Preweaning piglet mortality and colostrum consumption associated with parity number, season, newborn traits and dietary L-arginine supplementation in gestating sows

Abstract

Piglet preweaning mortality is one of the major reproductive components that affects herd productivity in the swine industry. Knowledge of factors that influence piglet preweaning mortality are important to improve animal welfare, to reduce production loss and to increase profits in commercial herds. The present study aimed to investigate factor influencing piglet preweaning mortality in commercial swine herd in Thailand in relation to piglet, sow and environmental factors. Moreover, influencing factors on piglet colostrum consumption were also determined. Additionally, effect of dietary L-arginine supplementation in late gestating sow on sow and piglet performances were investigated. From retrospective studies, the data from a computerized data-base system of the herds were analysed resulting in known basic knowledge of piglet preweaning mortality in Thailand and were determined factors which related piglet mortality. On average, piglet preweaning mortality was 11.2% (median = 9.1%) and varied among herds from 4.8% to 19.2%. Piglet preweaning mortality in the litter with 13 – 15 littermate pigs (24.1%) was significantly higher than the litter with 1 – 7 (11.9%, P < 0.001), 8 – 10 (11.8%, P < 0.001) and 11 – 12 (14.6%, P < 0.001) littermate pigs. The litters with a low BWB had a higher piglet preweaning mortality rate (18.8%) than the litters with a medium (15.7%, P < 0.001) and a high BWB (12.1%, P < 0.001). In primiparous sows, preweaning mortality was increased from 12.1% to 18.5% (+6.4%) when the temperature during 0 – 7 days postpartum increased from < 25.0 ºC to ≥29 ºC (P < 0.001). Piglet preweaning mortality in large sized herds was higher than among small and medium sized herds (13.6%, 10.6% and 11.2%, respectively; P < 0.001). From cohort studies, newborn traits (i.e., heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, blood glucose concentration, rectal temperature at 24 h after birth (RT24h), birth order, sex, skin color, integrity of the umbilical cord, time from birth until first attempts to stand and birth intervention) measured soon after birth on piglet preweaning mortality and growth were measured. We found that high piglet preweaning mortality positively was found in piglet with high time from birth until first attempts to stand, pale skin color, piglet with RT24h below 37.0 ºC and piglets with colostrum consumption less than 400 g (P < 0.05). Piglet BWB, blood glucose concentration and the number of piglets born alive per litter (NBA) were correlated with average daily gain at 7 and 21 days of age (P < 0.05). Moreover, piglets with colostrum consumption less than 400 g and low BWB had reduced average daily weight gain (P < 0.001). Litters with less than 12 NBA, a low BWB piglet, birth order greater than nine or standing time greater than 5 min had lower colostrum consumption (P < 0.001) compared to those with a greater number NBA, higher BWB and shorter standing time. Dietary L-arginine HCl supplementation in sow diet during late gestation increased BWB, blood oxygen saturation, the proportion of NBA and the colostral concentration of immunoglobulin G at one h after onset of farrowing (P < 0.05). Moreover, L-arginine supplementation reduced stillborn and tended to increase the proportion of piglets with BWB above 1.35 kg and tended to reduce the relative backfat loss in sows. In conclusion, preweaning piglet mortality associated with sow parity number, climatic parameters, herd size, newborn traits and colostrum consumption. Dietary L-arginine supplementation in late gestating sows improved sow and piglet performances.