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Arnaud E, Gardiner G, Chombart M, O’ Doherty J, Sweeney T, Lawlor P. Effect of creep feeding pelleted starter diet, liquid milk replacer and a liquid mixture of starter diet and milk replacer to suckling pigs on their growth and medication usage. Transl Anim Sci 2024; 8:txae041. [PMID: 38651118 PMCID: PMC11034430 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of creep-feeding solid starter diet, liquid milk replacer, and a liquid mixture of starter diet and milk replacer to suckling pigs on their growth and medication usage up to target slaughter weight (approximately 120 kg). Ninety-one sows and their litters were randomly assigned to one of four post-farrowing treatments at day 107 of gestation; (1) no creep feed provided to weaning at day 28 of age (CONTROL; n = 20), (2) dry pelleted starter diet provided as creep feed from day 10 of age to weaning (DPS; n = 25), (3) liquid milk replacer provided as creep feed from day 3 of age to weaning (LMR; n = 23), and (4) liquid milk replacer provided from days 3 to 6 of age followed by a mixture of liquid milk replacer with an increasing proportion of liquid starter diet to weaning provided as creep feed (LMR + S; n = 23). Pig weight and dry matter disappearance (DMd) were recorded during lactation and postweaning until pigs reached target slaughter weight (approximately 120 kg). At target slaughter weight, carcass weight and quality were recorded. Medication (antibiotic and anti-inflammatory) usage per pig on a litter basis, and number of injections and clinical cases of disease per litter were recorded from birth to slaughter. At day 5 postweaning, a subset of pigs (n = 40) were sacrificed and intestinal samples were collected for histological analysis. Piglets supplemented with DPS had higher DMd of creep feed than those supplemented with LMR or LMR + S (P < 0.001). Providing LMR + S to suckling piglets reduced the coefficient of variation (CV) for within-litter piglet weaning weight (P < 0.01) compared to DPS and LMR, but the CV of LMR + S was similar to that of CONTROL. Providing DPS or LMR to suckling piglets increased piglet weaning weight compared to CONTROL (P < 0.001) but pig weight was not significantly different from CONTROL at time points thereafter. Gain to feed ratio from weaning to day 6 postweaning was less for LMR pigs compared to all other treatments (P < 0.001). Providing DPS or LMR + S to suckling piglets tended to increase postweaning ileal villus height (P = 0.07). Diarrhea incidence, as well as the number of clinical cases of disease and injections per litter and volume of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory administered per pig pre- and postweaning, were not affected by treatment (P > 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing suckling pigs with liquid milk replacer or dry pelleted starter diet improved growth at weaning, but the benefit did not persist to slaughter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa A Arnaud
- Teagasc, Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, County Cork, IrelandP61C996
- Eco-Innovation Research Centre, Department of Science, South East Technological University, Waterford, IrelandX91K0EK
| | - Gillian E Gardiner
- Eco-Innovation Research Centre, Department of Science, South East Technological University, Waterford, IrelandX91K0EK
| | - Matthieu Chombart
- Teagasc, Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, County Cork, IrelandP61C996
| | - John V O’ Doherty
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandD04V1W8
| | - Torres Sweeney
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandD04V1W8
| | - Peadar G Lawlor
- Teagasc, Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, County Cork, IrelandP61C996
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Arnaud EA, Gardiner GE, Lawlor PG. Selected Nutrition and Management Strategies in Suckling Pigs to Improve Post-Weaning Outcomes. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1998. [PMID: 37370508 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Weaning is a critical period in a pig's life. Piglets are confronted with abrupt changes to their physical and social environment, as well as management and nutritional changes. Weaning has always been associated with a growth check and is frequently accompanied by post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets. However, rapid increases in litter size in the last decade have increased within-litter piglet weight variation, with piglets now generally lighter at weaning, making the challenges associated with weaning even greater. Many interventions can be employed during the suckling period to ease the weaning transition for piglets. Pre-weaning strategies such as supervised farrowing (assistance with suckling and oxytocin provision), the provision of pain relief to sows around farrowing, split-suckling, early oral supplementation with glucose, bovine colostrum, faecal microbiota transplantation, feed additives and solid and liquid creep feeding (milk and liquid feed) have all been investigated. The objective of these strategies is to stimulate earlier maturation of the digestive tract, improve immunity, reduce latency to the first feed post-weaning and increase early post-weaning feed intake and growth. This review focuses in particular on: (1) pain relief provision to sows around farrowing, (2)split-suckling of piglets, (3) pre-weaning provision of supplementary milk and/or liquid feed, (4) other strategies to stimulate earlier enzyme production (e.g., enzyme supplementation), (5) other nutritional strategies to promote improved gut structure and function (e.g., L-glutamine supplementation), and (6) other strategies to modulate gut microbiota (e.g., probiotics and prebiotics). Correctly implementing these strategies can, not only increase post-weaning growth and reduce mortality, but also maximise lifetime growth in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa A Arnaud
