•12.6% of sows had ≥ 3 stillborn piglets per litter.•43.3% of live-born and 60.9% of stillborn piglets had a body weight ≤ 1000 g at birth.•Expulsion interval and piglet body weight at birth ...significantly associated with stillborn.•Use of carbetocin during parturition reduced the farrowing duration without affecting stillborn.
In commercial swine herds in Thailand, the incidence of stillbirths averages 7.3% and varies from 5.1 to 8.2% between herds. Over the last decade, the incidence of stillbirths has tended to increase due to higher number of piglets born per litter through genetic selection. The present study investigated the influence of piglets’ expulsion interval, umbilical cord intactness, birth weight, litter size at birth and carbetocin administration during the mid-period of parturition on the incidence of stillborn piglets in hyper-prolific sows. In total, 1225 live-born and 103 stillborn piglets from 80 Danish Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred sows were investigated. The physiological characteristics of the newborn piglets were compared between live-born and stillborn piglets. Piglet body weight was determined within 5 min of birth. The sows were classified into two groups according to the pharmacological intervention during the farrowing process: i) NATURAL (n = 62): sows farrowed naturally; and ii) CARBETOCIN (n = 18): the uterine contraction was induced after the 7th piglet was born using carbetocin. On average, the total number of piglets born per litter and number of piglets born alive per litter were 17.5 ± 3.8 and 15.3 ± 3.7, respectively. The incidence of a stillborn piglet was 7.4% (103/1402 piglets). Of all the sows, 41.3, 27.5, 18.8 and 12.6% had 0, 1, 2 and ≥ 3 stillborn piglets per litter, respectively. The variables that differed between live-born and stillborn piglets included the expulsion interval (13.9 vs. 33.0 min, P = 0.002), piglet body weight at birth (1175 vs. 1002 g, P < 0.001), total number of piglets born per litter (18.2 vs. 20.0, P < 0.001), broken umbilical cord (24.1 vs. 46.8%, P<0.001) and meconium staining score (1.20 vs. 1.41, P = 0.005). The farrowing duration of sows without any stillborn piglets was shorter than sows with ≥ 3 stillborn piglets per litter (221 ± 32.0 min vs.373 ± 65.0 min, respectively, P = 0.039). The use of carbetocin during parturition reduced the farrowing duration from 365 to 212 min (153 min, P< 0.01), without affecting the number of stillborn piglets per litter (P> 0.05). In conclusion, a prolonged expulsion interval, broken umbilical cord and low piglet birth weight are significant risk factors for stillborn piglets. The administration of 0.4 µg/kg of carbetocin during the mid-period of parturition reduced the farrowing duration, without affecting the incidence of stillborn piglets. The farrowing duration of sows increased as the number of stillborn piglets increased.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
This study aimed to determine phosphorus and vitamin B12 supplementation effect in semen extender on the quality and fertility ability of chilled Thai native rooster semen. Eighty-four ejaculates of ...semen from 26 Thai native roosters (Burmese × Vietnam crossbreed) were included. Semen was collected by applying dorsal-abdominal massage once a week, pooled, diluted to 500 million sperms per dose, and divided into 6 groups. The semen samples used for control group were diluted with modified Beltsville poultry semen extender (BPSE). For the treatment groups 2 to 6: semen samples were diluted with modified BPSE and enriched with phosphorus and vitamin B12 (Octafos Octa Memorial Co., Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand) at concentrations 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10%. Semen fertility ability was tested in 6 replications by inseminating layer hens. Thirty-six Thai native hens were randomly assigned to 3 groups (control, 0.04, and 0.08%) of 12 hens and were inseminated with a dose of 0.2 mL on collecting day. Sperm motion characteristics (i.e., sperm motility, sperm progressive motility, and sperm kinetic parameters) were measured using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system (SCA, Proiser S.L., Valencia, Spain). Sperm viability, mitochondrial activity, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were also evaluated. The sperm motion characteristics were the highest in the 0.04% supplementation group on all days of collection, especially the VCL and VAP (P < 0.05). The viability, mitochondrial activity, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity of spermatozoa were greater in the 0.04% supplementation group than in the control groups (P < 0.05). The 0.04% supplementation group had the lowest MDA concentration in all days of collection. The 0.04% supplementation group were higher both fertility (66.59 vs. 48.50%: P < 0.05) and hatching rates (58.80 vs. 43.18%: P < 0.05) than in the control group. In conclusion, 0.04% phosphorus and vitamin B12 concentrations supplementation in semen extender improved rooster semen quality and fertility in chilled rooster semen.