Changes in free amino acid serum levels in swine during parturition and in piglets during birth

During the course of parturition seven high pregnant sows, crossbreds of the Large White and Landrace breeds, and their 69 piglets being born, were studied for the changes of the total and separate free amino acids in the blood plasma in relation to the time of duration of the parturition, to the sequence of piglets being born in the litter, and to the birth weight of the piglets. The concentration of the total free amino acids in blood plasma is 2.44 +/- 0.182 mmol.l-1 just before parturition; after the birth of the last piglet it decreases insignificantly to 2.17 +/- 0.190 mmol.l-1. The concentration of the total free amino acids in the blood plasma of newborn piglets is always significantly higher than in their mothers (p less than 0.001) and is 4.24 +/- 0.109 mmol.l-1. The rank of each piglet in the sequence of births in litter has no influence on the level of plasma concentration of the total free amino acids amino acidaemia was 4.03 +/- 0.268 mmol.l-1 in the piglets born first and insignificantly changed to 3.99 +/- 0.445 mmol.l-1 of blood plasma in the last piglets born in the litter. The time factor of parturition is also statistically insignificant. However, the differences in the free "amino acids" concentration in the blood plasma between the piglets with the lowest weight and the piglets with a weight of up to 1200 and 1500 g are statistically significant (p less than 0.02). Alanine (0.43 +/- 0.052 mmol.l-1) and glycine (0.43 +/- 0.063 mmol.l-1) constitute the largest proportions of all the 17 amino acids studied in the blood plasma in the high pregnant sows before parturition. The tyrosine concentration in piglets at birth is remarkably high (1.44 +/- 0.035 mmol.l-1); it represent 34 per cent of the total amino acidaemia. Tyrosine, histidine and lysine concentration in the blood plasma is statistically highly significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in newborn piglets than in their mothers. The phenomenon of 6-times higher tyrosinaemia in piglets, compared with the sows is discussed in connection with the weight at birth and with the data on the function and concentration of thyroid hormones in piglets during the first days of their lives.     

Control of swine parturition. 1. Results of clinical, histological and hematological studies of parturition induction in swine using prostaglandin F2 alpha

Parturition was induced to 23 sows on the 112th day of pregnancy by intramuscular injection of 7.5 mg PGF2 alpha (Dinoprost-Upjohn Co.). Onset of parturition was achieved within 27 hours and 52 minutes +/- four hours and 54 minutes in 21 animals (91.3 per cent). Average litter size was 11.33 piglets, with parturition time per litter having been five hours and 45 minutes +/- two hours and 39 minutes. Stillbirths accounted for 6.3 per cent. The average birth weight, 1.245 g +/- 264 g did not differ with significance from that of the controls. The physiological process accompanying parturition is described in greater detail. Unobstructed re-intergration with further reproduction of animals which had received PGF2 alpha treatment is established with hard evidence on the basis of clinical examination of oestrus, ovulation, conception, and farrowing rates as well as by histological examination of the endometrium. Alterations in the blood state recorded from animals with PGF2 alpha treatment close to full term were identical with those recorded from untreated animals.     

Induction of parturition in the sow with a prostaglandin analogue (I.C.I. 80996)

Summary Parturition was induced in 112 gilts and sows on day 111, 112, and 113 of gestation by means of a single intramuscular injection of 175 mcg of a prostaglandin F2α analogue (Cloprostenol, I.C.I. 80996). No side effects were detected immediately after injection and the course of the induced parturition was normal. The interval between injection and parturition was approximately 28 hours. Induction of parturition on day 113 resulted in a significant shortening of this interval as compared with day 111 and 112. The average weights of the piglets at birth and at 5 weeks were within the normal range. The percentage of stillbirths and the loss of piglets up to weaning did not differ significantly between control and experimental groups. The practical applications of induction of parturition are discussed.     

