A note on teat accessibility and sow parity — consequences for newborn piglets

Abstract

The aim of the present study was firstly to investigate the accessibility of the two teat rows in sows of different parities and litter sizes during the first 24h after birth, and secondly, how teat accessibility affects latency to suckle, piglet temperature development and weight gain shortly after birth. Nine loose housed sows and their piglets were observed at the time of farrowing to document the following: which teat row and which teat individual piglets first suckled, and the latency from birth to first suckle, in addition to individual piglet weight and rectal temperature at birth, 2h and 24h of age. On average, 46.5% of the functional teats were suckled in sows with parity 1 or 2, and this was further reduced to 41% in older sows. Fewer piglets were suckling the lower teat row (during the first 24h) as parity increased (P<0.001). Piglets from high parity sows had a longer latency from birth to first suckle (P<0.05), and a lower weight gain from birth to 24h compared to piglets from low parity sows (P<0.05). More piglets were suckling the lower teat row as litter size increased (P<0.01), and there was a lower weight gain from birth to 24h in piglets suckling the lower teat row (P<0.1). In conclusion, less than half of the sows' functional teats were suckled, and the majority of piglets suckled the upper teat row. These biases increased in the older sows, resulting in longer latencies to suckle and reduced weight gain in these piglets.