Vulvar discharge syndrome in loosely housed Finnish pigs: prevalence and evaluation of vaginoscopy, bacteriology and cytology.

A total of 21 sow herds were randomly chosen to determine the prevalence of vulvar discharge syndrome (VDS) in loosely housed sows. The median VDS prevalence was low as expected, 0% (range 0-4.5%). Nine of the 655 animals examined (1.4%, 95% CI 0.5-2.3) displayed signs of VDS in 21 non-problem herds. In addition, five VDS problem farms were visited to gather more animals affected with the syndrome in order to estimate which methods of examination are useful. Altogether, 19 VDS animals and 19 healthy controls were found, inspected and sampled. Ten of the VDS animals (53%) and three of the controls (16%) were positive in bacterial culture (p = 0.04) taken with a guarded swab from the anterior vagina. In addition, 94% of VDS animals had a positive vaginoscopic examination result and the corresponding figure in the control sows was 28% (p < 0.0002). Cytological smears were classified as positive in 37% of the case sows and in 5% of the control sows (p = 0.04). Detection of vulvar discharge was associated with vaginoscopic examination findings (p = 0.0005) and with bacteriology (p = 0.04), but not with leucocyte counts (p = 0.07). Susceptibility testing was performed on pure bacterial cultures. Totally, 7 (44%) of 16 isolates were considered to be resistant or showed intermediate susceptibility to at least one of the antimicrobial agents tested (sulpha-trimethoprim and ampicillin). In conclusion, we found vaginoscopy and bacteriology as valid tools in diagnosis of VDS and susceptibility testing of antimicrobial treatments was found to be indicated.     

Oral ketoprofen is effective in the treatment of non-infectious lameness in sows

The efficacy of ketoprofen in the treatment of non-infectious lameness in sows was examined in a double-blinded study. Two dose rates of oral ketoprofen were compared to placebo treatment over five consecutive days. Lameness was assessed with a five-grade scoring system prior to and on the last day of the treatment. The rate of treatment success was 54.3% for the ketoprofen 4mg/kg group (n=46), 53.2% for the ketoprofen 2mg/kg group (n=47) and 20.8% for the pigs in the placebo group (n=48). The difference between both ketoprofen groups and the placebo group was significant (P=0.001), but there was no difference between the two ketoprofen groups (P=0.78). Oral ketoprofen was well tolerated and no adverse events were observed. As lameness is a very common problem in sows, oral ketoprofen appeared to be a practical way to alleviate pain and improve the welfare of sows.     

Factors Affecting Fertility in Loosely Housed Sows and Gilts: Vulvar Discharge Syndrome, Environment and Acute-phase Proteins

The effect of vulvar discharge syndrome (VDS) on sow and gilt fertility was studied on 26 farms. Of 824 animals inspected in 21 randomly selected and five VDS problem farms, 19 (2.3%) were afflicted with VDS. Altogether 542/799 of the examined animals (67.8%) farrowed thereafter. Nine of the 19 VDS animals (47.4%) and 533/780 non-VDS animals (68.3%) farrowed at the first chance after the examination (p = 0.05). None of the unmated gilts in this study had VDS. Environmental and individual factors likely to be associated with fertility and VDS were tested. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with farrowing were VDS, reproductive status, availability of roughage and confinement to individual stalls. None of the variables tested was associated with VDS. However, all of the VDS problem farms were overcrowded and had concrete, partly slatted floors with little or no bedding. The median value of haptoglobin (Hp) was 2.5 (range 1.3-3.1) g/l in VDS animals and 2.3 (0.5-4.3) g/l in controls (p = 0.6). The median C-reactive protein (CRP) in VDS animals was 30.3 (3.3-171.3) mg/l and in controls 25.9 (3.3-361.1) mg/l (p = 0.7). In conclusion, VDS decreased fertility of gilts and sows in the absence of a systemic acute-phase response, as indicated by stable concentrations of Hp and CRP.     

