Examining the links between temperature, piglet behaviour and survival during winter in outdoor housing in Australia

The effects of the gestation and farrowing environments on sow and piglet behaviour and piglet survival and growth in early lactation

Effects of winter housing systems on production, economics, body weight, body condition score, and bedding cultures for organic dairy cows

Behavior and performance in primiparous sows of two Min pig hybrid breeds in outdoor housing systems

The effects of farrowing nest size and width on sow and piglet behaviour and piglet survival

Providing the population of Ukraine with meat and meat products largely depends on the efficiency of the pig industry, one of the urgent problems of which is the increase in pork production. There are many problematic stages in pig farming, one of which is raising suckling piglets, the complexity of which is determined by a number of physiological features of the development of the body of newborn piglets. During the period of intrauterine development and in the first days of life, piglets receive nutrients exclusively from the sow. Therefore, improving the rations of farrowing and suckling sows in a certain way affects the fertility, growth, and survival of piglets. An important place in this belongs to mineral nutrition. One of the ways to eliminate mineral deficiency in feed is the use of mineral additives. Among the wide arsenal of biologically active substances used to regulate metabolic processes in the body, drugs of complex action are of particular importance. Today, there are relatively inexpensive fertilizers based on natural minerals, which include trace elements and amino acids. The balance of rations in terms of biologically active substances remains an important factor affecting animal productivity. In a number of studies, it has been proven that the use of chelated compounds of microelements as a feed additive ensures better assimilation of metals than when they are introduced into the diet in an inorganic form, which in turn helps to achieve higher productivity in animals, as well as reducing feed costs per unit of production. Therefore, the development of new biotechnological methods of stimulating growth, increasing the percentage of survival of suckling piglets, and improving the reproductive capacity of sows using biologically active substances is relevant. A necessary condition for the normal development of piglets and the recovery of sows in the postpartum period is their full feeding, in particular, balanced feed in terms of macro- and microelements. After all, mineral substances take an active part in metabolic processes, activate the functions of hormones, vitamins, and enzymes, contribute to increased digestibility and utilization of nutrients in diets, better provision of intrauterine development of offspring, the birth of physiologically mature piglets, more intensive growth and development after birth. The significant influence of trace elements on physiological processes is explained by the fact that they are part of the so-called accessory substances: vitamins, hormones, enzymes, and coen-zymes involved in the regulation of vital processes. In addition, they affect the formation of cellular immunity of newborn piglets. In this regard, in recent years much attention has been paid to the study of the influence of various vitamin and mineral supplements of organic origin on the productivity of animals.

Well-designed housing systems are important from the viewpoint of animal welfare and improvement of meat production. In this study, we investigated the effects of outdoor housing of pigs on their behavior, cortisol levels, and meat characteristics. Two groups that were born and raised in a spacious outdoor pen (4×10 m for every two sows) or a minimum-sized standard pen in a piggery (1.9×2.2 m for every sow) were studied. When their behaviors at the age of 2 to 3 wk were observed, the number of rooting episodes tended to be larger (p = 0.0509) and the total time of rooting tended to be longer (p = 0.0640) in the outdoor-housed piglets although the difference was not significant. Basal salivary cortisol levels of the outdoor piglets at the age of 4 wk were significantly lower than those of the indoor piglets (5.0±0.59 ng/ml vs. 11.6±0.91 ng/ml, 30 min after treatment), although their plasma cortisol levels were similar (53.3±3.54 ng/ml vs. 59.9±4.84 ng/ml, 30 min after treatment). When the ears were pierced at weaning, plasma and salivary cortisol levels were increased in both groups, even at 15 min after piercing. However, the increase in the outdoor-housed group was significantly less than that in the indoor-housed group. Throughout their lives, body weight and daily gain of the pigs were not significantly different between the two groups. In a meat taste preference test taken by 20 panelists, saltiness, flavor, and color of the outdoor-housed pork were found to be more acceptable. Moreover, when an electronic taste-sensing device was utilized, the C00 and CPA-C00 outputs (3.78±0.07 and −0.20±0.023), which correspond to compounds of bitterness and smells, respectively, were significantly lower in the outdoor-housed pork (5.03±0.16 and −0.13±0.009). Our results demonstrate that the outdoor housing system for piglets induces natural behaviors such as rooting and suppresses the strongest stress reaction of piglets, which could be important for animal welfare. Moreover, the outdoor housing system might change muscle characteristics and improve pork bitterness, flavor, and color. These changes may be preferred by consumers, increasing the sale of these meats.

