The impact of birth weight, birth order, birth asphyxia, and colostrum intake per se on growth and immunity of the suckling piglets

Abstract

Colostrum is the only source of passive immunity and the major source of nutrients and is crucial for thermoregulation of newborn piglets in their early life. However, the amount of colostrum obtained by each piglet [colostrum intake (CI)] differs considerably in large litters as born by contemporary hyperprolific sow lines. This experiment aimed to investigate the impact of the following individual characteristics of piglets; birth weight, birth order and neonatal asphyxia at birth on CI, and further to determine the relationship between the CI and the passive immunity transfer, and the growth performance of piglets prior to weaning. Twenty-four Danbred sows of the second-parity and their progeny (n = 460) were used. As main inputs in the prediction model to assess individual piglet CI were piglet birth weight, their weight gain, and the duration of colostrum suckling of the piglets. The asphyxia (state of oxygen deprivation) was assessed by measuring blood lactate concentration immediately after birth, and piglets sampled at d 3 of age for determination of blood plasma concentrations of immunoglobulins (Ig) G, A, and M. Piglets’ CI was negatively associated with asphyxia (P = 0.003), birth order (P = 0.005) and low birth weight have compromised the individual CI (P < 0.001). Average daily gain during the suckling period was greater among piglets with high CI (P = 0.001) and birth weight (P < 0.001). Body weight at weaning (d 24 of age) was positively associated with CI (P = 0.0004) and birth weight (P < 0.001). The probability of weaning was positively associated with CI and birth weight (P < 0.001) of the piglets. Concentrations of IgG (P = 0.02), IgA (P = 0.0007), and IgM (P = 0.04) in piglets’ plasma at d 3 of age were positively associated with CI, and were negatively associated with birth order (P < 0.001). The present study demonstrated that piglets’ individual characteristics at birth (birth weight, birth order, state of oxygen deprivation) have considerable effects on their CI. The knowledge gained from the results of this study gives a scientific base for development and implementation of more effective techniques in practice aimed to improve the piglets’ robustness during the suckling period.

Effects of the Mean Weight of Uniform Litters on Sows and Offspring Performance

“…Increased litter size has been a goal of genetic selection progress in the last decades and, according to recent evaluations, it can continue to be a strategic goal in pig genetic improvement programs because the negative effects on preweaning mortality of piglets can be controlled [1]. The possible negative impacts on the mean weight of the piglets can be also problematic because lighter piglets have low survival rates [28][29][30] and, due to the positive relationship between birth weight and weaning weight [30][31][32], piglets could be weaned with less body weight, resulting in augmented difficulties to cope the weaning transaction challenges [33,34].…”

Влияние Содержания И Кормления Свиноматок На Количество Поросят-Отъёмышей И Мясную Продуктивность

“…Для удовлетворения потребностей мясного рынка необходимо обеспечить здоровый биологический материал для откорма с хорошими производственными показателями по конверсии корма, достигнутых приростов и получаемого качества туши (de Vries H and Smidt H, 2020). Кроме того, для выращивания молодняка на свинину (Vodolazska D et al, 2023) необходимо его непрерывное производство, но в обоих случаях требуется использовать биологический потенциал воспроизводительной способности свиноматок, а интервал между опоросом и подтверждённой супоросностью должен быть минимально возможным в биологических пределах. Этот процесс при интенсивном производстве свинины невозможен, если:…”

In vitro evaluation of the immunomodulatory and wakame assimilation properties of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains from swine milk

“…In addition, it was reported that commensal bacteria from milk are key actors during the early stage of neonatal gut colonization, being major regulators of the host's immune responses (Stewart et al, 2018). Newborn piglets suckle the sow and rely on the nutrients ingested with milk until weaning (Vodolazska et al, 2023). In general, weaning is performed in piglets around 3-4 weeks when the feeding changes from milk to solid feed.…”