Night-time Melatonin Secretion and Seasonally Delayed Puberty in Gilts

This study was conducted to determine whether the seasonal delay in puberty in autumn is driven by individual differences in night-time melatonin secretion in domestic gilts at the attainment of puberty. A group of spring-born gilts (n = 30) were expected to reach puberty in autumn by the age of 7 months. Eighteen of these gilts were selected in pairs on the basis of matched days of birth. By the expected time, half of the animals showed oestrous symptoms (group CYCLING, n = 9) with the rest remaining silent (group SILENT, n = 9). Afterwards, all gilts were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters for frequent blood sampling. Blood samples were collected from all animals three times during the day followed by three times in the night at 2-h intervals for 48 h. The samples were analysed by a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA). The results show a consistent 25-fold rise (on average) in night-time melatonin concentration in every animal sampled with group averages ranging from 0.28 +/- 0.04 to 0.37 +/- 0.06 pg/ml at day and from 10.20 +/- 2.16 to 10.67 +/- 0.05 pg/ml at night. Night-time group mean values between CYCLING and SILENT gilts did not differ significantly (10.26 +/- 0.67 and 10.38 +/- 0.94 for the CYCLING; 10.67 +/- 0.05 and 10.20 +/- 2.16 for the SILENT). When 10 pg/ml was used as a threshold value, six individuals did not reach it during the night (low responders). Two of these gilts were CYCLING and four were SILENT. In conclusion, the results presented imply no involvement of the level of night-time melatonin concentration in the seasonal delay of puberty in gilts.     

Does canopy mean nitrogen concentration explain variation in canopy light use efficiency across 14 contrasting forest sites?

The maximum light use efficiency (LUE?=?gross primary production (GPP)/absorbed photosynthetic photon flux density (aPPFD)) of plant canopies has been reported to vary spatially and some of this variation has previously been attributed to plant species differences. The canopy nitrogen concentration [N] can potentially explain some of this spatial variation. However, the current paradigm of the N-effect on photosynthesis is largely based on the relationship between photosynthetic capacity (A(max)) and [N], i.e., the effects of [N] on photosynthesis rates appear under high PPFD. A maximum LUE-[N] relationship, if it existed, would influence photosynthesis in the whole range of PPFD. We estimated maximum LUE for 14 eddy-covariance forest sites, examined its [N] dependency and investigated how the [N]-maximum LUE dependency could be incorporated into a GPP model. In the model, maximum LUE corresponds to LUE under optimal environmental conditions before light saturation takes place (the slope of GPP vs. PPFD under low PPFD). Maximum LUE was higher in deciduous/mixed than in coniferous sites, and correlated significantly with canopy mean [N]. Correlations between maximum LUE and canopy [N] existed regardless of daily PPFD, although we expected the correlation to disappear under low PPFD when LUE was also highest. Despite these correlations, including [N] in the model of GPP only marginally decreased the root mean squared error. Our results suggest that maximum LUE correlates linearly with canopy [N], but that a larger body of data is required before we can include this relationship into a GPP model. Gross primary production will therefore positively correlate with [N] already at low PPFD, and not only at high PPFD as is suggested by the prevailing paradigm of leaf-level A(max)-[N] relationships. This finding has consequences for modelling GPP driven by temporal changes or spatial variation in canopy [N].     

Housing During Early Pregnancy Affects Fertility and Behaviour of Sows

From 1.1.2013 EU legislation will permit stall‐housing of dry sows for only 4 weeks post‐service. Stalls are associated with compromised animal welfare, but group housing comes with risks from social confrontations. Studies on housing effects on fertility have produced contradictory results as systems are inconsistently defined. Effects of housing on pregnancy rate 28 days post‐service (P28), early disruption of pregnancy (EDP) and behaviour were investigated in 12 replicates of 40 sows. Half of the animals were stalled (treatment S, mean parity 2.4) and half group‐housed adjacent on 5.1 m² deep litter per sow (treatment G, mean parity 2.3). Pregnancy was detected using real‐time ultrasound. An EDP‐diagnosis required a drop of salivary progesterone concentration from >15.9 to <15.9 mmol/l in a series of samples taken on days 17, 20, 24 and 27 post‐service. Behaviour was scan sampled on day 27 for 120 min with 10‐min intervals. Data was analysed using mixed regression models in MLwiN. Treatment S increased the odds for P28 with 2.3 and the pregnancy rate of a treatment group with 0.1 compared with G. G increased the odds for EDP with 4.6. Treatment did not affect total exploratory or total passive behaviour. S sows explored floor and fixtures (not bedding) more and performed more passive sitting than G sows. Social stress may have caused the impaired reproductive performance in G sows. S sows showed behavioural signs of decreased welfare, but no corresponding reproductive effects. An interdisciplinary approach is needed when evaluating the appropriateness of housing systems.     