Attempt to control parturition in the sow using an oral progestogen

Analogues of prostaglandin F2 alpha are widely used in the United Kingdom to induce parturition in sows. A disadvantage is that sows are induced to farrow in advance of expected delivery dates. An alternative might be to maintain gestation by the application of a progestogen. Farrowing might then be initiated on the withdrawal of the progestogen. The use of an orally active progestogen (allyl-trenbolone) in an attempt to control the time of parturition in sows is described. In experiment 1, 20 large white cross landrace sows were allocated at random to one of two treatments. Treated sows were fed 16 mg/day of allyl-trenbolone from day 111 of gestation to day 118 of gestation. The farrowing performance of these sows was compared with that of control sows which farrowed naturally. Treated sows farrowed significantly (P less than 0.01) later than the control sows (118.2 and 116.1 days respectively). For treated sows the interval from progestogen withdrawal to farrowing was 29.6 +/- 4.8 hours. The number of stillbirths for treated and control sows respectively was 2.1 and 0.4 per litter. Treatment had no effect either on the birth weight of piglets or on their weaning weight at six weeks old. There was a tendency for more treated sows to show subsequent reproductive malfunction. In a second experiment, under commercial conditions, 81 sows and 12 gilts were allocated to one of four treatments. Treatment A animals were untreated controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Induction of parturition in the sow with a prostaglandin analogue (I.C.I. 80996)

Summary

Parturition was induced in 112 gilts and sows on day 111, 112, and 113 of gestation by means of a single intramuscular injection of 175 mcg of a prostaglandin F2α analogue (Cloprostenol, I.C.I. 80996). No side effects were detected immediately after injection and the course of the induced parturition was normal. The interval between injection and parturition was approximately 28 hours. Induction of parturition on day 113 resulted in a significant shortening of this interval as compared with day 111 and 112. The average weights of the piglets at birth and at 5 weeks were within the normal range. The percentage of stillbirths and the loss of piglets up to weaning did not differ significantly between control and experimental groups. The practical applications of induction of parturition are discussed.     

Reproductive efficiency and incidence of MMA after controlled farrowing using a prostaglandin analogue, cloprostenol

In a herd of sows 106 sows having 4.3 litters on aver., were over a period of 10 weeks treated on Thursdays with 0.175 mg of cloprostenol on the 111th to 114th day of gestation; 93--95% of the sows treated on the 112th and 113th day farrowed within 33 hours after treatment, 73% after treatment on the 111th day (Table I); the mean period of gestation after treatment was 113.4 +/- 0.9 days. 8 sows that only farrowed 2--5 days after the treatment, had on 21 previous farrowings proved to have significantly longer mean periods of gestation, 115.6 days, than the 112 sows in the control group, having 3.6 litters on average, that farrowed in the same period and section of the piggery as the sows treated with cloprostenol. In total 32 weekend-farrowings occurred in the observation period including 7 farrowings after a period of gestation of 110--113 days, 6 cases of unsuccessfully induced parturition and 19 farrowings on the 114th to 119th day that could have been programmed to occur on Fridays; the number of weekend-farrowings, which for this herd in connection with the weaning procedure normally accounted for about 40--45% of farrowings, could thus be reduced to 7% of farrowings (Table II). Cloprostenol treatment on the 111th day resulting in farrowing on the 112th day leads to a significantly higher rate of piglet mortality after 3 weeks compared with the results after farrowing for control sows that farrowed on the 112th day (Table III); this category of control sows had on previous farrowings proved to have a significantly shorter mean period of gestation, 112.7 days, than that of the sows in the cloprostenol group farrowing on the 112th day which had been 114.3 days on previous farrowings. Farrowing and weaning results after induced parturition resulting in farrowing on the 113th to 115th day showed no significant differences from the results for control sows farrowing spontaneously on the 112th to 115th day of gestation. The incidence of MMA (Table II) was not influenced by the cloprostenol treatment, nor by the number of litters, the length of the period of gestation, or by the piling of farrowings on Fridays.     

