Glucose Injections at Birth, Warmth and Placing at a Nurse Sow Improve the Growth of IUGR Piglets
1
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
2
Pig Research Centre, Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Axeltorv 3, DK-1609 Copenhagen V, Denmark
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2019, 9(8), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9080519
Received: 6 June 2019
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Revised: 21 July 2019
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Accepted: 31 July 2019
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Published: 2 August 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Peri-Parturient and Lactating Sows and Piglets)
Simple Summary
Selection for hyperprolific sows has increased litter sizes and increased the number of small piglets per litter that require more management. Some of these small piglets have been exposed to intrauterine growth restriction, making them even more susceptible to a lower vitality and a higher mortality during the first few days. Administering an energy bolus at birth—such as glucose together with exposure to extra warmth—could be one way of increasing the growth and vitality of small, less viable piglets, ensuring piglet gain and survival. In addition, the results are relevant when in a relatively non-competitive environment—for example, placing them at a nurse sow suitable for rearing small piglets.
Intrauterine growth-restricted piglets (IUGR) have a lower rectal temperature, whole-blood glucose, and lower glycogen storages at birth than normal piglets, giving them less energy to maintain body temperature and compete at the udder. The present paper investigated the effects of giving an energy supplementation three times after birth on rectal temperature, glucose levels, and growth until weaning in an on-farm trial. Eighty-eight newborn piglets were classified as IUGR (based on head morphology), placed under a heating lamp for one hour and allocated to one of four treatments—warmed water (WATER), glucose injection (GLUC), colostrum bolus (COLOS; porcine colostrum), and colostrum bolus and glucose injection (GLUC + COLOS)—before being placed at a nursing sow. Weight differences were found at day 21, with GLUC and GLUC + COLOS groups being the heaviest. Piglets in GLUC + COLOS had higher glucose levels at t = 3, 6, and 9 h compared to the other treatments (p = 0.027), but from t = 24 h and onwards, no difference was observed. For rectal temperature, no differences were observed. Collectively, these findings suggest that glucose injections at birth (i.e., as an energy source), one hour’s exposure to warmth and the placement of piglets with a nurse sow to reduce competition, enhance the growth of IUGR piglets.
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Keywords:
colostrum supplementation; glucose injection; Intrauterine Growth Restriction; piglets; rectal temperature
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MDPI and ACS Style
Engelsmann, M.N.; Hansen, C.F.; Nielsen, M.N.; Kristensen, A.R.; Amdi, C. Glucose Injections at Birth, Warmth and Placing at a Nurse Sow Improve the Growth of IUGR Piglets. Animals 2019, 9, 519. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9080519
AMA Style
Engelsmann MN, Hansen CF, Nielsen MN, Kristensen AR, Amdi C. Glucose Injections at Birth, Warmth and Placing at a Nurse Sow Improve the Growth of IUGR Piglets. Animals. 2019; 9(8):519. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9080519
Chicago/Turabian StyleEngelsmann, Maiken N., Christian F. Hansen, Marlene N. Nielsen, Anders R. Kristensen, and Charlotte Amdi. 2019. "Glucose Injections at Birth, Warmth and Placing at a Nurse Sow Improve the Growth of IUGR Piglets" Animals 9, no. 8: 519. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9080519
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