While in the present day’s sows are producing bigger litters, challenges corresponding to excessive stillbirth charges stay – round 10% in excessive prolific herds – together with the opposite productiveness hurdles corresponding to low birthweight piglets.
Data offered by Pieter Langendijk, analysis scientist, Trouw Nutrition, at ESPHM 2020+1, means that focusing interventions on each piglets and sows might scale back asphyxia – oxygen deprivation – and stillbirth.
“We began this venture about six years in the past, figuring out that that stillborn fee was an enormous drawback within the swine trade, the following affect it has on productiveness. We wished to cut back the stillborn charges. What we did first was to try to establish what had been the underlying causes of stillbirths. We tried to find out why some sows take so lengthy to farrow, one of many greatest points associated to stillbirths, and see why sure sows have stillborn piglets and others [around 40%] don’t. After figuring out the underling components, we then wished to construct on that, and develop options, ideally dietary ones,” he informed FeedNavigator.
Risk components for stillbirths
The scientists, by way of intensive monitoring, decided that one threat issue for stillbirths was the extent of calcium within the sow’s blood. “We took frequent blood samples, and, by doing so, we had been capable of set up that there have been variations in blood calcium ranges within the sows with an extended farrowing course of and stillborn piglets in comparison with these sows with shorter farrowing occasions and no stillbirths. We might see that sows that didn’t have compromised farrowing had been capable of preserve calcium ranges all through the farrowing interval whereas the opposite sows confirmed a drop in blood calcium ranges.”
The group additionally famous that constipation was a contributory issue by way of the prolonged farrowing course of. “The speculation is that the ache related to constipation acts as a stressor, and we all know that different stressors in sow manufacturing – her confinement to a crate previous to farrowing, for instance – can block the secretion of oxytocin, the hormone liable for uterine contractions.”
Along with evaluating the sows’ standing, the researchers made observations on piglets – a few of that work together with the taking of blood samples from the umbilical twine because the animals had been born. The group wished to guage lactate concentrations within the piglets’ blood, provided that they’re an indicator of asphyxia.
“We took blood samples instantly on beginning, actually because the piglets got here out, earlier than they began respiratory, to get a sign of the oxygenation standing of the piglets earlier than they had been born. From that we found the longer the farrowing course of takes and the later the piglets arrive – their beginning order – we noticed a deterioration of their oxygenation standing.”
The researchers additionally noticed that piglets which can be born alive however have poor oxygenation standing can have compromised neonatal improvement and survival. Such animals might carry out poorly within the sense that they’re slower to drink their first colostrum and so they might soak up much less colostrum within the first 24 hours of life. They additionally might present restricted acquire within the first weeks of life. “We adopted by way of on piglets as much as slaughter, round 4 months later, and we nonetheless noticed that the oxygenation standing at beginning was linked to achieve all through that entire interval. So we see that there are short-term and long-term penalties from poor oxygenation standing in piglets at beginning.”
Mobilizing calcium assets
The analysis findings prompted Trouw Nutrition to develop a consuming water additive that goals to cut back farrowing time and improve oxygenation in piglets. The firm recommends the sow begins taking that product round 5 days earlier than farrowing. “The additive is designed to set off a mechanism that permits the sow the mobilize calcium from her bones, in order that she will preserve calcium ranges when she begins to farrow. That is one mode of motion. There are additionally some components within the product that enhance oxygen switch from the maternal blood, throughout the placenta, to the piglets. Through that course of, we be sure that even these piglets on the finish of the farrowing course of have improved oxygenation ranges,” remarked the researcher.
The additive was launched on the Polish market two years in the past. Studies undertaken on business farms there confirmed the product’s efficacy post-launch, stated Langendijk. In phrases of suggestions generated on the additive since then, Polish farmers “have reported advantages by way of variety of piglets born alive and the efficiency of neonatal piglets.”
While the product was initially designed for software in water, Trouw Nutrition is within the technique of creating a model now to be used in dry feed, both for software in full diets or a as a high dressing, he stated.
Boosting colostrum manufacturing
Another analysis venture being run by the corporate is concentrated on neonatal efficiency, with a selected emphasis on boosting colostrum manufacturing within the sow.
“We try to extend the quantity of colostrum out there for neonatal piglets as a result of that’s the second bottleneck. Post beginning, the quantity of colostrum piglets eat has a significant affect on their survivability.
“We know that the minimal quantity the neonatal piglet wants is someplace round 250g and, above that, survivability will increase dramatically. So what we’re aiming at is getting piglets above that threshold. We assume the sow is the limiting issue. We try to get her to provide extra colostrum so there’s a adequate quantity even for these piglets on the finish of the farrowing course of.”
Another swine focused Trouw Nutrition venture, which acquired underway mid-way by way of final yr, is evaluating easy methods to enhance piglet beginning weight, particularly by way of growing the dimensions of the mom’s placenta. “We know there’s a robust relationship between the dimensions of the placenta and the last word beginning weight however there’s a hyperlink as nicely between placenta dimension and the variation within the litter, between the lightest and the heaviest piglets. Reducing that variation is basically the important thing to piglet survivability,” added Langendijk.