Studies on improving the fertility of aged sows. 3. Results of histological studies on puerperal involution and regeneration processes in the endometrium of lactating sows and sows after extremely early weaning]

Involution and regeneration following parturition was studied in 48 sows allowed to suckle their piglets normally, or from which the piglets were taken away at 5-8 days of age. Samples of uterus were obtained by biopsy 4, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 30, 32 and 40 days after parturition. In lactating sows, endometrial changes similar to those of oestrus in a normal cycle were present 32 days after parturition. This fact seems to justify the removal of piglets at 21-28 days of age. After very early weaning (5-8 days), incomplete oestrus-like changes in the endometrium were seen on the 17th day after parturition. The observed involutionary and regenerative changes in the puerperal uterus suggest that early weaning after 10-12 days of suckling is feasible, but it may be advisable to use drugs that would accelerate uterine involution.     

The influence of additional fat in the diet of sows before and after parturition on piglet viability and performance

Two hundred and six mature sows were used to evaluate the effect of adding a total of 3 kg of fat to sow diets for an average of eight days before and seven days after parturition on piglet viability and performance.The addition of fat to the diet of sows had no effect on the percentage of piglets born alive, individual piglet birth weight, weight of the piglet at three weeks of age or the weaning to service interval in the sows. However, there was a significant increase in piglet survival (3.4%) between treated and control sows. Birth weight had a marked effect on piglet survival but there was no indication of a greater effect of added fat in the sows' diet on the survival of smaller piglets. A number of piglets were cross-fostered but fostering had no effect on piglet mortality. A comparison of the mortality of piglets born from sows receiving added fat and reared on controls and vice versa indicated that the major benefits of additional fat in the sow diet were effected in utero rather than via an increase in the quality of the sows' milk.     

羟甲基丁酸钙盐对妊娠后期-哺乳期母猪繁殖性能、乳成分及仔猪生长性能的影响

文章旨在评估日粮中添加羟甲基丁酸钙盐对妊娠后期到哺乳期母猪繁殖性能、乳成分及仔猪生长性能的影响.试验选择32头胎次接近的二元母猪,随机分为2组,每组4个重复,每个重复4头猪.对照组母猪在妊娠后期和哺乳期饲喂基础日粮,处理组母猪在妊娠和哺乳期饲喂基础日粮+8?mg/kg羟甲基丁酸钙,试验从分娩前6?d到仔猪21?d断奶....     

饲粮添加辣诺提取物对经产母猪及其仔猪生产性能的影响

本试验旨在研究辣诺提取物(辣木和诺丽果提取物)对经产母猪繁殖性能及哺乳仔猪生长性能的影响。选取60头2～4胎长白×大白母猪,随机分为2个处理,每个处理30个重复,每个重复1头母猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组饲喂添加500 mg/kg辣诺提取物的基础饲粮。试验期28 d(产前7 d～哺乳21 d断奶)。结果表明:辣诺提取物对母猪产程和断奶后7 d发情率无显著影响;辣诺提取物对哺乳仔猪生长性能无显著影响。综上所述,产前1周的经产母猪饲粮中添加辣诺提取物未能改善母仔猪的生产性能,但在一定程度上缩短了母猪产程,促进了母猪断奶后发情。     

Effects of dietary star anise (Illicium verum Hook f) supplementation during gestation and lactation on the performance of lactating multiparous sows and nursing piglets

Thirty‐two sows were allocated to four treatments to evaluate the effect of dietary star anise (SA) supplementation during gestation and lactation on the lactational performance of sows. At 85 days of gestation, sows were randomly allotted to one of two diets supplemented with 0.5% SA or basal diet. After farrowing, sows were further allotted to one of two lactation diets supplemented with 0.5% SA or basal diet. On a weekly basis, body weight (BW) of sows and piglets was measured. Blood and milk samples were obtained from the sows and piglets. Number of days from weaning to estrus, milk yield and feed intake were also recorded. Weight gain of piglets from sows fed the SA‐supplemented diet during lactation was greater between days 7 and 14, days 14 and 21 and the overall experimental period compared with control groups. Supplementation of SA during lactation improved weaning weight of piglets, milk yield and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of sows. The SA diet increased concentrations of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) in ordinary milk and prolactin (PRL) in serum of sows. In conclusion, this study has indicated the beneficial effects of dietary SA addition in improving the lactation performance of sows.     