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) often used in humans and companion animals to treat arthritis, having strong anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing properties. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of a new compounded oral drench suspension formulation of Meloxicam on sow body temperature in the first 24 hours after farrowing, piglet survivability, and piglet growth. A total of 851 sows in a commercial farm were randomly assigned to receive a single, 90 mg dose (6 mL of a 1.5% suspension) of Meloxicam via oral drench at completion of farrowing (MEL, n = 428) or receive no drug after farrowing (CON, n = 423). Rectal temperatures were taken at the end of farrowing, and 12 and 24 hours after farrowing to monitor sow body temperatures. As standard practice on this farm, sows with a temperature ≥ 39.7 °C at 24 hours post-farrowing were treated with flunixin (NSAID) and ampicillin injectables for 3 consecutive days (MEDS). Litter size and weights were recorded on day 0 and again on the day before weaning. Piglet deaths and reasons were recorded daily to determine piglet survivability and the body weights of dead piglets were recorded. The Mixed procedure of SAS 9.4 (Cary, North Carolina) was used to analyze the interaction between treatment (MEL or CON) and parity (P1 vs. P2 and P3 vs. P>3) as the main effects. A 2x2 factorial design was used to reanalyze the interaction of Meloxicam treatment with additional medicated pigs (MEDS) using PROC Mixed in SAS with MEL and MEDS as main effects, and litter birthweight quartile and number nursed covariates where appropriate. MEL was successful in reducing the temperature of sows by 0.16 °C in the first 12 hours after farrowing (P = 0.0013). For all groups, sows greater than parity 3 had lower temperatures in the first 24 hours after farrowing (P = 0.0083). Gilts in the MEL group required less additional medication than gilts in the CON group (P = 0.0102). Treating sows with Meloxicam tended to reduce the incidence of scours in piglets (P = 0.0907). MEL did not significantly (P > 0.05) impact preweaning mortality (CON = 12.9%, MEL = 12.3%), piglet weaning weight (CON: 5.4 kg ± 0.10; MEL: 5.5 kg ± 0.04), and no differences were observed between piglet weight and age at death between the treatment groups. This study exhibits the ability of a single dose of Meloxicam at farrowing to reduce fever within the first 12 hours of dosing and its potential to reduce the incidence of scours in piglets. Future studies investigating a longer Meloxicam therapy period post-farrowing will give insight into the use of Meloxicam as a fever-reducer to improve sow and piglet lactation performance and survivability.

In pigs, higher birth order is associated with higher mortality rate, with abnormal delays in birth as a rule result in a prenatal death. Here we present a case study of an extreme delay in birth of two surviving piglets (delayed piglets) which were born 15 h after the beginning of parturition and 12 h after the last piglet of the main episode of the parturition (n=12) was born. The rest of the observed litter was divided into early born (n=6, born within 80 min) and late born piglets (n=6, born within the next 80 min from the beginning of parturition). Suckling behaviour, survival and growth performance of piglets were studied in relation to birth order whereby special attention was given to the delayed piglets. In general, suckling stability tended to decrease with birth order with the delayed piglets having completely unstable suckling. In the first suckling, piglets predominantly chose posterior teats, but later, when suckling order was established, early born piglets preferentially sucked on the front half and the late born piglets on the back half of the udder. The delayed piglets suckled on the middle teats immediately after birth, but later they chose preferential teats on different parts of udder (2nd and 6th teat pair). Growth performance of delayed piglets was lower, although not significantly (probably due to small sample size), compared to the late and especially to the early born group. Despite an extraordinarily long delay in birth, there was no clear association with the suckling order and its stability, the birth/body weight and daily gain. However, survival of piglets after that long delay in birth itself represents an extraordinary phenomenon that we cannot explain.

