Birth Of First Piglet Research Articles

Behavioural Activities of Large White Yorkshire Crossbred Pigs under Different Mating Regimens

The present study was carried out on 18 crossbred LWY gilts and sows that were mated with suitable boars with the objectives to study the effect of various mating frequencies on various behavioural activities. They were randomly divided into 3 equal groups viz., Group I, II and III which were mated once, twice and thrice respectively with suitable boars, during a heat period and observed pre-coital and coital behavioural activities. Overall intermittent movement, slight forward movement, standing firmly were observed during, 5 (13.88%), 7 (19.44%) and 24 (66.66%) successful mating sessions, respectively. Gilts/sows exhibited frequent and partial vocalisation during 3 (8.33%), 10 (27.77%) mating sessions respectively out of total successful mating sessions. Gilts/ sows remained content during 22 (61.11%) successful mating sessions. Aggression, urinating and sniffing male genitalia was observed during 3 (8.33%), 11 (30.55%), 13 (36.11%) successful mating sessions out of total successful mating sessions. There was no significant difference between the groups. Overall mean of the primary changes in peri-partum behaviour viz., restlessness, grunting and anxiousness were observed 24.33 ± 3.16 h, 17.00 ± 3.11 h and 3.50 ± 0.64 h, respectively before farrowing. Overall mean of nest building behaviours viz., rooting & pawing, bar biting, chewing were observed 50.22 ± 4.47 h, 29.00 ± 2.66 h and 17.77 ± 1.41 h, before the birth of first piglet.

Factors affecting sow colostrum yield and composition, and their impact on piglet growth and health

The present study investigated sow colostrum yield (CY), colostrum composition and factors affecting them, and their relation to piglet survivability, growth and mortality. The study included 230 sows with 3,210 live-born piglets from five Finnish and one Dutch sow herd. Sow farrowing was supervised, and piglets were individually weighed at birth (BWB) and 24 h after birth of first piglet in order to calculate piglet CI and sow CY. Colostrum nutritional composition, immunoglobulin (Ig), serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) contents were assessed. Sow plasma SAA, Hp and progesterone around farrowing were also assessed. Selected ear-tagged piglets were weighed at 3–4 weeks of age to calculate individual average daily gain. Sow CY was positively correlated with plasma Hp (P = 0.029) and number of live-born piglets (P < 0.01). An additional minute of farrowing duration lowered the CY by 2.2 g (P = 0.01). Piglet CI was positively associated with piglet weight at birth (P < 0.001) and negatively associated with the number of live-born piglets in the litter and percentage of protein in the colostrum (P < 0.001). Both piglet CI and birth weight were positively associated with piglet average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.001). Piglet survival from birth to weaning depends on CI. We established that the risk of piglet death or of a piglet being treated with antibiotic before weaning increases with a decrease in sow back fat thickness at farrowing (P = 0.04). Similarly, we found that piglets from litters with low BWB and low CI had a higher risk of death before weaning (P < 0.001). Piglets born from sows with lower levels of colostrum IgA and SAA and high plasma progesterone at the end of farrowing had a higher risk of neonatal diarrhea (P = 0.04; P = 0.05; P = 0.04). Piglets born from sows having higher back fat thickness at weaning had a higher risk of developing weaning diarrhea (P = 0.02). In conclusion, longer farrowing duration can be detrimental and can negatively influence sow CY. Sow body condition and physiological status around farrowing can also affect CY, and thereby increase piglet mortality and use of antibiotics in neonatal piglets. Neonatal piglets can benefit from higher colostrum immunoglobulins, SAA, and decreased level of plasma progesterone in sows at the end of farrowing.

