Evaluation of reproductive and animal welfare parameters of swine females of different genetic lines submitted to different reproductive management and housing systems during pregnancy / [Avaliação de parâmetros reprodutivos e de bem-estar animal de fêmeas suínas de diferentes linhagens genéticas submetidas a diferentes sistemas de manejo reprodutivo e de alojamento durante a prenhez]

The aim of this study was to evaluate swine females of different genetic lines submitted to different reproductive management and housing systems during pregnancy on reproductive performance and animal welfare parameters. After artificial insemination protocol, 524 females were divided into two gestation housing systems: PEN1=animals housed in individual stalls during the breeding and after group-housed; PEN32=animals housed in individual stalls from breeding until 32 days of pregnancy and after group-housed. The number of piglets born, and the pregnancy and farrowing rates were evaluated. Welfare parameters related to the pregnancy phase were used. Females who weaned more piglets in the previous farrowing had a higher number of piglets born at the next farrowing. The pregnancy rate was affected by the number of semen doses. The farrowing rate was not influenced by the evaluated parameters, with average value of 91.36%. There was no effect of the gestation housing system and the genetic lines on pregnancy and farrowing rates, with values above 90.0%. The animal welfare indicators showed more compromised parameters in PEN1 system. PEN1 system did not impair the reproductive performance although it presented more compromised animal welfare parameters.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar fêmeas suínas de diferentes linhagens genéticas submetidas a diferentes sistemas reprodutivos de manejo e alojamento durante a prenhez sobre parâmetros de desempenho reprodutivo e bem-estar animal. Após o protocolo de inseminação artificial, 524 fêmeas foram divididas em dois sistemas de alojamento de gestação: PEN1=animais alojados em baias individuais durante o protocolo de inseminação artificial e, depois, alojados em grupo; PEN32=animais alojados em baias individuais desde o protocolo de inseminação artificial até 32 dias de prenhez e, depois, alojados em grupo. O número de leitões nascidos e as taxas de prenhez e parto foram avaliados. Parâmetros de bem-estar relacionados à fase gestacional foram utilizados. As fêmeas que desmamaram mais leitões no parto anterior tiveram um maior número de leitões nascidos no próximo parto. A taxa de prenhez foi afetada pelo número de doses de sêmen. A taxa de parto não foi influenciada pelos fatores avaliados, com valor médio de 91,36%. Não houve efeito do sistema de alojamento gestacional e das linhas genéticas sobre as taxas de prenhez e parto, com valores acima de 90,0%. Os indicadores de bem-estar animal mostraram parâmetros mais comprometidos no sistema PEN1. O sistema PEN1 não prejudicou o desempenho reprodutivo, embora tenha apresentado parâmetros de bem-estar animal mais comprometidos.(AU)

Prebiotics and butyric acid can replace colistin as a growth promoter for nursery piglets / [Prebióticos e ácido butírico podem substituir a colistina como promotor de crescimento para leitões em fase de creche]

This study aimed to assess different prebiotic concentrations and principles, in addition to calcium butyrate, aiming to replace colistin as a growth promoter. The sample consisted of 120 piglets weaned at 22 days old with mean initial weight of 5.475 ± 0.719kg. The animals were assigned to random blocks in six treatments corresponding to the use of the following dietary additives: T1) colistin (40 ppm); T2) ß-glucan/mannan-oligosaccharides (0.2%); T3) calcium butyrate (0.1%); T4) ß-glucan/mannan-oligosaccharides (0.1%) + fructooligosaccharides (0.01%) + galactooligosaccharides (0.09%); T5) ß-glucan/mannan-oligosaccharides (0.1%) + fructooligosaccharides (0.03%) + galactooligosaccharides (0.07%); and T6) ß-glucan/mannan-oligosaccharides (0.1%) + fructooligosaccharides (0.05%) + galactooligosaccharides (0.05%). The results showed no difference among treatments for the performance parameters in any of the phases evaluated. For diarrhea incidence and intensity, the results indicated that the treatments with alternative additives had similar effects as the group treated with colistin. A significant difference was found for the profile of propionic acid (0.23% colistin and 0.32%, 0.36%, 0.37% additives) and total fatty acids (0.67% colistin and 0.97% additives) values in the caecum. The supplementation with different compositions and concentrations of prebiotics and butyric acid may viably replace colistin in controlling diarrhea and modulating volatile fatty acid production in the caecum.(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as diferentes concentrações e princípios de prebióticos e do butirato de sódio, visando substituir a colistina como promotor de crescimento. Foram utilizados 120 leitões, desmamados aos 22 dias de idade, com peso médio inicial de 5,475 ± 0,719kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em blocos ao acaso, em seis tratamentos, que corresponderam ao uso dos seguintes aditivos dietéticos: T1) colistina (40ppm); T2) ß-glucanos/mananoligossacarídeos (0,2%); T3) butirato de cálcio (0,1%); T4) ß-glucanos/mananoligossacarídeos (0,1%) + frutoligossacarídeos (0,01%) + galactoligossacarídeos (0,09%); T5) ß-glucanos/mananoligossacarídeos (0,1%) + frutoligossacarídeos (0,03%) + galactoligossacarídeos (0,07%); e T6) ß-glucanos/mananoligossacarídeos (0,1%) + frutoligossacarídeos (0,05%) + galactoligossacarídeos (0,05%). Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferença entre os tratamentos para nenhum dos parâmetros de desempenho em nenhuma das fases avaliadas. Para a incidência e a intensidade de diarreia, os resultados apontam que os tratamentos com os aditivos alternativos apresentaram efeitos semelhantes aos do grupo tratado com colistina. Foi encontrada diferença significativa para perfil dos ácidos graxos propiônicos (0,23% colistina e 0,32%, 0,36%, 0,37% aditivos) e ácidos totais (0,67% colistina e 0,97% aditivos) no ceco. A suplementação com diferentes composições e concentrações de prebióticos e do ácido butírico pode substituir a colistina de forma viável no controle da diarreia e na modulação da produção volátil de ácidos graxos no ceco.(AU)