- Teagasc Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 C996 County Cork, Ireland
- Eco-Innovation Research Centre, Department of Science, Waterford Campus, South East Technological University, X91 K0EK Waterford, Ireland
| | - Gillian E Gardiner
- Eco-Innovation Research Centre, Department of Science, Waterford Campus, South East Technological University, X91 K0EK Waterford, Ireland
| | - Peadar G Lawlor
- Teagasc Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 C996 County Cork, Ireland
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Vodolazska D, Hedemann MS, Lauridsen C. Impact of liquid diet supplementation while suckling and weaning age on nutritional status, intestinal health, and immunity of piglets pre- and post-weaning. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad231. [PMID: 37434381 PMCID: PMC10362932 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
New strategies are needed to enhance piglets' robustness and proper functional development and maturation of piglets' intestine before weaning, to reduce the number of antibiotic treatments of diarrheic disorders in newly weaned piglets. It was hypothesized that a liquid nutritional supplement during the suckling period, and/or an increased weaning age, would beneficially impact piglets' gut health and enhance piglets' nutritional status before weaning. Further, it was hypothesized that a high intake of colostrum during the first 24 h after birth would be more advantageous for piglets' growth and robustness when compared to a low colostrum intake (CI). A 2 × 2 factorial design with two nutritional strategies (± supplementation with milk/feed, i.e., milk provided from day 2 shifted to wet feed at day 12 of age) and two weaning ages (days 24 vs. 35) was used. In total, 460 piglets from 24 sows were used for estimation of the individual CI after birth. Provision of the nutritional supplement and the increased weaning age improved the nutritional status of piglets' post-weaning assessed by their blood plasma concentration of albumin (P = 0.04), triglycerides (P = 0.004), and nonesterified fatty acids (P = 0.02). Piglets with high CI demonstrated improved nutritional status when compared to low CI (P = 0.04). Villous height and crypt depth were greater in piglets weaned at day 35 of age in contrast to day 24 of age (P < 0.001) irrespective of the nutritional intervention (P = 0.82). The concentration of branched-chain fatty acids in piglets' digesta was reduced in groups provided the nutritional supplement (P = 0.01), while total short-chain fatty acids were elevated at weaning in large intestinal digesta of piglets weaned at day 35 of age compared to piglets weaned at day 24 of age (P = 0.05). The weaning age in combination with the nutritional supplement had pronounced beneficial effect on gene expression of all investigated genes: interleukin-6, interleukin-10, nuclear factor kappa-beta, occludine, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) (P = 0.04). In conclusion, nutritional supplementation preweaning combined with increased weaning age could be considered as a strategy for improvement of the intestinal health, function, and maturation in piglets pre- and post-weaning, and a high CI enhanced piglets' robustness before weaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darya Vodolazska
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - Mette S Hedemann
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Lauridsen
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
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Ferronato G, Sigolo S, Premi M, Prandini A. Effect of a peat-based feed additive and sow parity on the performance of suckling piglets: a case study. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2022.2147182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Ferronato
- Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Environment, Land Planning and Mathematics (DICATAM), Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Samantha Sigolo
- Department of Animal Sciences, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Michele Premi
- Department of Animal Sciences, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Aldo Prandini
- Department of Animal Sciences, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
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Chou JY, Marchant JN, Nalon E, Huynh TTT, van de Weerd HA, Boyle LA, Ison SH. Investigating risk factors behind piglet facial and sow teat lesions through a literature review and a survey on teeth reduction. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:909401. [PMID: 36532351 PMCID: PMC9755856 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.909401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Piglet facial and sow teat lesions are the main reported reasons why pig producers routinely practice teeth resection. This is a painful procedure performed on piglets, where their needle teeth are clipped or ground to resect the pointed tip. The practice raises welfare concerns. In contrast to other procedures, such as tail docking, we know little about the risk factors for these two types of lesions. Methods We employed two methods to answer these questions: (1) reviewing the literature to identify potential risk factors, and (2) surveying pig production stakeholders worldwide to identify the occurrence of these lesions and the strategies used in practice that enable pig producers to manage or prevent these