PSII-2 Evaluation of Meloxicam in Sows Post-Farrowing on Sow and Piglet Performance

Abstract

Abstract 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.