The ethanol extract of stalks of Nelumbo nucifera (NNSE) was evaluated for its antipyretic potential on normal body temperature and yeast induced pyrexia in rats. NNSE showed significant activity in both the models at oral doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. NNSE at a dose of 200 mg/kg was found to produce significant lowering of normal body temperature up to 3 h and at 400 mg/kg it caused significant lowering of body temperature up to 6 h after its administration. In the model of yeast provoked elevation of body temperature NNSE showed dose-dependent lowering of body temperature up to 4 h at both the doses and the results were comparable to that of paracetamol, a standard antipyretic agent.

Self-stimulation in hypothermic hibernators

The aim of the study was to develop a vitality scoring method, based on piglet behavior and relate it to piglet growth and survival. From 21 sows (Sus scrofa), 287 piglets were used. After farrowing (d 0), piglets were weighed and tested for 4 behavioral parameters in a circular enclosure (55 cm diam.): movement capacity (M), udder stimulation (U), number of completed circles around the enclosure (NCC), and screaming (Sc). Piglets were weighed again on d 1, 2, 3, and 17. Piglet rectal temperature (RT) was recorded on d 0, 1, 2, and 3. Farrowing information of the sow was also recorded. Multiple regression analyses for survival and BW gain at weaning as dependent variables were performed. Piglet BW gain at weaning was influenced by BW at birth (P < 0.001), sow parity (P = 0.024), total number of piglets born alive per sow (P < 0.001), and sum of U and NCC parameters (UN; P = 0.023). Piglet survival during lactation was influenced by BW at birth (P = 0.015), UNCC parameter (P = 0.026), and RT on d 3 (P = 0.085). The sum of U and NCC parameters, in combination with BW at birth and information of the sow, might be useful to predict piglet growth survival during lactation, thus becoming a useful tool to improve piglet management during the first days of lactation. In conclusion, UNCC parameter seems to be an easy and useful way to assess piglet vitality for both scientific and commercial purposes.

Objective To investigate effect of mild hypothermia on changes of somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and synaptophysin mRNA level after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and determine hypothermia-induced neuroprotection.Methods Forty-five SD rats were allocated into mild hypothermia group,TBI group and sham operation group with 15 rats per group according to the random number table.Left-side fluid percussion impact was performed to induce models of TBI.Rats were exposed to hypothermia environment (32-35℃) for 6 hours in mild hypothermia group after TBI.Rats in sham operation group were treated by only drilling on left side of the head,rather than hitting.To evaluate function outcome,modified neurological severity score (mNSS),SEP and synaptophysin mRNA level were measured at 6 hours,24 hours and 7 days postinjury.Results The mNSS in mild hypothermia group lowered compared with TBI group,especially at 24 hours and 7 days (P ＜ 0.05).SEP in mild hypothermia group was significantly shortened at 6 and 24 hours compared with TBI group (P ＜ 0.05),but SEP revealed no significant difference among the 3 groups at 7 days (P ＞ 0.05).Level of synaptophysin mRNA in mild hypothermia group increased at 6 hours postinjury compared with TBI group [(0.08 ± 0.02) vs (0.12 ±0.04)],with further increase at 7 days postinjury[(0.06 ± 0.01) vs (0.33 ± 0.10)] (P ＜0.05).Conclusion The shortage of nerve conduction time of the injured side and promotion of nerve regeneration suggest the neuroprotective role of mild hypothermia following TBI. Key words: Brain injuries ; Evoked potentials, somatosensory ; Hypothermia,induced ; Synaptophysin

Neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is frequently complicated by seizures that persist despite therapeutic hypothermia (HT), suggesting injury mechanisms insensitive to HT. Here, we tested the hypothesis that astrocytic glutamate–aspartate transporter (GLAST) abnormalities in the neocortex contribute to cortical hyperexcitability and seizure burden after HIE, and that HT mitigates this astrocyte-mediated mechanism. We examined the vulnerability of GLAST in the neocortex of human neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and in a piglet model of hypoxia-ischemia (HI). We determined how GLAST immunoreactivity localization associates with HT outcome in clinical and experimental settings. Brain sections from postmortem human autopsy cases of term neonatal HIE and piglets (2–3 days old, n = 5–6/group) were used to localize GLAST and glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP) across cortical layer I-III in the somatosensory cortex. Piglets received continuous 4-channel epidural EEG recording under normothermia (NT) or mild HT (38 °C to 34 °C with rewarming; 29 h), with hypoxic-asphyxic cardiac arrest and resuscitation, or a sham procedure. Piglet survival was assessed over 7 days. Neuropathology was identified by the number of damaged neurons and GLAST puncta metrics. EEG-seizure metrics, including ictal event frequency, duration, spike–wave events, and power spectral density (PSD), were quantified using a custom seizure classification pipeline. GLAST localization in human HIE cortex was significantly abnormal compared to non-HIE control cases, characterized by perisomatic aggregation and reduced neuropil density. HI in piglets reproduced these GLAST abnormalities, including apparent aggregation, that correlated with seizure burden and neuronal pathology. HT attenuated the GLAST pathology in HI piglets at perisomatic locations to the level of sham, particularly in layers II-III, delayed seizure onset by ~24 h, and significantly reduced ictal event frequency (to lower than 5 events per 4 h) and duration (to less than 20 s per event). These findings identify prominent GLAST pathology in newborn humans and piglet HIE. HT partially restores astrocytic GLAST localization that is temporally associated with reduced seizure burden in piglets. We conclude that astrocytic glutamate transport abnormalities contribute to cortical hyperexcitability and seizures in neonatal HIE.

Abstract. Using a gradient layer direct calorimeter, total heat losses were measured in 69 full term new‐borns at 5 different ambient temperatures (TA): 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36° C. The relative humidity of the air was kept constant at 50%. Oesophageal temperature (Teg) and mean skin temperature (T̄s) were continuously recorded. All experiments lasted at least one hour.The mean total heat loss was at 28° C: 3.55 W/kg; at 30° C: 2.97 W/kg; at 32° C: 2.35 W/kg; at 34° C: 1.92 W/kg and at 36° C: 2.05 W/kg. Dry heat loss was proportional to the external temperature gradient. Evaporative heat loss was constant when new‐borns were not subjected to heat or cold stress, with a mean of 0.39 W/kg. This value is a measurement of insensible perspiration.Sweating was elicited at a TA of 36° C when the internal temperature gradient reached a mean value of 0.68° C. Heat storage (S). was calculated and was found to be negative at a TA of 28 and 30° C, and positive at 34 and 36° C. A regression analysis between heat storage and total heat loss showed a mean heat loss of 2.61 W/kg when the new‐borns were in thermal equilibrium (S= 0). This occured in most babies at a TA slightly below 32° C.A minimal metabolic rate of about 6.0 ml kg‐1 min‐1, determined by direct calorimetry and calculation of S, was found at a TA of 34 and 36° C.The cutaneous thermal conductance, which is an index of cutaneous blood flow was minimal at a TA of 30° C. It increased sharply when T̄s reached 36.3° C.These data indicate that the range of thermal comfort on the first day of life in normal full‐term new‐borns is very narrow and that there is a perfect thermal balance at a TA slightly below 32° C. However, at this TA, the metabolic rate is not at a minimal level.

Temperature is a key environmental factor influencing the establishment and spread of insect species. Differences in thermal tolerance may thus explain patterns of geographical distribution and dominance during biological invasions. The native Patagonian bumblebee, Bombus dahlbomii, is being displaced by the exotic Bombus terrestris, which has expanded throughout its range. To investigate the role of cold tolerance in this context, we first examined the minimum temperatures likely to be encountered by both species across their South American distribution. Then, we assessed whether these minimum temperatures correlated with their cold tolerance, measured as chill coma onset and recovery temperatures. We found that, despite experiencing similar minimum temperatures in their ranges, B. dahlbomii is more cold tolerant than B. terrestris: the native bumblebee reaches lower ambient and body temperatures before entering chill coma and recovers at lower body temperatures. Exploring possible mechanisms of cold tolerance, we found that the larger body size and longer body hairs of B. dahlbomii compared to B. terrestris may represent traits evolved to prevent heat loss. However, after evaluating the daily foraging window modeled on the species' cold tolerance in northwestern Patagonia, we found it does not appear to confer a substantial temporal advantage in this region. Therefore, the dominance of B. terrestris in Patagonia cannot be explained by cold tolerance. In fact, native bumblebees exhibit greater physiological and morphological adequation to cold. The success of B. terrestris is likely driven by other factors, including heat tolerance, disease resistance, or differences in life history traits such as colony size.