Effects of oral caffeine administration to sows with induced parturition on hypoxia in piglets

To counteract the effects of perinatal hypoxia in piglets, the oral administration of caffeine to sows with induced parturition was evaluated. On day 113 of gestation 9 sows received 27 mg/kg body weight (BW) of caffeine mixed with 200 g of standard diet. The same amount of feed without the addition of caffeine was administered to 9 control sows. Additionally, on day 113 of gestation, all sows were treated by two injections in the perianal area of 1 mg of alfaprostol (at 8:00 am and 14:00 pm), and on the morning of farrowing by 14 IU of oxytocin in the perianal area. Caffeine did not affect BW of piglets and size of litters; however piglets from treated sows showed a higher capacity to adapt to extra-uterine life. Particularly, they showed a greater thermoregulatory ability (P<0.001) and a higher percentage of viability score≥7 compared to piglets from control sows (92% vs. 75%, respectively; P=0.030). Caffeine furthermore reduced the frequency of high serum biopterin values (>80 nmol/L) in piglets born from treated sows (P=0.001). In conclusion, the caffeine orally administered to sows with induced parturition showed a protective effect on the consequences of neonatal hypoxia in tissue ischemia–reperfusion injury in piglets.     

微囊丁酸钠对母猪生产性能与仔猪生长性能的影响

40头妊娠85 d健康二元杂交经产母猪(胎次、体况、前胎产仔数一致),随机分为2组,每组20个重复,每个重复1头,分别为对照组(基础日粮)、处理组(妊娠期:基础日粮+800 g/t微囊丁酸钠;哺乳期:基础日粮+500 g/t微囊丁酸钠)。结果表明,饲粮中添加微囊丁酸钠能够显著提高母猪生产后期采食量(4.56%),显著降低母猪哺乳期的体失重(P<0.05),提高仔猪断奶日增重(P<0.05)和断奶体重。此外,处理组弱仔率较对照组下降35.72%,窝断奶仔猪数和断奶仔猪均重有上升趋势(P=0.07,P=0.14)。由此可见,微囊丁酸钠可改善母猪生产性能,提高仔猪平均日增重。     

The effects of feeding grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins with and without a polymeric glucomannan adsorbent on lactation, serum chemistry, and reproductive performance after weaning of first-parity lactating sows

An experiment was conduced to investigate the effects of feeding grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol on lactation, metabolism, and reproductive performance after weaning of first parturition sows and to evaluate the efficacy of a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GMA). Thirty-six Yorkshire sows were fed 3 diets (n = 12 sows/diet) from 91 +/- 3 d of gestation up to weaning on d 21 after farrowing. Diets included 1) control, 2) contaminated grains, and 3) contaminated grains + 0.2% GMA. The variables measured include ADFI, average daily BW change, serum biochemistry, milk composition, BW of litters at weaning, and weaning to estrus interval. The feeding of contaminated grains and contaminated grains + GMA reduced ADFI (P < 0.001). The feeding of contaminated grains resulted in weight loss (P = 0.007), as did the feeding of contaminated grains + GMA (P = 0.028), compared with controls, which underwent a small weight gain. There were no differences between the sows fed contaminated grains and those fed contaminated grains + GMA in average daily BW change. On the day of farrowing, total serum protein concentrations were lower for sows fed contaminated grains compared with controls (P = 0.038) and for sows fed contaminated grains compared with sows fed contaminated grains + GMA (P = 0.019). Seven days after farrowing, serum urea concentrations were lower for sows fed contaminated grains (P = 0.049) and contaminated grains + GMA (P = 0.048) compared with controls. Milk composition was not affected by treatments. There were no effects of diet on BW of litters at weaning or mortality of piglets during lactation. There was a trend for increased weaning to estrus interval in sows fed contaminated grains (P = 0.09) or contaminated grains + GMA (P = 0.08) compared with controls. It was concluded that the feeding of diets naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins to lactating sows reduces feed intake and increases BW losses. The weaning to estrus interval also tends to be longer in sows fed contaminated diets. Supplementing contaminated feed with GMA could counteract the reduction in serum protein and serum urea observed in sows fed contaminated feed.     