lesions while avoiding teeth resection. For the literature review, we used Google Scholar to include peer-reviewed publications and gray literature. We distributed the survey using convenience sampling and documented information on the current situation regarding teeth resection, including the methods, frequencies, and reasons for resecting piglets' teeth, the occurrence of piglet facial and sow teat lesions, and measures used to prevent and control these lesions. Results The literature review identified six major risk factors for both lesions, including the presence or absence of teeth resection, housing system, litter size, piglet management, environmental enrichment, milk production and other piglet management practices. However, most studies focused on the effects of the first two factors with very few studies investigating the other risk factors. There were 75 responses to the survey from 17 countries. The survey showed that half of the respondents practiced teeth resection with many recognizing that facial and teat lesions are the main reasons behind this practice. However, many producers used other interventions rather than teeth resection to prevent these lesions. These interventions focused on improving milk production of the sow, managing large litters, and providing environmental enrichment. Discussion More research is needed to validate these interventions and more science-based advice is needed to bridge the gap between research and practice to help more producers further understand the cause of piglet facial and sow teat lesions to transition toward the cessation of routine teeth resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen-Yun Chou
- Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Fermoy, Ireland
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Clinical Studies, Swine Teaching and Research Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jeremy N. Marchant
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | | | - Thuy T. T. Huynh
- Farm Technology, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Laura A. Boyle
- Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Fermoy, Ireland
| | - Sarah H. Ison
- World Animal Protection International, London, United Kingdom
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Sampath V, Song JH, Jeong J, Mun S, Han K, Kim IH. Nourishing neonatal piglets with synthetic milk and Lactobacillus sp. at birth highly modifies the gut microbial communities at the post-weaning stage. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1044256. [PMID: 36532479 PMCID: PMC9748437 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1044256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The importance of probiotics in pig production is widely recognized. However, the precise role of probiotics in regulating the gut microbiota of piglets has not been assessed extensively. Therefore, we intend to examine whether suckling pigs ingesting with synthetic milk (SM) and probiotics along with mother milk has a carryover effect on its growth and gut health at the post-weaning stage. A total of 40 [Duroc× (Yorkshire× Landrace)] neonates with an initial BW of 1.49 ± 0.28 kg were assigned to one of two treatments groups: control (CON) and treatment (TRT). Control group piglets were nourished with synthetic milk, while TRT group piglets were nourished SM with (1 × 109 CFU/g) Lactobacillus sp. probiotics. The treatment group piglets showed higher (p < 0.05) body weight and daily gain at week 3 than the CON group piglets. 16S metagenome sequencing showed average demultiplexed reads and denoised reads counts of 157,399 and 74,945, respectively. The total ASV taxonomy number classified with a confidence threshold > 70% (default) on sequence alignment with the SILVA v138 reference database was 4,474. During week 1, Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, and Bacteroides were confirmed as the major dominant bacterial genera in both the groups at the genus level. However, during week 2, the relative proportion of Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, and Proteobacteria was decreased, while that of Lactobacillus and Bacteroidota was increased in pigs receiving the probiotic supplement. During weeks 2 and 3, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota phyla were dominant in both groups. During week 6, the relative proportion of Proteobacteria was slightly increased in both groups. Furthermore, Prevotella was confirmed as the major dominant bacterial genus in both groups during weeks 3 and 6. This study suggests that nourishing neonatal piglets with synthetic milk and Lactobacillus sp. probiotics from birth to 21 days would be beneficial to enhance the gut health of piglets and to overcome post-weaning mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vetriselvi Sampath
- Department of Animal Resource and Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Jun Ho Song
- Department of Animal Resource and Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Jinuk Jeong
- Department of Bio-Convergence Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Seyoung Mun
- Department of Bio-Convergence Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science and Technology, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Kyudong Han
- Department of Bio-Convergence Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science and Technology, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
- Center for Bio Medical Engineering Core Facility, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - In Ho Kim
- Department of Animal Resource and Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
