The Effect of Drenching (Very) Low Birth Weight Piglets with a Dense, Concentrated Milk Replacer at Farms with Differing Farrowing Management

Kevin Van Tichelen; Sara Prims; Miriam Ayuso; Lieselotte Van Bockstal; Céline Van Kerschaver; Mario Vandaele; Jeroen Degroote; Steven Van Cruchten; Joris Michiels; Chris Van Ginneken

doi:10.3390/ani13010063

The Effect of Drenching (Very) Low Birth Weight Piglets with a Dense, Concentrated Milk Replacer at Farms with Differing Farrowing Management

Animals (Basel). 2022 Dec 23;13(1):63. doi: 10.3390/ani13010063.

Affiliations

¹ Comparative Perinatal Development, Faculty of Biomedical, Pharmaceutical and Veterinary Sciences, Antwerp University, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
² Laboratory for Animal Production and Animal Product Quality, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.

Abstract

Introducing hyperprolific sows has led to proportionally more (very) low birth weight ((V)LBW) piglets, accompanied by higher mortality. To improve the survival of (V)LBW piglets, drenching a dense milk replacer (DMR) could be applied. A first experiment evaluated the effect of drenching DMR (1 or 3 doses within 24 h after birth) to LBW ((mean litter birth weight - 1*SD) and weighing between 1 kg and 750 g) and VLBW piglets ((mean litter birth weight - 1.5*SD) and weighing less than 750 g). On days 1, 2, 3, 9, and two days post-weaning, body weight, growth, skin lesions, and mortality were monitored. No effect of DMR was observed on any of the parameters. In a second experiment, LBW piglets were supplemented with DMR (similarly to experiment 1) at two farms differing in the level of perinatal care. The same parameters were evaluated, and again none were affected by drenching DMR. Overall survival of the LBW piglets was significantly higher at the farm with high perinatal care. It can be concluded that good perinatal management is more effective in enhancing the survival of LBW piglets than drenching.

Keywords: low birthweight; milk replacer; neonatal; neonatal management; oral supplementation; performance; perinatal management; pig; survival.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by “Agentschap innoveren en ondernemen” (VLAIO), grant number HBC.2016.0786. The APC was funded by the Department of Veterinary Sciences, Applied Veterinary Morphology, Faculty of Biomedical, Pharmaceutical and Veterinary Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen. Head of Office Chris Van Ginneken.