Feeding sows with high fibre diet around farrowing and early lactation: impact on intestinal activity, energy balance related parameters and litter performance

The effects of fibre in diets for periparturient sows are poorly documented. Three weeks before farrowing, 41 sows (LACT) were fed a diet containing 3.8% crude fibre. Other 40 sows (FIBRE) received a diet containing 7% crude fibre. We estimated the intestinal activity of the sows with a daily qualitative evaluation of their faeces. The FIBRE group had a qualitative faeces score value of 2.1 ± 1.3 and the LACT group had a value of 1.2 ± 1.1 (P < 0.001). Individual daily water consumption was higher in the FIBRE group than in the LACT group (P < 0.001). Piglet weight gain at day 5 was higher in the FIBRE group (P < 0.05). The energy balance related parameters did not differ between the treatments.Concluding, diets containing more fibre can be successfully used around farrowing reducing prolonged constipation of sows with no negative effect on their energy balance related parameters.     

Evaluation of bioequivalence after oral, intramuscular, and intravenous administration of racemic ketoprofen in pigs

OBJECTIVE: To assess bioequivalence after oral, IM, and IV administration of racemic ketoprofen in pigs and to investigate the bioavailability after oral and IM administration. ANIMALS: 8 crossbred pigs. PROCEDURES: Each pig received 4 treatments in a randomized crossover design, with a 6-day washout period. Ketoprofen was administered at 3 and 6 mg/kg, PO; 3 mg/kg, IM; and 3 mg/kg, IV. Plasma ketoprofen concentrations were measured by use of high-performance liquid chromatography for up to 48 hours. To assess bioequivalence, a 90% confidence interval was calculated for the area under the time-concentration curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration (C(max)). RESULTS: Equivalence was not detected in the AUCs among the various routes of administration nor in C(max) between oral and IM administration of 3 mg/kg. The bioavailability of ketoprofen was almost complete after each oral or IM administration. Mean +/- SD C(max) was 5.09 +/- 1.41 microg/mL and 7.62 +/- 1.22 microg/mL after oral and IM doses of 3 mg/kg, respectively. Mean elimination half-life varied from 3.52 +/- 0.90 hours after oral administration of 3 mg/kg to 2.66 +/- 0.50 hours after IV administration. Time to peak C(max) after administration of all treatments was approximately 1 hour. Increases in AUC and C(max) were proportional when the orally administered dose was increased from 3 to 6 mg/kg. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Orally administered ketoprofen was absorbed well in pigs, although bioequivalence with IM administration of ketoprofen was not detected. Orally administered ketoprofen may have potential for use in treating pigs.     

The challenge of large litters on the immune system of the sow and the piglets

The use of hyperprolific sow lines has increased litter size considerably in the last three decades. Nowadays, in some countries litters can reach up to 18–20 piglets being a major challenge for the sow's physiology during pregnancy, parturition and lactation. The increased number of piglets born per litter prolongs sensibly the duration of farrowing, decreases the piglets’ average weight at birth and their vitality, increases the competition for colostrum intake and can affect negatively piglets’ survival. This review aims to describe how large litters can affect the immune system of the sow and the piglets and proposes measures to improve this condition.     

The Hereditary 'Short Tail' Sperm Defect - A New Reproductive Problem in Yorkshire Boars

This study describes a new sperm defect in Yorkshire boars. The length of the sperm tail is markedly reduced, resulting in a total immotility in all spermatozoa. At transmission electron microscopy level, the morphology of the midpiece microtubular components area is seriously affected. This boar sperm defect differs from the ‘tail stump’ defect observed in bulls, the tails being longer in most spermatozoa than those found in affected bulls. Therefore, the term ‘short tail’ sperm defect is more adequate. The authors observed the first case in 1987. In 1998, this defect became a noteworthy reproductive problem, when it was observed in nine boars intended for breeding. In one litter, three littermates were affected with the ‘short tail’ sperm defect. At the present time the authors believe that the defect is recessively inherited.