Piglets born with a high degree of meconium staining display altered behaviour throughout lactation

Ralph, C. R.; Staveley, L. M.; Burnard, C. L.; Plush, K. J.

doi:10.1071/anv55n12ab034

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Is it simply that the less viable pigs ingested low colostrum levels (with colostrum intake influencing growth to six weeks of age [53]), or are there longer term impacts of asphyxia on the physiology and development of the pig? Ralph, et al [54] demonstrated behavioural differences at the end of lactation (day 21) in piglets heavily stained with meconium suggestive of neurological shifts that persist outside the perinatal period. Further work examining whether there are long term gastro-intestinal changes in piglets experiencing asphyxia are warranted.…”

Section: Eventual Outcomes Of Asphyxia On Piglets and Management Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Parturition and Its Relationship with Stillbirths and Asphyxiated Piglets

Langendijk¹,

Plush²

2019

Animals

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Simple SummaryPiglets that experience a long labour are more likely to die during birth or immediately following birth, or to grow slowly during life. This is because the longer the piglet experiences contractions during labour, blood supply and oxygen delivery to the brain will be impaired. Even before the first piglet in the litter is born, sows that will have a delayed labour can be identified. This means that the key to saving piglets that are at risk of death because of long labours lies in managing the sow before she gives birth.AbstractThe transition from an intra- to extrauterine existence is extremely challenging for the pig. This is evidenced by the fact that conservative estimates place intrapartum piglet death at between 5% and 10%. The main cause of this loss is the parturition process itself, with a long farrowing duration resulting in reduced oxygenation to the piglet via uterine contractions stretching, and in some cases, causing rupture of the umbilical cord. Sows that experience a long expulsive stage of parturition are likely compromised before the birth of the first piglet, and so any strategy to reduce stillbirth should be applied before this. Even in piglets born alive, 15% to 20% will have suffered asphyxiation because of a long cumulative farrowing duration. These individuals are significantly disadvantaged with regards to behavioural progression, colostrum intake, growth and survival extending past the lactation phase, and so require more labour and resources than littermates in order to make them viable. Given these immediate and longer-term impacts, identifying ways to correctly manage the sow before parturition leading to a reduction in farrowing duration should be a priority in order to maximise piglet performance.

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Section: Eventual Outcomes Of Asphyxia On Piglets and Management Imentioning

confidence: 99%