Post-parturient Disorders and Backfat Loss in Tropical Sows in Relation to Backfat Thickness before Farrowing and Postpartum Intravenous Supportive Treatment

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the evidence of post-parturient disorders and backfat loss during lactation in sows raised in tropical areas in relation to their backfat thickness before farrowing and postpartum intravenous supportive treatment. Backfat thickness was measured using A-mode ultrasonography at farrowing and weaning (25.5±1.4 d) in 70 sows. The sows were divided into three groups according to backfat thickness before farrowing, i.e., 15.0 to 20.0 mm (n = 21), 20.5 to 25.0 mm (n = 35), >25.0 mm (n = 14) and were categorized into two groups according to the postpartum supportive treatment, i.e., control (n = 31) and treatment (n = 39). After farrowing, the sows in treatment group received the same medications as in control sows. Furthermore an intravenous supportive treatment with amino acids and vitamins was administered in treatment groups. Rectal temperature and clinical signs of the sows including vaginal discharge, udder problems and appetite were determined at d 0, 1, 2 and 3 of parturition. It was found that, on average, the backfat thickness was 22.4±3.9 mm at farrowing and 19.9±2.9 mm at weaning. The backfat loss and the relative backfat loss during the lactation period were 2.6 mm and 10.6%, respectively. The sows with a backfat of 15.0 to 20.0 mm before farrowing lost less backfat than those with a backfat of 20.5 to 25.0 mm and >25.0 mm (p<0.05). Sows with a backfat of 15.0 to 20.0 mm had a better appetite on d 1 postpartum than sows with a backfat of 20.5 to 25.0 mm (p = 0.020). The percentage of sows losing backfat >10% during lactation were higher in sows with a backfat of >25.0 mm before farrowing (85.7%) than sows with a backfat of 15.0 to 20.0 mm before farrowing (35.0%) (p = 0.008). The percentage of sows with a reduced appetite on d 1 (90.3% vs 71.8%, p = 0.018) and d 2 (61.3% versus 33.3%, p = 0.005) postpartum in the treatment group was lower than the control group. In conclusion, the backfat thickness of sows at farrowing influenced backfat loss during lactation under hot and humid climates. The intravenous supportive treatment of sows with amino acid and vitamins significantly improved the appetite of postpartum sows.

Evaluation of different point-of-care tests to characterize the vaginal discharge of sows after parturition and parameters’ correlation with subsequent reproductive performance

“…In accordance with previous reports [ 11 , 12 , 22 ], the amount of vaginal discharge positively correlated with the body temperature in sows. Physiologically, the body temperature increases and remains high during and after farrowing [ 23 ] due to nest-building activity, development of mammary glands and uterine contractions.…”

Evaluation of three different patterns of feed intake during early lactation in lactating sows

“…The reduced backfat loss indicated that sows in the IFI‐1.4 treatment used less body fat during lactation to supply the energy for maintenance requirement and milk production during lactation compared with those in the IFI‐0.7 treatment (Clowes, Aherne, Schaefer, Foxcroft, & Baracos, ; Kim, Yang, & Baidoo, ). The reduced backfat loss may help to maintain the reproductive performance of the post‐weaning sows (Tummaruk, ). In late lactation (days 13–18 and 19–24), feed intake was not affected by treatments.…”

The importance of optimal body condition to maximise reproductive health and perinatal outcomes in pigs

“…There is a link between variability in oocyte quality and developmental competence and asynchronous embryo development, which is a key factor determining embryo survival (184) . Even moderate feed restriction during lactation can lead to an accentuated loss of body fat and protein, which can result in reduced implantation sites and embryo viability at 35 d of the subsequent gestation (248) as well as decreased litter uniformity (34) . In Figs.…”

“…Roongsitthichai & Tummaruk (23) Gilts Rearing ≤17•0 ≥24•0 --Amdi et al (30) Gilts Mating ∼12•0 ∼19•0 Lower weight of piglets at birth, at weaning and at slaughter -Li et al (31) Sows (parity 3) Mating and farrowing -≥23•0 -Decreased litter size; lower piglet birth weight; higher rate of piglets born <0•9 kg; impaired placental efficiency; higher heterogeneity in piglets birth weight; increased oxidative stress and inflammation in placenta Cheng et al (12) Sows (multiparous) Late pregnancy and farrowing -≥21•0 -Lower piglets born alive and litter weight; exacerbated metabolic disorders in parturient sows and impaired piglets' intestinal health Zhou et al (32) Sows (parity Farrowing: ∼19•7 Tummaruk et al (34) Sows (multiparous) Farrowing 15•0-20•0 ≥25•0 -Decreased feed intake and higher backfat loss in lactation. Filha et al (35) Gilts Mating (36) Sows (parity 2-4) Late pregnancy ≥21•0 Increased piglets with low birth weight; impaired lipid metabolism and angiogenesis in placenta Farmer et al (24) Gilts Late pregnancy ≤15•0 ≥26•0 Impaired mammary development; lower litter weight gain during lactation Cools et al (37) Sows (multiparous) Late pregnancy ≤17•0 ≥23•0 Higher stillborn rate Higher stillborn rate; higher backfat loss in lactation Oliviero et al (8) Sows (multiparous) Late pregnancy and farrowing…”