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Canibe N, Højberg O, Kongsted H, Vodolazska D, Lauridsen C, Nielsen TS, Schönherz AA. Review on Preventive Measures to Reduce Post-Weaning Diarrhoea in Piglets. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2585. [PMID: 36230326 PMCID: PMC9558551 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In many countries, medical levels of zinc (typically as zinc oxide) are added to piglet diets in the first two weeks post-weaning to prevent the development of post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD). However, high levels of zinc constitute an environmental polluting agent, and may contribute to the development and/or maintenance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacteria. Consequently, the EU banned administering medical levels of zinc in pig diets as of June 2022. However, this may result in an increased use of antibiotic therapeutics to combat PWD and thereby an increased risk of further AMR development. The search for alternative measures against PWD with a minimum use of antibiotics and in the absence of medical levels of zinc has therefore been intensified over recent years, and feed-related measures, including feed ingredients, feed additives, and feeding strategies, are being intensively investigated. Furthermore, management strategies have been developed and are undoubtedly relevant; however, these will not be addressed in this review. Here, feed measures (and vaccines) are addressed, these being probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, proteobiotics, plants and plant extracts (in particular essential oils and tannins), macroalgae (particularly macroalgae-derived polysaccharides), dietary fibre, antimicrobial peptides, specific amino acids, dietary fatty acids, milk replacers, milk components, creep feed, vaccines, bacteriophages, and single-domain antibodies (nanobodies). The list covers measures with a rather long history and others that require significant development before their eventual use can be extended. To assess the potential of feed-related measures in combating PWD, the literature reviewed here has focused on studies reporting parameters of PWD (i.e., faeces score and/or faeces dry matter content during the first two weeks post-weaning). Although the impact on PWD (or related parameters) of the investigated measures may often be inconsistent, many studies do report positive effects. However, several studies have shown that control pigs do not suffer from diarrhoea, making it difficult to evaluate the biological and practical relevance of these improvements. From the reviewed literature, it is not possible to rank the efficacy of the various measures, and the efficacy most probably depends on a range of factors related to animal genetics and health status, additive doses used, composition of the feed, etc. We conclude that a combination of various measures is probably most recommendable in most situations. However, in this respect, it should be considered that combining strategies may lead to additive (e.g., synbiotics), synergistic (e.g., plant materials), or antagonistic (e.g., algae compounds) effects, requiring detailed knowledge on the modes of action in order to design effective strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Canibe
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
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Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin‐Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Schmidt G, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Padalino B, Roberts HC, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Edwards S, Ivanova S, Leeb C, Wechsler B, Fabris C, Lima E, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Van der Stede Y, Vitali M, Spoolder H. Welfare of pigs on farm. EFSA J 2022; 20:e07421. [PMID: 36034323 PMCID: PMC9405538 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This scientific opinion focuses on the welfare of pigs on farm, and is based on literature and expert opinion. All pig categories were assessed: gilts and dry sows, farrowing and lactating sows, suckling piglets, weaners, rearing pigs and boars. The most relevant husbandry systems used in Europe are described. For each system, highly relevant welfare consequences were identified, as well as related animal-based measures (ABMs), and hazards leading to the welfare consequences. Moreover, measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate the welfare consequences are recommended. Recommendations are also provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of pigs related to tail biting and related to the European Citizen's Initiative 'End the Cage Age'. For example, the AHAW Panel recommends how to mitigate group stress when dry sows and gilts are grouped immediately after weaning or in early pregnancy. Results of a comparative qualitative assessment suggested that long-stemmed or long-cut straw, hay or haylage is the most suitable material for nest-building. A period of time will be needed for staff and animals to adapt to housing lactating sows and their piglets in farrowing pens (as opposed to crates) before achieving stable welfare outcomes. The panel recommends a minimum available space to the lactating sow to ensure piglet welfare (measured by live-born piglet mortality). Among the main risk factors for tail biting are space allowance, types of flooring, air quality, health status and diet composition, while weaning age was not associated directly with tail biting in later life. The relationship between the availability of space and growth rate, lying behaviour and tail biting in rearing pigs is quantified and presented. Finally, the panel suggests a set of ABMs to use at slaughter for monitoring on-farm welfare of cull sows and rearing pigs.
