Abstract
Simple SummaryThe number of pigs sold per sow per year is a key determinant of productivity and therefore, profitability of pork production. This is currently limited by high levels of piglet mortality prior to weaning, with lack of oxygen during the birth process a primary cause of piglet death and failure to thrive. This experiment investigated the effect of adding magnesium sulphate to sow diets fed during the last five days of pregnancy on piglet survival and measures of viability at, and soon after, birth. The addition of magnesium sulphate to sow diets resulted in piglets which showed signs of increased viability and vitality immediately after birth, with the beneficial effects most evident in ‘at risk’ piglets. These data suggest that magnesium sulphate supplementation at the end of gestation represents a commercially viable solution to reduce the negative effects of the birth process on piglet viability, which may in turn improve survival.Piglet hypoxia during farrowing is common and can lead to increased stillbirth rates, reduced piglet vitality, and an increased risk of preweaning mortality. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has successfully been used as a neuroprotectant and readily crosses the placenta in humans. Based on this human data, the aim of this study was to determine if maternal dietary supplementation with MgSO4 prior to farrowing would reduce the impact of piglet hypoxia during the peri-natal period. Five days prior to farrowing, Large White × Landrace sows were fed either standard lactation sow diet (Cont; n = 30) or lactation diet supplemented to deliver 21 g/day MgSO4 (Mg; n = 31). There was no effect of treatment on the percentage of stillborn piglets (p > 0.05). However, Mg piglets tended to have higher vitality scores immediately after birth (p < 0.10), were quicker to suck, and had higher day one blood glucose concentrations when compared with Cont piglets (p < 0.05). Furthermore, hypoxic piglets born to Cont sows did not gain weight from birth to 24 h, but Mg piglets did (p < 0.05), suggesting improved colostrum ingestion. In conclusion, MgSO4 may reduce the negative impacts of birth hypoxia, improving piglet vitality, and colostrum intake during the peri-natal period.
Highlights
Following the introduction of the farrowing crate, there has been little improvement in reducing piglet mortality prior to weaning
Current methods of reducing peri-natal piglet mortality caused by anoxia and hypoxia include increased supervision at farrowing and the culling of older sows that are more likely to display higher stillbirth rates
Mg supplementation appeared to be of benefit to light weight born to Mg supplemented sows, and weight gain in the first day was higher in this treatment when piglets,experienced with significant improvements in thermoregulation at birth and ontoday these animals
Summary
Following the introduction of the farrowing crate, there has been little improvement in reducing piglet mortality prior to weaning. Conservative reports of pre-weaning mortality state a 5.4% incidence of peri-partum death (stillbirth) resulting from anoxia, and that more than 11% of piglets die after parturition [1]. Current methods of reducing peri-natal piglet mortality caused by anoxia and hypoxia include increased supervision at farrowing and the culling of older sows that are more likely to display higher stillbirth rates. Both options result in a decrease in farrowing house profitability due to increased labor costs, and the replacement of older parity sows with less productive gilts, respectively
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