Elsevier

Livestock Science

Volume 183, January 2016, Pages 48-53
Livestock Science

Effects of energy supplementation to neonatal (very) low birth weight piglets on mortality, weaning weight, daily weight gain and colostrum intake

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2015.11.015Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Reduced pre-weaning mortality in supplemented very low birth weight piglets.

  • Energy supplementation did not improve colostrum intake at piglet or litter level.

  • Boosters supplied direct energy.

Abstract

Pre-weaning piglet mortality is an important economic and welfare problem in the commercial pig industry. Energy deficit is one of the main pre-disposing risk factors for piglet mortality. Management strategies, such as energy supplementation to neonatal piglets, may reduce pre-weaning mortality. In practice, energy supplementation might be implemented in the farrowing management. Energy supplements may provide energy to neonatal piglets as well as improve their colostrum intake. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of a commercial energy supplement (Vigorol®) to neonatal low birth weight piglets on mortality, weaning weight, daily weight gain as well as the effect on colostrum intake. In the treatment group, 72 very low (VLBW<1.00 kg) and 77 low (1 kg≤LBW≤1.20 kg) birth weight piglets out of 306 total live born piglets from 22 litters were orally supplemented at birth and 8–12 h after birth. In the control group, 81 VLBW and 74 LBW piglets out of 340 total live born piglets from 24 litters were not supplemented. Mortality till day 3 was lower (p<0.001) and tended to be lower (p=0.07) in supplemented versus control VLBW and LBW piglets, respectively. In general, mortality till day 3 also tended to be lower (p=0.06) in supplemented piglets. Mortality till day 7 (p<0.001) and day 21 (p<0.001) remained lower in supplemented VLBW piglets. No difference was observed regarding LBW and overall mortality till day 7 (p=0.64; p=0.24) and day 21 (p=0.61; p=0.23). Weaning weights were lower (p=0.04) in the treatment than in the control group. Daily weight gain (p=0.42), colostrum intake (p=0.56), nor colostrum yield (p=0.21) differed between the groups. Colostrum intake was numerically (p=0.53) more uniform among litter mates in the treatment versus the control group. This study demonstrated that energy supplementation to neonatal (V)LBW piglets is a way of reducing piglet mortality by providing direct energy, rather than by improving (the uniformity of) colostrum intake.

Introduction

Pre-weaning piglet mortality is an important economic and welfare problem. Crushing, starvation and chilling are the main causes of piglet mortality (Alonso-Spilsbury et al., 2007, Edwards, 2002, Herpin et al., 2002). Early and sufficient energy supply is of utmost importance for neonatal survival (Andersen et al., 2009, Edwards, 2002, Theil et al., 2014b). Neonatal piglets require energy for growth and maintenance. Maintenance includes physical activity and to a great extent thermoregulation (Herpin et al., 2002, Le Dividich et al., 2005). The energy demands of neonatal pigs have to be met by body reserves and by colostrum. However, glycogen reserves are rapidly depleted, body protein catabolism is low during the neonatal period and only a small proportion of the low total fat amount is available for mobilization (Le Dividich et al., 1994, Le Dividich et al., 2005). In addition, selection for increased litter size and leaner carcasses have resulted in less energy reserves at birth (Herpin et al., 1993). Therefore, energy provided by colostrum is imperative for neonatal survival. Colostrum intake may be enhanced by boosters supplying the energy needed to compete with littermates for a functional teat (Le Dividich et al., 2005). Compared to normal birth weight piglets, (very) low birth weight piglets are at particular risk to die as they are less competitive for colostrum intake in addition to their higher energy demands per unit of body weight and lower energy reserves (Baxter et al., 2008, Devillers et al., 2011, Herpin et al., 2002). As the proportion of (very) low birth weight piglets has increased with selection for increased litter size (Quiniou et al., 2002), strategies are needed to reduce (low birth weight) piglet pre-weaning mortality.

Several supplements are marketed to improve neonates' energy status and survival rate, however scientific evidence of their efficacy is scarce (De Vos et al., 2014). Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of a commercial energy supplement to neonatal (very) low birth weight piglets on mortality, daily weight gain and weaning weight. As energy supplements may enable (very) low birth weight piglets to compete (more) successfully with their heavier littermates for colostrum, considering the crucial role of colostral energy to neonatal survival and regarding the lack of field trials investigating the effect of management routines on colostrum intake, the present study investigated also the effect of supplementation on colostrum intake.

Section snippets

Study population

The study was performed during July and August 2013 at a commercial farm in Flanders (northern Belgium) with 1700 Pig Improvement Company (PIC) sows in a 2-week batch system. Sows were inseminated with semen from Piétrain boars. They were group housed with 15 animals per pen from day 29 until day 107 of gestation when they were moved to the farrowing house. Day 0 was defined as the day of first insemination. During gestation sows were fed according to their (visual) body condition. On average

Descriptive results

In total, 46 sows with 646 live born and 45 still born piglets were included. The treatment group included 22 sows, 306 live born and 20 still born piglets. These 306 live born piglets included 72 VLBW and 77 LBW piglets. The control group consisted of 24 sows, 340 live born and 25 still born piglets. Out of these 340 live born piglets, 81 and 74 were VLBW and LBW piglets, respectively. Sows had a mean parity of 4±0.3 (1–9) and a gestation length of 114±0.2 days (111–117). Sows had on average

Discussion

It is well established that pre-weaning mortality is an important welfare and economic problem in pig herds with high-prolific sows. Management can be adjusted to withhold piglet mortality (Andersen et al., 2009), but many other factors (e.g. housing, genotype, nutrition) can be addressed to reduce pre-weaning mortality (Kirkden et al., 2013). Regarding the increasing interest of a sufficient colostrum intake to neonatal survival, the effect of management routines on colostrum intake need to be

Conclusion

In conclusion, energy supplementation to neonatal (V)LBW piglets reduced VLBW piglet pre-weaning mortality by providing direct energy, rather than by improving colostrum intake. As piglet mortality is an increasing welfare concern in addition to an economic problem and (V)LBW are omnipresent in high-prolific sows, pig producers can implement this measure in their farrowing routines to increase pre-weaning survival.

Conflict of interest statement

There was no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgdements

The author would like to thank all colleagues and farrowing herd staff who helped during this intensive clinical field trial.

References (41)

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The authors gratefully acknowledge all colleagues and farrowing staff for helping with this field trial.

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