Observations on the behaviour of suckling pigs

Gill, Janusz; Thomson, William

doi:10.1016/s0950-5601(56)80022-1

Cited by 95 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Offspring that obtain milk from anterior and middle mammary glands (MGs) grow faster than those suckling posterior MG (Puppe and Tuchscherer, 1999;Kim et al, 2000). Besides the greater amount of colostrum and milk from anterior and middle MGs (Gill and Thomson, 1956), we reported that components in colostrum and milk secreted by anterior and posterior MGs are also distinctive (Wu W.Z. et al, 2010) in having proteins that are beneficial to passive immunity, intestinal development, and epithelial integrity; they include immunoglobulins and haptoglobin in colostrum and lactoferrin in milk from anterior MG, which are more abundant in anterior and middle MGs compared with posterior MG.…”

Section: Pre-weaning Growth Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Within-litter variation in birth weight: impact of nutritional status in the sow

Yuan

Zhu

Shi

et al. 2015

J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B

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Accompanying the beneficial improvement in litter size from genetic selection for high-prolificacy sows, within-litter variation in birth weight has increased with detrimental effects on post-natal growth and survival due to an increase in the proportion of piglets with low birth-weight. Causes of within-litter variation in birth weight include breed characteristics that affect uterine space, ovulation rate, degree of maturation of oocytes, duration of time required for ovulation, interval between ovulation and fertilization, uterine capacity for implantation and placentation, size and efficiency of placental transport of nutrients, communication between conceptus/fetus and maternal systems, as well as nutritional status and environmental influences during gestation. Because these factors contribute to within-litter variation in birth weight, nutritional status of the sow to improve fetal-placental development must focus on the following three important stages in the reproductive cycle: pre-mating or weaning to estrus, early gestation and late gestation. The goal is to increase the homogeneity of development of oocytes and conceptuses, decrease variations in conceptus development during implantation and placentation, and improve birth weights of newborn piglets. Though some progress has been made in nutritional regulation of within-litter variation in the birth weight of piglets, additional studies, with a focus on and insights into molecular mechanisms of reproductive physiology from the aspects of maternal growth and offspring development, as well as their regulation by nutrients provided to the sow, are urgently needed.

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Section: Pre-weaning Growth Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Within-litter variation in birth weight: impact of nutritional status in the sow

Yuan

Zhu

Shi

et al. 2015

J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B

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“…Tactile stimulation performed by the piglets at the udder fulfils several functions; suckling massage releases prolactin that assists with adapting maternal physiology to cope with lactation (Algers et al, 1991) and, dependent on the time spent massaging, increases the teat milk yield for the next suckling -the 'restaurant hypothesis' (Gill and Thomson, 1956;Algers and Jensen, 1985). Nose-to-nose contact between piglet and sow post let-down is thought to signal need and reaffirm bonds and recognition.…”

Section: Parturition Early Lactation and Nest-occupationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternative farrowing systems: design criteria for farrowing systems based on the biological needs of sows and piglets

Baxter

Lawrence

Edwards

2011

Animal

114

112

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The construction of a suitable farrowing environment is a continuing dilemma: the piglet's needs must be matched with those of the sow and the farmer during the main phases that constitute farrowing: nest building, parturition and lactation. Difficulties exist in resolving the various conflicts of interest between and within these three parties (e.g. sow v. farmer: space needed for nest building v. space needed to maximise the amount of farrowing accommodation, or sow v. sow: ensuring the survival of the current litter v. maintaining condition for future litters). Thus, the challenge is to resolve these conflicts and design a system that maximises sow and piglet welfare while maintaining an economically efficient and sustainable enterprise. In order to successfully design a farrowing and lactation environment, it is necessary to consider the biological needs of both the sow and her litter. The natural behaviour of the sow has been well documented and very little variation exists between reports of peri-parturient behaviour observed in extensively kept domestic sows and their wild counterparts. The failure for domestication to significantly alter these behavioural patterns provides evidence that they are biologically significant and that the commercial farrowing environment should attempt to accommodate this behavioural repertoire. In addition, the behavioural needs of the piglets, as well as the physiological needs of both sows and their offspring should be considered. This article aims to review the considerable body of literature detailing the behavioural repertoire of sows and their offspring during the different phases of farrowing, and the accompanying physiological processes. The focus is on identifying biological needs of the animals involved in order to synthesise the appropriate design criteria for farrowing and lactation systems, which should optimise both welfare and animal production.

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“…In lactating sows, uterine involution is achieved within 21-28 d pp (Palmer et al, 1965a,b (Baldwin and Plucinski, 1977 (Salmon Legagneur, 1956;Jensen and Recén, 1989). By the end of day 3, piglets massage the udder prior to and after milk let-down (Gill and Thomson, 1956;De Passille, 1982;Jensen and Recén, 1989). The average duration of the final massage decreases from about 3-4 to 1-2 min between the first and third week of lactation (Gill and Thomson, 1956;Jensen and Recen, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By the end of day 3, piglets massage the udder prior to and after milk let-down (Gill and Thomson, 1956;De Passille, 1982;Jensen and Recén, 1989). The average duration of the final massage decreases from about 3-4 to 1-2 min between the first and third week of lactation (Gill and Thomson, 1956;Jensen and Recen, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endocrine bases of lactational anoestrus in the sow

Quesnel¹,

Prunier²

1995

Reprod. Nutr. Dev.

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Summary ― Parturition in the sow is followed by a period of anovulation which is prolonged by lactation. Follicular development and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion are depressed during the last month of pregnancy. After parturition, LH secretion increases but is again inhibited by the establishment of lactation. Lactating sows are submitted to stimuli originating from the young, whose intensity culminates 3-14 d post-partum (pp), and to high nutrient requirements for milk production. The

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Observations on the behaviour of suckling pigs

Cited by 95 publications

References 3 publications

Within-litter variation in birth weight: impact of nutritional status in the sow

Within-litter variation in birth weight: impact of nutritional status in the sow

Alternative farrowing systems: design criteria for farrowing systems based on the biological needs of sows and piglets

Endocrine bases of lactational anoestrus in the sow

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