Piglet Viability: A Review of Identification and Pre-Weaning Management Strategies

Abstract

Increased attention on the effects of the global push for a larger litter size has focused on the increased occurrence of piglets with decreased viability, which have lighter birthweights and a reduced ability to thrive in early life. To improve their odds of survival, interventions must be timely and targeted. This requires the early identification of low-viability pigs and appropriate strategies to manage them. Using novel measures such as abdominal circumference and crown to the rump length in conjunction with birth weight may provide an improved protocol for the identification of those at most risk of preweaning mortality. Further, identifying these at-risk piglets allows interventions to increase their colostrum intake and heat provisions shortly following birth. The appropriate management of the pre- and post-partum sows will improve the chances of decreasing the number of piglets born with lower viability. However, this outcome is constrained by limitations in resources such as technology and staffing. If these challenges can be overcome, it will allow for greater control and increased effectiveness in the implementation of current and new management strategies.

Recyclable Rubber Flooring in Farrowing Crates and Its Influence on the Development and Welfare of Piglets in the Maternity Phase

“…In addition, for this result to be even more satisfactory and economically viable for production, it is necessary to use sustainable resources [5,6], reduce mortality rates [7,8], and increase weight gain per litter [9,10]. Pig farming faces a major challenge related to controlling the environment in which the animals are raised, as well as the issue of waste and its environmental impact on production [11].…”

Effects of dietary traditional Chinese medicine residues on growth performance, intestinal health and gut microbiota compositions in weaned piglets

“…According to incomplete statistics, the prevalence of diarrhea in early weaned piglets is as high as 20%, resulting in significant economic losses to the pig industry ( Hu et al., 2018 ). ​While antibiotics and other drugs can alleviate the stress of weaning piglets, long-term use of nonstandard medications has caused some harm, such as bacterial resistance, drug residues, and environmental pollution ( Tucker et al., 2021 ). As a result, the livestock industry is under tremendous pressure to ban antibiotics in feed and reduce them in treatment.…”

Piglet Morphology: Indicators of Neonatal Viability?

“…Despite extensive research on ways to improve the survival of piglets using genetic selection, environmental improvements, and management routines, pre-weaning mortality remains high [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Multiple factors interact to influence a piglet’s ability to survive, including their birth weight, colostrum intake, and viability at birth, as well as factors inherent to the sow, such as her gestation environment and her post-partum management [ 2 , 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Selection for larger litter sizes in recent years has increased the within litter birth weight variation and, consequently, competition between littermates for colostrum in the first 24 h of life [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Furthermore, often a sow’s teat number is inadequate to support such a large litter without interventions such as supplemental colostrum and (or) milk for her piglets.…”

“…Piglet birth weight is a production indicator for pre-weaning growth and survival with lower birth weight piglets underperforming [ 9 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. However, recent research has raised questions as to the utility of using only birth weight [ 7 ], which in commercial settings is usually estimated visually, as a criterion for informing management decisions such as fostering [ 16 , 17 ]. Other more specific measures of piglet morphology at birth could serve as potential early life indicators for pre-weaning performance and survival.…”