X
XLinkedinWhatsAppTelegramTelegram
0
Read this article in:

Blood variables and body weight gain on the first day of life in crossbred pigs and importance for survival

Several blood variables recorded at birth and on d 1 and BW gain on d 1 were highly associated with survival at weaning.

20 April 2012
X
XLinkedinWhatsAppTelegramTelegram
0

Improving survival is a continuous objective in swine breeding. The aim of this study was to record 22 blood variables and BW gain on the first day of life in Landrace-Yorkshire-Duroc crossbred piglets and to find associations between these variables and survival at weaning. All live piglets from 18 litters were weighed and blood sampled at birth and on d 1 and were monitored to weaning at the age of 5 wk.

A total of 261 piglets were born, of which 8.8% were stillborn. Additionally, 15.1% died before weaning. The blood variables glucose, immunoglobulins, and white blood cells increased from birth to d 1 (P < 0.001), whereas a1- and ß1-globulin, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit decreased (P < 0.001). At birth, concentrations of lactate (P = 0.004), pH (P = 0.007), red blood cells (P = 0.017), hemoglobin (P = 0.018), and hematocrit (P = 0.052) were associated with survival to weaning. Also, concentrations of lactate increased (P = 0.030) and pH decreased (P < 0.001) when piglets were born in the last third of a litter. On d 1, concentrations of glucose (P = 0.015), hemoglobin (P = 0.025), and BW gain (P = 0.001) were all decreased in piglets that did not survive to weaning. Body weight gain also decreased (P = 0.005) when piglets were born in the last third of a litter. Concentrations of IgG on d 1 was not associated with survival at weaning (P = 0.230) but decreased (P < 0.001) when piglets were born in the last third of a litter.

We conclude that several blood variables recorded at birth and on d 1 and BW gain on d 1 were highly associated with survival at weaning and that piglets born in the last third of the litter had less favorable vitality.

V. Rootwelt, O. Reksen, W. Farstad and T. Framstad. Blood variables and body weight gain on the first day of life in crossbred pigs and importance for survival. J ANIM SCI April 2012 vol. 90 no. 4 1134-1141.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2011-4435

Article Comments

This area is not intended to be a place to consult authors about their articles, but rather a place for open discussion among pig333.com users.
Leave a new Comment

Access restricted to 333 users. In order to post a comment you must be logged in.

You are not subscribed to this list Swine News

Swine industry news in your email

Log in and sign up on the list

Related articles

Importancia del suministro energético en la supervivencia del lechón

Importance of energy supply for piglet survival

We have seen the importance of obtaining a sufficient dose of quality colostrum to generate the newborn’s defenses as well as the conflict that this can suppose when we level the litters after birth. Now lets take a look at the importance of rapidly obtaining colostrum and milk to ensure energy supply and minimize temperature loss.

Related products in the shop

The shop specialized in the pig sector
Advice and technical service
More than 120 brands and manufacturers
You are not subscribed to this list Swine News

Swine industry news in your email

Log in and sign up on the list