Prevention of anestrus in sows after the 1st and 2d parturition

The procedure of prevention of anoestria after the weaning of piglets was verified in 389 experimental and 332 control sows of the Prestice breed. The set of animals under study included 77 experimental and 122 control primiparae, 68 experimental and 71 control secundiparae, and 244 experimental and 139 control multiparae (i.e. sows with three or more parturitions). The experimental sows were treated with 1000 IU of serum gonadotropin ad usum vet.-Bioveta-(PMSG) the first day after the weaning of piglets and with 300 IU of chorion gonadotropin (HCG) in the Praedyn inj. Spofa preparation together with 1 ml of Dirigestran inj. Spofa (40 micrograms LHRH) 72 hours later. Control sows were not treated with hormones. The treated primiparae and secundiparae respectively, had a significantly higher percentage of oestrus onset within 10 days after weaning and lower occurrence of anoestria over 10 days after weaning by 31.25 per cent (P less than 0.001), and 21.36 per cent (P less than 0.02) respectively as compared with untreated controls. In the set of secundiparae, the studied hormonal treatment speeded oestrus onset by a significant (P less than 0.01) shortening of the interval from weaning to the first insemination by 0.79 day and by a more frequent onset of oestrus within only 5 days after weaning of piglets. The values of the other criteria of reproduction studies, i.e. percentage of pregnancies after the first insemination, total number of born piglets and number of liveborn piglets converted per one litter in treated primiparae and secundiparae did not differ significantly (P greater than 0.05) from the control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Safety and efficacy of a classical swine fever subunit vaccine in pregnant sows and their offspring

In the study three groups with five pregnant sows each were used. The animals were vaccinated twice, 2 weeks apart, in different stages of gestation, i.e. +/-4, +/-8 and +/-12 weeks after insemination and then 14 days later, respectively. From each group of sows three litters were randomly selected and vaccinated twice, 4 weeks apart, at 5 and 9, 7 and 11, and 9 and 13 weeks of life, respectively. Blood for serological investigations by virus neutralisation test and ELISA tests (for E(rns) antibodies and for E2 antibodies, separately) was taken before immunisation, at each vaccination and 2 weeks thereafter. Clinical observations shown that no local nor systemic reactions as well as no adverse effect on gestation occurred after vaccinations in any of the sows. Serological tests detected a low level of antibodies after the first vaccination and a typical booster effect after the second one. In piglets no adverse effect of the vaccination on the body weight gain was found. The presence of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) in non-vaccinated control piglets was observed up to the age of 5-13 weeks of life. The most evident immunological reaction was obtained in piglets vaccinated at the age of 5 or 7 weeks of life and revaccinated 4 weeks later. The CSFV-E2 subunit marker vaccine tested proved to be safe for pregnant sows and immunogenic for MDA positive piglets.     

