Effects of energy supplementation to neonatal (very) low birth weight piglets on mortality, weaning weight, daily weight gain and 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.
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The authors gratefully acknowledge all colleagues and farrowing staff for helping with this field trial.