Index esenciálnych aminokyselín v mledzive prasníc

The aim of this study was to determine the protein quality of sow’s colostrum. For this purpose, the essential amino acid index (EAAI) of sow’s colostrum was calculated. The study was carried out on 12 Large white sows, which were on the 2.9 farrowing on average. Colostrum samples were collected by milking per hand without application of oxytocin. First sample were milked at time of birth of first piglet, and then every hour till 12th hour. Essential amino acids were determined using Amino Acid Analyser AAA400 (Ingos, Prague). For calculation of EAAI, the egg protein (EAAIegg) and protein of sow’s milk (EAAIsow’s milk) were used as standard. The highest value of EAAI was calculated for both at 4th h, EAAIegg 97.1%, EAAIsow’s milk 120.2%. The lowest values of EAAI were calculated at 12th h EAAIegg 78.3% and EAAIsow’s milk 96.9%. During the first 12 hours, protein of sow’s colostrum had not reached the quality of egg protein. Except sample collected at 12th hour after birth of first piglet, all colostrum samples had better quality of protein in comparison to sow’s milk. No significant (P>0.05) differences of EAAI between colostrum samples collected at different times from the birth of the first piglet till 12th h were observed.

Effect of radiant heat at the birth site in farrowing crates on hypothermia and behaviour in neonatal piglets

It has been documented that floor heating of the farrowing area in loose housed sows improves survival of piglets significantly. However, today, the majority of farrowing pens are designed with crating of sows and slatted floor at the birth site. The aim of this study was to investigate whether providing radiant heat at the birth site to new-born piglets in pens with crated sows reduced hypothermia, time to first milk intake and growth of the piglets during the 1st week. Second parity Danish Landrace×Yorkshire sows (n=36) were randomly divided into two groups: Control (CG) and heat (HG). In the area behind the sow (zone 1), two radiant heat panels were mounted above the slatted floor in the HG. The farrowings were attended, and the heaters were turned on at birth of first piglet and turned off 12 h after. Birth time, time to leave zone 1, time to first contact with udder and time to first suckling were registered by direct observation. The piglet’s rectal temperature (RT) was measured 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 min after birth and 12, 14 and 24 h after birth of first piglet. Piglets were weighed at birth, 24 and 48 h and 7 days after birth. Data were analysed in a mixed model in SAS. The drop in RT was lower in HG compared with CG (P=0.002), and the RT in HG remained higher than in CG from 30 to 240 min after birth (P<0.05), whereas no difference was found at 12 h after birth of first piglet (P=0.92). Piglets in HG stayed longer in zone 1 than those in CG (P=0.01), whereas time to reach udder (P=0.35) and to first suckling (P=0.56) did not differ. No difference in weight gain was found between piglets in HG and CG at 24 h (P=0.23), 48 h (P=0.28) and 7 days after birth (P=0.44). Birth weight had a positive effect on RT (P<0.001) and reduced time to leave zone 1 (P<0.01), reach udder (P<0.001) and time to first suckling (P<0.001). The results showed that radiant heating behind the sows reduced hypothermia in new-born piglets and indicate that providing heat during the first half hour after birth is important.

Validation of Brix refractometer to estimate colostrum immunoglobulin G content and composition in the sow

Colostrum is an essential source of immunoglobulin G (IgG) for neonate piglets. However, colostrum IgG content and nutritional composition can vary considerably among sows due to age, parity, feeding regime and immunological background. Currently, there is no practical way to obtain information about colostrum IgG concentration at herd level. We evaluated sows’ colostrum IgG content on-farm using a Brix refractometer and its performance was compared with that of an IgG ELISA. In addition, nutritional compositions of the colostrum samples were analyzed using Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. Colostrum samples (5 to 6 ml) (n=153) were obtained within 0 to 3 h of farrowing. However, to obtain a 24 h IgG profile for 11 sows, colostrum samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 16 and 24 h after farrowing. A 0.3 ml of freshly drawn colostrum sample was used for the on-farm measurement of Brix percentages using a digital refractometer shortly after collection. The remaining fractions of the samples were frozen and submitted to laboratory analysis for total IgG, using a commercially available pig IgG ELISA kit. For nutritional composition analysis, a 35 ml colostrum sample (n=34) was obtained immediately after birth of first piglet from the first three pairs of frontal teats. Colostrum concentrations of IgG averaged 52.03±30.70 mg/ml (mean±SEM) at 0 to 3 h after farrowing. Concentration of IgG decreased on average by 50% during the 1st day of lactation (P<0.01). Sow parity did not influence colostrum concentrations of IgG. Differences in colostrum composition were recorded between two herds and among the parity groups (P<0.05). The Brix refractometer measurement of colostrum and the corresponding log transformed IgG measurements from the ELISA were moderately correlated (r=0.63, P<0.001, n=153). Based on the classification we suggest here, low levels of IgG (14.5±1.8 mg/ml) were recorded for colostrum samples with Brix readings below 20%. Borderline colostrum IgG content (43.8±2.3 mg/ml) had Brix readings of 20% to 24%, adequate colostrum IgG content (50.7±2.1 mg/ml) had Brix % readings of 25% to 29% and very good IgG colostrum content (78.6±8.4 mg/ml) had Brix readings >30%. Colostrum IgG concentration is highly variable among sows, Brix measurement of a sows’ fresh colostrum is an inexpensive, rapid and satisfactorily accurate method of estimating IgG concentration, providing indication of differentiation between good and poor IgG content of colostrum.