有效微生物群对仔猪生产性能的影响初探

对产后母猪和断奶仔猪饲喂有效微生物菌群(EM),研究其对仔猪生产性能的影响。从产前7d开始给母猪基础饲料中添加5mL/kg的EM菌液,选产仔数不少于8头的3头母猪及其仔猪连续饲喂EM菌28d,仔猪进行断奶,统计母猪的增重、仔猪初生重、断奶重,仔猪成活率等,分析添加EM菌后对母猪生产性能的影响。在这24头断奶仔猪饲料中添加EM菌的饲料,饲喂至60日龄,统计仔猪的增重、采食量、料重比、发病数等,分析EM菌断奶仔猪生产性能的影响。另外选取3头同品种、同批次生产、产仔数相同的母猪及其仔猪饲料中不添加EM菌作为对照。结果表明,母猪产后日均采食量较对照组提高12.07%,仔猪的初生重较对照组提高15.90%,产活仔数提高了12.09%,断奶重增加9.09%,断奶头数增多20.99%,断奶成活率提高8.81%。断奶后仔猪试验组的平均采食量较对照组提高10.26%,料重比降低了7.14%,发病率下降了50.03%。说明EM菌对母猪和仔猪的生产性能均有提高作用,研究结果为EM菌在生猪养殖中的应用提供了基础资料。     

The redox potential of the large intestine in swine in relation to swine dysentery

The redox potential of (Eh) +111 +/- 25 mV was measured in the large intestine of newly born piglets. In the post-weaning period the Eh values decreased significantly to -173 +/- 27 mV and remained at this level also in the healthy sows (-214 +/- 55 mV). The Eh value recorded in dysenteric pigs was -188 +/- 5 mV, and this was not statistically significant in relation to the healthy weaned piglets. The Eh level measured in the blood agar prepared with cysteine and covered by a thick growth of the strain Treponema hyodysenteriae, which had been incubated in an anaerobic medium for five days, was -218 +/- 18 mV. The Eh of piglets after weaning was not the decisive condition for the development of dysentery. However, it can be assumed that the impossibility of eliciting dysentery in microbe-free and gnotobiotic pigs is associated with a relatively high redox potential of a microbially unpopulated or insufficiently populated intestine.     

复合植物提取物对妊娠母猪繁殖性能的影响

为研究复合植物提取物对妊娠母猪繁殖性能的影响,试验选取40头妊娠85 d大长二元母猪,随机分为对照组、植物提取物组(1000 mg/kg),每头猪为一个重复,试验期为妊娠85 d至分娩。结果表明:植物提取物组仔猪初生重较对照组提高7.6%(P<0.05),并且植物提取物组高初生重仔猪的比例增加(P<0.01),低初生重仔猪的比例减少(P<0.05)。综上,复合植物提取物可提高仔猪初生重,改善仔猪均匀度,提高母猪的繁殖性能。     

Effects of salinomycin on sow weight change during lactation and on sow reproductive performance

Forty-five gravid cross-bred sows (mean parity 3.3 +/- .3) were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: corn-soybean mean (CS) or CS plus 60 mg salinomycin per kilogram of diet (CSS). Sows were fed their respective diets through two successive parities with dietary treatment initiated at 100 d postcoitum and continued until weaning of the second successive litter. Therefore, sows fed CSS received salinomycin for 14 d before the first parturition and for approximately 153 d before the second parturition. Daily feed intake was restricted to 2 kg.hd-1.d-1 during gestation and to 3 kg.hd-1.d-1 from weaning to breeding. All sows. had ad libitum access to feed during lactation. Sows were weighed 7 d prior to parturition, at weaning and at breeding. Weaning-to-estrus interval and farrowing interval were recorded for all sows. Litters were weighed at birth and weaning. There were no differences (P greater than .05) between dietary treatments in sow weights before parturition, at weaning or at breeding for either first or second farrowing. The CSS-fed sows lost more weight from weaning to breeding after the first (P less than .03) and second (P less than .05) lactation periods than CS-fed sows. The CSS-fed sows tended to gain more (P = .06) weight during lactation than CS-fed sows. There were no differences (P greater than .05) between treatments in lactation feed intake, weaning-to-estrus interval, farrowing interval, litter size born or weaned, litter weights at birth or at weaning, or in sow culling rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)