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background and Aim: The impact of maternal hormone concentration on kid growth performance in relation to insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and leptin is minimal. This study examined IGF-1 and ...leptin levels at varying ages and gestation periods for their correlation with Black Bengal goat kids’ growth during the preweaning phase. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 43 dams with different reproductive cycles and 28 prepubertal goats to measure serum concentrations of IGF-1 and leptin. Among dams, both hormones were investigated in different age ranges (<2, 2–3, 3–4, and >4 years old) and reproductive cycles (non-pregnancy, early gestation (1–50 days), mid-gestation (51–100 days), late gestation (101–135 days), and the last 15 days before delivery). After delivery, 65 kids from 34 dams were weighted weekly for 8 weeks to calculate average daily weight gain (ADG) at 0–4 weeks (ADG0–4 W) and 4–8 weeks (ADG4–8 W) and growth performance, including weight (W), height (H), length (L), chest girth (C) measured at birth (W0, H0, L0, and C0) and at 10 weeks of age (W10, H10, L10, and C10) were related to hormone serum concentrations in their dams at different gestation periods including the last 15 days before delivery. Results: Dams had higher mean serum IGF-1 (p < 0.001) and leptin (p < 0.05) than prepubertal goats. Dams at late gestation had higher IGF-1 concentrations than those at early and mid-gestation and during the last 15 days before delivery. However, it was consistent with non-pregnant goats. The kid’s growth performance correlated positively with IGF-1 concentration, which was collected in the last 15 days before delivery. Multivariate analysis showed that ADG0–4 W was higher in kids born from dams with high IGF-1 than those with low IGF-1 measured during the last 15 days of delivery, whereas leptin tended to have a similar effect. Conclusion: Serum IGF-1 and leptin concentrations of dams measured during the last 15 days before delivery were associated with kid’s growth during the preweaning period. Keywords: Black Bengal goat, growth performance, insulin-like growth factor 1, leptin.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Piglet pre-weaning mortality is an important variable indicating the efficacy of farrowing management and animal well-being during lactation. The present study determined the association of newborn ...traits measured soon after birth with piglet pre-weaning mortality and growth.
In total, 805 piglets born from 57 multiparous sows were investigated. Their blood oxygen saturation, blood glucose and rectal temperature at 24 h after birth (RT24h) were monitored. Birth order, sex, skin color, integrity of the umbilical cord, attempts to stand and birth intervention were monitored. Piglets were weighed at day 0, 7, and 21 to evaluate average daily gain (ADG).
Piglet pre-weaning mortality for lactation period was 12.6% and cumulative mortality during the first 7 days of age was 8.6%. A higher proportion of piglets with pale skin color died compared to piglets with normal skin color (26.7% vs 7.7%, p<0.001). A higher (p<0.001) proportion of piglets that attempted to stand after 5 min (38.5%) died compared to piglets that attempted to stand within 1 min (6.3%) after birth. Piglet body weight at birth (BW
), blood glucose and the number of piglets born alive (BA) were correlated with ADG (p<0.05). Piglets with BW
<1.30 kg had higher (p<0.001) mortality rate than piglets with BW
≥1.80 kg (19.0% vs 3.3%) and piglets with BW
1.30 to 1.79 kg (4.0%). Piglet with RT24h <37.0°C had higher (p<0.001) mortality rate (86.2%) than piglets with RT24h >38.5°C (3.9%).
Low BW
and low RT24h compromise piglet survival during the lactation period in the tropical conditions. Piglets in the litters with a high BA, low BW
and low blood glucose have reduced ADG.