Strategic use of straw increases nest building in loose housed farrowing sows

In spite of domestication, sows are still genetically programmed to perform nesting behaviour close to farrowing. In order to facilitate nest building, a method for a strategic use of large quantities of straw has been developed by Swedish piglet producing farmers. The objectives of the present study were to quantify the effect of strategic use of 15–20kg of chopped straw given once 2 days prior to expected date of farrowing, compared to small daily amounts (0.5–1kg) and 2kg close to farrowing (controls), on the nest building behaviour and the duration of farrowing. The behaviour from 18h pre-partum until 1h after birth of first piglet and the duration of farrowing was continuously observed in 138 video recordings from 4 commercial farms. On each farm, 20–34 sows (parity≥2) were studied during one or two consecutive lactations. Compared to controls, strategic use of straw triggered the sows to start nest building earlier and increased the total time spent nest building pre-partum by 19% (p=0.039). Sows given large amounts of straw also performed less nesting behaviours during the first hour after birth of the first piglet. This shows that nest building is affected not only by the presence of straw, but also by the quantity of straw provided, and that 2kg of chopped straw seems to be too little to make the sow terminate nest building well in advance of farrowing. There was no significant effect of treatment on the duration of farrowing but a strong negative association was found between time spent nest building pre-partum and the duration of farrowing regardless of treatment. The model predicted a 1-h increase in total nest building time pre-partum to be associated with a 12% (95% CI=4–19%) shorter duration of farrowing (p=0.004).

Influence of thermal environment on sows around farrowing and during the lactation period

Our objective was to investigate the effects of floor heating duration (HEAT: 35°c for 12 or 48 h) after birth of first piglet (BFP) under different room temperatures (ROOM: 15°C, 20°C, 25°C) on sows during farrowing and lactation. The study included 8 to 11 repetitions for each combination of ROOM and HEAT. There were no treatment effects on indicators of birth problems (duration of parturition, interbirth intervals, umbilical cord lactate concentration), BW changes of the sow, and litter size and weight until weaning. Sows at 15°C compared with 20°C and 25°C spent more time nest building (P = 0.015). The feed intake was reduced the first 7 d after farrowing in sows at 25°C (P = 0.014); however, both daily feed intake (P = 0.018) and water consumption (P < 0.001) of these warm sows exceeded that at lower temperatures during the last part of the lactation. Sows at 15°C received more medical treatments until weaning at heat = 48 h only (ROOM and HEAT interaction, P = 0.005). Room temperature influenced prefarrowing water consumption (25°C > 20°C and 15°C; P < 0.017), sow surface temperature (15°C < 20°C < 25°C; P < 0.001), respiration rate (25°C > 20°C > 15°C; P < 0.001), and rectal temperature during the first 12 h after bfp (15°C < 25°C; P = 0.009); additionally, long floor heating duration (HEAT = 48 h) increased the respiration rate by 50% d 1 and 2 after bfp (p < 0.001). The proportion of lying time on the unheated slatted floor increased with room temperature (P < 0.001) and, transiently, also for the heat = 48 h treatment 13 to 48 h after BFP (P < 0.001). The majority of piglets (82% to 95%) were born on the heated solid floor, regardless of room temperature (P = 0.46). Sows spent approximately twice as much time standing and walking at 15°C during 13 to 48 h after BFP at HEAT = 12 h only (ROOM and HEAT interaction; P = 0.002). In conclusion, long-term indicators of reduced sow performance were unaffected by room temperature, probably because the farrowing and lactating sows in the current pen design were able to perform thermoregulatory behavior and successfully adapt to room temperatures between 15°C and 25°C.