Herd-level factors associated with piglet weight at weaning, kilograms of piglets weaned per sow per year and sow feed conversion.

To understand the production factors that affect conclusive parameters of sow herd performance can improve the use of the resources and profitability of farm. The objective of this study was to identify associations and quantify the effects of a set of factors related to piglet weight at weaning (PWW), kilograms of piglets weaned per sow per year (kgPWSY) and sow feed conversion (SFC). Data from 150 farms were collected, for a total study population of 135 168 sows, including gilt replacement, breeding (mating), gestation and farrowing/lactation phases. A questionnaire focusing on reproductive performance, management, facilities, feeding, health and biosafety was administered. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations among factors with each of the three dependent variables. Increased duration of lactation was positively associated with PWW, kgPWSY and SFC. The increase in the number of live born pigs per litter was positively associated with kgPWSY and with SFC. Farms with higher PWW had farrowing room humidifiers, did not surgically castrate male piglets and used quaternary ammonia compounds for farrowing room disinfection. Farms with higher kgPWSY used lined ceilings in farrowing rooms and winter feeds with higher CP percentages in gestation; they also had more farrowings per sow per year. Sow feed conversion was worse in farms with partly slatted floors during gestation, in farms feeding lactating sows six times a day or ad libitum and farms with a higher sow-handler ratio. This study indicates that farms can increase PWW and kgPWSY and improve the SFC by changing one or more management, biosafety and feeding practices or facilities as well as by focusing on improving several performance parameters, particularly increasing the duration of lactation and the number of live born pigs per litter.

Small for gestational age very preterm infants present a higher risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies assessed the influence of a low birth weight on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but not all could find a significant association. Our aim was to assess the association between low birth weight and BPD in preterm infants, prospectively recruited at 11 level III Portuguese neonatal centers. METHODS: Obstetrical and neonatal data on mothers and preterm infants with gestational ages between 24 and 30 weeks, born during 2015 and 2016 after a surveilled pregnancy, were analyzed. Neonates were considered small for gestational age (SGA) when their birthweight was below the 10th centile of Fenton's growth chats and BPD was defined as the dependency for oxygen therapy until 36 weeks of corrected age. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS® statistics 23 and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of 614, a total of 494 preterm infants delivered from 410 women were enrolled in the study; 40 (8.0%) infants with SGA criteria. SGA were more often associated with a single pregnancy, had greater use of antenatal corticosteroids, increased prevalence of gestational hypertensive disorders, C-section, rupture of membranes below 18 hours, rate of intubation in the delivery room, use of surfactant treatment, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation need, BPD, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, nosocomial sepsis and pneumonia; had lower prevalence of chorioamnionitis, and lower Apgar scores. The multivariate analysis by logistic regression, adjusted for BPD risk factors revealed a significant association between SGA and BPD: OR = 5.2 [CI: 1.46-18.58]; p = 0.01. CONCLUSION: The results of this study increase the scientific evidence that SGA is an independent risk factor for BPD.

