A study published in the Journal of Animal Science shows that the concentrations of several blood variables, including glucose, antibodies, and red blood cells, can be indicators of life-threatening conditions in piglets. By considering these blood variables, as well as birth order and birth weight, producers could better identify at-risk piglets.
The authors, all from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science in Oslo, confirmed previous studies showing that piglets born in the last third of the litter are at increased risk of receiving too little oxygen. Their research shows that blood tests can identify piglets that need oxygen. Blood tests can also reveal conditions like infections, stress and anemia that threaten piglet survival. “We wanted to evaluate blood parameters associated with hypoxia [lack of oxygen], because intrapartum hypoxia is of major concern for all births, including farrowings,” said Vibeke Rootwelt, a researcher in the production animal clinical sciences department at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science and co-author of the study.
Lactate, which is produced from glucose in the absence of oxygen and is therefore an indicator of hypoxic stress, was present at greater concentrations in piglets that did not survive compared with piglets that did. Red blood cells, hemoglobin, and gain of body weight after birth were all decreased in piglets that did not survive until weaning compared with those that did, supporting the possible role of hypoxia as a factor in their deaths.
The authors hypothesized that selective breeding for greater body weight gain in the first day of life and increased litter size could contribute to problems with anemia in piglets.
In all piglets in the study, blood glucose and white blood cell count increased throughout the first day of life, while red blood cell count and hemoglobin decreased during that same time period.
The authors used two groups of piglets for this study; both had Landrace-Yorkshire breed sows but one group had Landrace-Duroc boars while the other group had Duroc-Duroc boars.
“It was important for us is to see if changes between breeds are major enough to be seen also in relevant crossbreeds,” Rootwelt said. “A next step will be to look at differences in pure-bred piglets.”
Measuring these blood indicators of health could give breeders a practical method of determining the health of their piglets.
“We hope to come closer to finding ways of reducing piglet perinatal mortality and evaluating if there is such a thing as an optimal litter size,” Rootwelt said.
The study was titled “Blood variables and body weight gain on the first day of life in crossbred pigs and importance for survival.” It can be read in full at journalofanimalscience.org.
Media contact:
Amy Stewart / (805) 708-8561 / amystewart@ucdavis.edu