Sow preferences for farrowing under a cover with and without access to straw

In semi-natural environments sows often select a protected nest site at farrowing. Investigations of nest site selection under indoor conditions are scarce but suggest that sows prefer to nest and farrow under a covered area. Since feed-back from a functional nest may improve maternal behaviour and thus piglet survival we investigated if access to a covered area and ad libitum access to straw would improve maternal behaviour of importance for piglet survival. We used forty-four primiparous sows housed in large individual pens from approximately 2 weeks prior to expected parturition. The sows were randomly distributed to four treatment groups of +/− ad libitum access to straw combined with +/− access to a covered area in the pen. The sows’ position in the pen (left or right side) was observed from 24 h prior to birth of the first piglet until 24 h after using 10-min interval scan sampling and the temporal pattern of sow position in relation to position of the cover (left or right side of the pen) was studied. Furthermore, postural and nest-building behaviours were observed, as well as situations where the piglets were either at risk of being crushed or were crushed. The results showed no significant influence of cover on sow position. Odds-ratio for choosing the covered farrowing position was 1.4 (95% creditability interval (0.4–5.1)). The temporal pattern of sow position showed that the probability of observing the sows in the part of the pen classified as the farrowing position increased from close to 0.5 to 1 as parturition approached and stayed high during the 24 h observation period after birth of the first piglet, except for a small drop around 12 h after birth of the first piglet. However, the tendency to stay in the nest during farrowing was not increased neither by cover nor by ad libitum access to straw. Access to cover significantly increased prepartum nest-building behaviour ( F 1,29 = 4.27, P = 0.05) whereas there was no significant influence of access to straw. However, it should be taken into account that all sows had access to sawdust on the floor, which may also serve as a nesting material. The number of crushing and near crushing situations within 24 h after birth of first piglet (BFP) was significantly decreased in pens with access to straw ( F 1,25 = 4.50, P = 0.04), whereas there was no significant influence of cover on this variable. Neither the number of scan intervals with lateral lying nor the number of postural changes were significantly influenced by cover or straw. In conclusion, the sows did select a specific nest site within the farrowing pen, but neither the choice of nest site nor the temporal consistency of staying in the nest were significantly affected by cover or ad libitum access to straw. Access to a covered area increased the occurrence of nest-building behaviour whereas access to straw reduced the number of near crushing situations.

Sow behaviour during parturition in relation to the observed and the genetic merit for weaning survival

The sow's breeding value for mothering ability (EBV ma) can be estimated as the genetic effect of the foster sow on piglet survival at weaning. Sows with a high EBV ma have litters with a short average interval from birth until first colostrum intake. In the present study, it was investigated whether sows with a high EBV ma show differences in maternal behaviour during parturition. It was hypothesized that during parturition, sows with a high EBV ma and/or weaning survival were less active (increased durations of lying laterally and lying ventrally, decreased durations of standing and sitting and less postural transitions) than sows with a low EBV ma. These behaviours were observed from birth of first piglet until birth of last piglet using 25 sows with known EBV ma. It was found that during parturition sows with high weaning survival showed longer durations of sitting and shorter durations of standing than sows with low weaning survival. These results indicate that maternal behaviour during parturition has an effect on piglet survival at weaning. No effect of EBV ma on maternal behaviour during parturition was found. In conclusion, EBV ma of sows did not show a relationship with their maternal behaviour during parturition. This would suggest that the previously found difference in interval until first colostrum intake of piglets from sows with varying EBV ma, is not related to differences in maternal behaviour during parturition, although this should be specifically tested in future experiments. The results from this study can be used as a starting point for future research to eventually provide breeding companies with tools to select sows for pre-weaning survival of piglets.