The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of lactation stage and parity number on fatty acid and non-volatile polar metabolite profiles in sow colostrum and milk using a metabolomics ...approach. A total number of 63 colostrum, transient and mature milk were collected from primiparous and multiparous Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred sows. Macrochemical, fatty acid and non-volatile polar metabolite compositions of samples were analyzed using infrared spectrometry, gas chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated significant impacts of lactation stage and parity number on colostrum and milk compositions. Chemometric analysis revealed significant influences of sow parity on the distinction in fatty acid profiles of mature milk while the distinction in non-volatile polar metabolite profiles was more evident in colostrum. Alterations in the concentration of linoleic (C18:2n6), lignoceric (C24:0), behenic (C22:0), caprylic (C8:0) and myristoleic (C14:1) acid together with those of creatine, creatinine phosphate, glutamate and glycolate were statistically suggested to be mainly affected by sow parity number. Variations in the concentration of these compounds reflected the physiological function of sow mammary gland influenced. This information could be applied for feed and feeding strategies in lactating sows and improving lactating performances.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Carbetocin is an oxytocin-like compound with long acting properties that has recently been introduced to both human and domestic animal obstetrics. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the ...effects of carbetocin administration after the first piglet was born on farrowing duration, birth interval, colostrum consumption and vitality index in newborn piglets. In total, 186 sows and their offspring (n = 2611 piglets) were distributed into three groups: 1) CONTROL: sows were allowed to farrow naturally (n = 66); 2) OXY: sows were administered oxytocin 20 IU intramuscularly after the first piglet was born (n = 62); and 3) CARBE: sows were administered carbetocin 0.6 μg/kg intramuscularly after the first piglet was born (n = 58). The reproductive data of sows including farrowing duration, total number of piglets born per litter (TB), number of piglets born alive per litter (BA), proportion of stillborn piglets per litter (SB) and proportion of mummified fetuses per litter (MF) were recorded. Piglet vitality index including skin colour, integrity of the umbilical cord, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, screaming score, udder stimulation score, movement capacity and number of completed circles around enclosure were determined. Birth weights of the piglets were measured immediately at birth and again at 24 h thereafter to determine the individual colostrum intake of the piglets. On average, the farrowing duration, birth interval and BA were 188.0 ± 95.7 min, 12.5 ± 18.3 min, and 12.3 ± 2.9 piglets per litter, respectively. The farrowing duration of the sows was reduced in CARBE group (151.2 ± 11.9 min) compared to OXY (180.2 ± 11.5 min, P = 0.003) and CONTROL (227.7 ± 11.2 min, P < 0.001) groups. Birth interval of piglets in all categories of birth weight in the CARBE group was shorter than those in the CONTROL group (P < 0.05). However, the colostrum yield of sows in CARBE group (2398 ± 133 g) was lower than CONTROL and OXY groups (3371 ± 125 g and 3549 ± 128 g, respectively; P < 0.001). Similarly, colostrum intake of piglets in the CONTROL and OXY groups was higher than in the CARBE group (276.4 ± 11.0 g, 286.4 ± 13.6 g and 225.3 ± 14.0 g, respectively; P < 0.05). The percentage of stillborn piglets in CARBE was higher than OXY (8.7 ± 1.1% vs 5.3 ± 1.1%, P < 0.05) but did not differ significantly compared to CONTROL (7.5 ± 1.1%, P > 0.05). The piglet movement capacity in CONTROL was lower than CARBE group (1.36 vs 1.48, P < 0.05) but was not different compared to OXY group (1.40, P > 0.05). In conclusion, administration of carbetocin after the birth of the first piglet reduced the farrowing duration of sows, but increased the number of stillborn piglets and reduced the colostrum yield of sows.
•Sows (n = 58) were administered carbetocin intramuscularly after the first piglet was born.•Farrowing duration was reduced in CARBE (151 min) compared to CONTROL (228 min) groups.•The colostrum yield of sows in CARBE was lower than CONTROL groups.•The piglet movement capacity in CONTROL was lower than CARBE groups.•The percentage of stillborn piglets in CARBE was higher than OXY groups.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The objective of the present study was to investigate whether double intra-vulvo submucosal administration of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) could improve farrowing synchronization compared to single ...administration, and the effects of the induction of farrowing on colostrum yield and piglet performances. In total, 91 sows were randomly assigned to one of three groups: i) treatment with a single or ii) double administration of PGF2α or iii) control group without any treatment. A synthetic analogue of PGF2α was administrated via the intra-vulvo submucosal route on day 114 of gestation, at 0800 hr (single administration) or at 0800 and 1400 hr (double administration). The animals were monitored during the farrowing process. The time interval from the first administration of PGF2α to the onset of parturition was compared between groups. The proportion of sows that farrowed within 32 hr of induced parturition was higher in the double administration group than in the single administration group (100 vs. 84.4%, P=0.046). The duration of farrowing was higher in single administration sows than in control (241.1 vs. 169.5 min, P=0.004) and tended to be higher than in double administration sows (241.1 vs. 190.3 min, P=0.088). Birth interval of piglets born after double administration of PGF2α was shorter than those born after a single administration (14.6 and 20.1 min, P=0.024). In sows, the induction of parturition using a double administration of PGF2α reduces variation in gestation length and significantly increases the proportion of sows with an early response to PGF2α.
