity and welfare of sows and piglets in commercial pig production.AbstractPiglet movement from one sow to another, or fostering, is required in modern pig farming but there is little available literature on the most effective strategy. In this review, we focus on the behavioural and physiological mechanisms responsible for piglet survival and growth, and have identified six key principles. (1) Colostrum provides piglets with warmth, energy and immunity. It is most accessible during the first 12 h from the birth sow, therefore no piglet should be moved before this; (2) To ensure even intake of birth sow colostrum, techniques such as split suckling prior to piglet movement should be implemented; (3) Udder assessment for functional teats should occur at farrowing, with number of fostered piglets not exceeding teat number; (4) Primiparous sows should receive as many piglets as the udder allows to maximise mammary stimulation, although older parities should be assessed for rearing ability; (5) Piglet fostering should occur between 12 and 24 h and movement kept to a minimum to prevent transfer of disease; Litter outliers should be moved and relocated to a litter of similar size; (6) Piglet movement after 24 h should be minimised. When required, strategies such as nurse usage should be employed. These principles will result in improved farrowing house performance by increasing the litter weight weaned per sow.

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Neonatal split suckling improves survival of small piglets

Cited by 8 publications

References 2 publications

Effect of Dextrose Supplementation in the Pre-Ovulatory Sow Diet to Reduce Seasonal Influences on Litter Birth Weight Variation

Effect of Dextrose Supplementation in the Pre-Ovulatory Sow Diet to Reduce Seasonal Influences on Litter Birth Weight Variation

Piglet performance and colostrum intake in litters either or not split-suckled during the first day or during the first three days of life

A Review of Success Factors for Piglet Fostering in Lactation

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