Sow responsiveness to human contacts and piglet vocalization during 24 h after onset of parturition

Sow responsiveness towards external disturbances and concurrent postural changes are proposed to be an important cause of early piglet crushing. The aim of the present study was to assess whether loose housed sows change their responsiveness over time within the first 24 h after birth of the first piglet upon exposure to different types of human contact and towards piglets’ scream. The responsiveness of the sows ( n = 17) was scored during: (i) blood sampling of the sow during 24 h after the onset of parturition, (ii) human handling of a piglet at 0, 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after birth, (iii) screaming when a piglet was trapped underneath the sow and (iv) exposure to playback of piglets’ screams at 10 and 24 h after the onset of parturition. A sow was scored as responsive if she changed her posture in response to the stimuli. The behavioral scores were analyzed during three predefined periods: parturition (from birth of first piglet to birth of last piglet), phase 1 (from birth of last piglet to 12 h after birth of first piglet) and phase 2 (from 12 h after birth of first piglet to 24 h after birth of first piglet). The responsiveness of sows towards humans during blood sampling differed between the three periods ( p < 0.01), whereas it did not differ between periods during human handling of piglets. During blood sampling, fewer sows were responsive during phase 1 (5%) compared to during parturition (11%) and the later phase 2 (17%). We did not detect any temporal changes in sow responsiveness towards natural incidences of screaming of own trapped piglet between the three periods (it remained high: 80%), whereas sows exposed to playback of piglet screams had a higher probability ( p < 0.05) to react at 12 h (50%) than at 24 h (25%). In conclusion, the responsiveness of sows toward direct human contact was lower during the first 12 h postpartum. The careful handling of piglets in the home pen had a minimal effect on the probability of postural changes in sows. However, sows were highly reactive towards the screaming of own trapped piglet during the whole 24 h period pp. The relative lower responsiveness towards playbacks, decreasing from 12 to 24 h pp, cast doubt upon the piglet scream playback test as a useful approach to evaluate maternal responsiveness in sows.

Early piglet mortality in loose-housed sows related to sow and piglet behaviour and to the progress of parturition

The aim of the present study was to identify characteristics of sow behaviour and parturition related to early piglet mortality in loose-housed farrowing sows. Data from 152 farrowings that originated from three different herds with loose-housed sows during parturition were used. Graphical chain models were used to model the relationships between perinatal behaviour, periparturient individual conditions (time of day of parturition, rectal temperature 1–3 days postpartum) and causes of early piglet mortality. Modelling was based on the correlation between variables within herd and farrowing batch. The analysis showed that different causes of mortality were linked to different behavioural variables during the periparturient period and that they grouped into three independent categories. The first category was associated with stillbirth and death due to other causes. Stillbirth was positively related to the variation of the inter-birth interval and negatively related to the percentage of piglets that suckled during the first 8 h after birth of first piglet (BFP). Death due to other causes was negatively related to the suckling activity during the post-partal period (9–24 h after BFP). The second category was associated with piglet crushing, which was positively related to much lateral lying the last 4 h before BFP. Finally, the third category was associated with death due to lack of colostrums ingestion of colostrum, which was linked to the time of parturition and sow rectal temperature on days 1 and 2 after farrowing. Sows that gave birth during the morning compared to evening/night had more dead piglets due to lack of colostrums ingestion. Death due to lack of colostrums ingestion was also higher in sows with high rectal temperature on the day after BFP. The results further showed that litter size not only influenced mortality but also behavioural variables. High litter size was related to high nest building activity before BFP, low but more variable inter-birth intervals, and much lateral lying after BFP. The study points towards several areas of interest for further research that can help understand early piglet mortality. These include causes of variation in the progress of parturition, causes of individual differences in sow activity and responsiveness to piglets, and early management of farrowing. In addition, the study suggests possible indicators of problematic farrowings rendering liveborn piglets at risk. These include prepartum lateral lying in the sow, low suckling activity and rate of stillbirth.