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration is high in goat colostrum, particularly in the first few hours after parturition, and this is important for the kid's immunity and growth. IgG levels vary ...depending on several factors, including breed, disease status, colostrum management, handling, and collection time postpartum. A handheld optical refractometer, an affordable instrument that is simple to use in the field, is used widely in dairy farms to measure total solids. However, it can also be applied to estimate colostrum IgG content on the basis of comparison with standard measurement methods, usually radial immunodiffusion. Studies comparing %Brix values in relation to IgG concentration measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in goats are limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the use of a handheld optical Brix refractometer for the measurement of IgG concentration in goat colostrum, compare results with those using ELISA, and estimate the %Brix cutoff value equating to low-quality colostrum.
Colostrum samples were collected on day 0 from 21 goats (nine Black Bengal, six Saanen, and six of their crossbred offspring) and were frozen. Subsequently, they were analyzed for IgG concentration using a goat-specific ELISA test and Brix percentage using a handheld refractometer. The optimum %Brix cutoff value for the evaluation of colostrum quality was evaluated.
The mean IgG concentration and %Brix in colostrum were 10.60±0.64 mg/mL and 25.0±0.9, respectively. There was a significant (p<0.01) correlation between %Brix and IgG concentration. For an IgG concentration of 6.9 mg/dL, the cutoff value for %Brix was 18.5, equating to high specificity (100%) but low sensitivity (50%). A higher %Brix cutoff value of 21.5 showed high specificity (95%) and high sensitivity (100%).
A Brix refractometer can be used to estimate goat colostrum quality with a proposed %Brix cutoff value of <18.5%-21.5% for poor-quality colostrum.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background and Aim: The colostrum is essential for a kid’s survival and development. The metabolomic profiles of mammary secretion in goats are limited. This study investigated the metabolomic ...profiles of mammary secretion in purebred Black Bengal goats and their relationships with litter size and parity number. Materials and Methods: 500 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance was used to analyze the metabolomic profiles of 43 colostrum and milk samples collected on delivery day and day 7 after parturition, respectively. Results: Fifty-one metabolites were distinguished between colostrum and milk based on heatmap visualization and hierarchical cluster analysis. In colostrum, most compounds were present in significantly greater amounts than in milk. Milk of goats with multiple litter sizes had higher levels of lactose while fat, protein, total solids, solid not fat, and most of the metabolites were lower. The parity number of dams shows no difference in the composition of all components between primiparous and multiparous goats. Conclusion: The components in colostrum were significantly more concentrated than those in milk. The multiple litter sizes in dams led to a significant impact on the composition of lactose and other milk metabolites. Keywords: black Bengal goats, colostrum, litter size, metabolite, milk, parity number.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Semen cryopreservation is an important technique for preserving the genetic material of numerous species. However, frozen semen is highly susceptible to sperm DNA damage and reduced motility, ...resulting in decreased fertility. The standard method for cryopreservation and several approaches have not been elucidated. This study aimed to determine the effects of supplementing rooster semen extender with a combination of phosphorus and vitamin B12 on cryopreserved semen quality. Semen was collected weekly via dorso-abdominal massage from 57 Burmese × Vietnam-crossbred Thai native roosters aged 1-3 years. In total, 139 semen samples were collected, pooled, and diluted to 200 million sperm per dose. The pooled sample was divided into six experimental groups: a control group (0.00%) diluted with modified Beltville Poultry Semen Extender (BPSE) and five treatment groups diluted with modified BPSE supplemented with phosphorus and vitamin B12 at concentrations 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10%, respectively. The semen samples were frozen and evaluated at 0, 15, and 30 min after thawing. Sperm kinematic parameters were determined using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. Sperm quality was evaluated by measuring sperm viability, mitochondrial activity, acrosome integrity, and plasma membrane integrity. Statistical analyses were performed using a general linear mixed model (MIXED) in SAS. Factors in the statistical model were experimental groups, time after thawing, and interaction between experimental groups and time after thawing. Total and progressive motilities were greater in semen supplemented with 0.04% phosphorus and vitamin B12 compared with those in the control (
< 0.05). At 15 min post-thawing, VCL, VAP, and HPA in the 0.04% phosphorus and vitamin B12 supplementation group was greater than that in the control (
< 0.05). Phosphorus and vitamin B12 supplementation did not affect sperm kinematics at 0 and 30 min after thawing (
> 0.05). All the sperm parameters that were tested for the 0.04% phosphorus and vitamin B12 supplementation group in modified BPSE were the highest at all the timepoints after thawing. Thus, supplementing frozen semen extender with 0.04% phosphorus and vitamin B12 increased sperm motility, sperm kinematic parameters, and sperm quality.
PDF