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Blavi L, Solà-Oriol D, Llonch P, López-Vergé S, Martín-Orúe SM, Pérez JF. Management and Feeding Strategies in Early Life to Increase Piglet Performance and Welfare around Weaning: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:302. [PMID: 33503942 PMCID: PMC7911825 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The performance of piglets in nurseries may vary depending on body weight, age at weaning, management, and pathogenic load in the pig facilities. The early events in a pig's life are very important and may have long lasting consequences, since growth lag involves a significant cost to the system due to reduced market weights and increased barn occupancy. The present review evidences that there are several strategies that can be used to improve the performance and welfare of pigs at weaning. A complex set of early management and dietary strategies have been explored in sows and suckling piglets for achieving optimum and efficient growth of piglets after weaning. The management strategies studied to improve development and animal welfare include: (1) improving sow housing during gestation, (2) reducing pain during farrowing, (3) facilitating an early and sufficient colostrum intake, (4) promoting an early social interaction between litters, and (5) providing complementary feed during lactation. Dietary strategies for sows and suckling piglets aim to: (1) enhance fetal growth (arginine, folate, betaine, vitamin B12, carnitine, chromium, and zinc), (2) increase colostrum and milk production (DL-methionine, DL-2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid, arginine, L-carnitine, tryptophan, valine, vitamin E, and phytogenic actives), (3) modulate sows' oxidative and inflammation status (polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, selenium, phytogenic actives, and spray dried plasma), (4) allow early microbial colonization (probiotics), or (5) supply conditionally essential nutrients (nucleotides, glutamate, glutamine, threonine, and tryptophan).
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Blavi
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Animal Nutrition and Welfare Service, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (D.S.-O.); (P.L.); (S.L.-V.); (S.M.M.-O.); (J.F.P.)
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Kobek-Kjeldager C, Moustsen VA, Theil PK, Pedersen LJ. Effect of large litter size and within-litter differences in piglet weight on the use of milk replacer in litters from hyper-prolific sows under two housing conditions. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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11
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Tsai T, Sales MA, Kim H, Erf GF, Vo N, Carbonero F, van der Merwe M, Kegley EB, Buddington R, Wang X, Maxwell CV, Zhao J. Isolated Rearing at Lactation Increases Gut Microbial Diversity and Post-weaning Performance in Pigs. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2889. [PMID: 30555436 PMCID: PMC6282802 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Environment and diet are two major factors affecting the human gut microbiome. In this study, we used a pig model to determine the impact of these two factors during lactation on the gut microbiome, immune system, and growth performance. We assigned 80 4-day-old pigs from 20 sows to two rearing strategies at lactation: conventional rearing on sow’s milk (SR) or isolated rearing on milk replacer supplemented with solid feed starting on day 10 (IR). At weaning (day 21), SR and IR piglets were co-mingled (10 pens of 4 piglets/pen) and fed the same corn-soybean meal-dried distiller grain with solubles- and antibiotic-free diets for eight feeding phase regimes. Fecal samples were collected on day 21, 62, and 78 for next-generation sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Results indicate that IR significantly increased swine microbial diversity and changed the microbiome structure at day 21. Such changes diminished after the two piglet groups were co-mingled and fed the same diet. Post-weaning growth performance also improved in IR piglets. Toward the end of the nursery period (NP), IR piglets had greater average daily gain (0.49 vs. 0.41 kg/d; P < 0.01) and average daily feed intake (0.61 vs. 0.59 kg/d; P < 0.01) but lower feed efficiency (0.64 vs. 0.68; P = 0.05). Consequently, IR piglets were heavier by 2.9 kg (P < 0.01) at the end of NP, and by 4.1 kg (P = 0.08) at market age compared to SR piglets. Interestingly, pigs from the two groups had similar lean tissue percentage. Random forest analysis showed that members of Leuconostoc and Lactococcus best differentiated the IR and SR piglets at weaning (day 21), were negatively correlated with levels of Foxp3 regulatory T cell populations on day 20, and positively correlated with post-weaning growth performance. Our results suggest that rearing strategies may be managed so as to accelerate early-life establishment of the swine gut microbiome to enhance growth performance in piglets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsungcheng Tsai
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Marites A Sales
- Department of Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Haejin Kim
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Gisela F Erf
- Department of Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Nguyen Vo
- Department of Food Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Franck Carbonero
- Department of Food Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | | | - Elizabeth B Kegley
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Randy Buddington
- School of Health Studies, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Xiaofan Wang
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Charles V Maxwell
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Jiangchao Zhao
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
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Planimetric measurement as a method for scientific assessment of space requirements of young suckling piglets in the creep area. Livest Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2016.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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