Caracterização dos fatores de produção e uso de modelos matemáticos para estimar sua influência sobre o consumo diário de ração e a conversão alimentar de suínos nas fases de crescimento e terminação / Characterization of production factors and use of mathematical models to estimate their influence on daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of grow-finishing pigs

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar e quantificar os fatores de produção presentes em granjas de crescimento e terminação (CT) de suínos, em um sistema cooperativo do estado do Paraná, Brasil, e determinar a influência desses fatores no consumo diário de ração (CDR) e na conversão alimentar (CA). Foram avaliados, entre os anos de 2010 e 2013, os históricos produtivos de 538 lotes de engorda, alojados em 175 granjas comerciais, totalizando aproximadamente 404.000 animais. Foram considerados 40 fatores de produção, relacionados ao manejo, à sanidade, às instalações e aos equipamentos, à nutrição, à genética e ao ambiente. Em baias com menos de 20 suínos, o CDR diminuiu (P<0,05) e a CA melhorou (P<0,01). Nas baias com comedouros basculantes (lineares), o CDR reduziu (P<0,01) e a CA melhorou (P=0,001). Em baias com lâmina d'água, o CDR aumentou (P<0,01) e a CA piorou (P<0,01). Lotes formados apenas por fêmeas apresentaram menor CDR (P<0,001) e melhor CA (P<0,001), quando comparados aos lotes mistos. As variáveis selecionadas para os modelos finais explicaram cerca de 25% e 46% da variância total para CDR e para a CA, respectivamente. Os modelos constituem um instrumento de auxílio efetivo para tomadas de decisões técnicas dentro do setor suinícola.(AU)

The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the production factors present in growing and finishing (GF) pig farms partners of a cooperative in Paraná State, Brazil, and to determine the influence of these factors on daily feed intake (DFI) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR). From 2010 to 2013, the historical production of 538 batches of fattening pigs in 175 commercial farms were analyzed, in an amount approximately 404,000 animals. A total of 40 production factors regarding the management, sanity, plant and equipment, nutrition, genetics and environment were taken into consideration. Pens with less than 20 pigs resulted in a reduction in DFI (P<0.05) and an improved FCR (P<0.01). In pens that used linear dump feeders, the DFI was less (P<0.01) and the FCR was better (P=0.001). Pens with shallow pools had higher DFI (P<0.01) and worse FCR (P<0.01). Batches of females had lower DFI (P<0.001) and better FCR (P<0.001) compared to mixed-sex batches. The factors used for the final models explained the 25% and 46% of the total variance for the DFI and FCR, respectively. The models consist in effective aid instruments for technical decision making in the swine industry.(AU)

Factors affecting the daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of pigs in grow-finishing units: the case of a company.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to use mathematical modeling to identify and quantify the main factors that affect daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in grow-finishing (GF) pig units. We evaluated the production records of 93 GF farms between 2010 and 2013, linked to a company, working in a cooperative system, located in western Paraná State, Brazil. A total of 683 batches, consisting of approximately 495,000 animals, were used. Forty production factors related to the management, health, plant and equipment, nutrition, genetics and environment were considered. The number of pigs per pen, type of feeder, origin and sex (the last two variables were combined in the models) of the animals and initial and final body weights were included in the final models to predict DFI and FCR (dependent variables). Additionally, the duration of the GF phase was included for the parameter FCR. All factors included in the final models had significant effects for both dependent variables. RESULTS: There was a reduction in DFI (0.04 kg) (P < 0.001) and an improvement in FCR (6.0 points) (P < 0.001) in batches from pens with less than 20 animals compared with batches from pens with more than 20 animals. In barns with "other" feeder types (mostly the linear dump type) different of conical semiautomatic feeder, a reduction of DFI (0.03 kg) (P < 0.05) and improved FCR (3.0 points) (P < 0.05) were observed. Batches of barrows from units specialized for producing piglets (SPU) had higher DFI (approximately 0.02 kg) (P < 0.01) than batches of females and batches of mixed animals from SPU, and batches of mixed animals from farms not specialized for piglet production (farrow-to-finish farms). Batches of females from SPU and mixed batches from SPU had better FCR (5.0 and 3.0 points respectively) (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) than batches of piglets originating from farrow-to-finish farms. The variables selected for the final models explained approximately 50 and 64 % of the total variance in DFI and FCR, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The models are tools for the interpretation of the factors related to the evaluated parameters, aiding in the identification of critical aspects of production. The main parameters affecting DFI and FCR in this company during the GF period were the number of pigs per pen, the type of feeder used and the combination origin-sex of the animals.

Hydrops fetalis associated with erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency.

UNLABELLED: The authors report a case of hydrops fetalis due to severe pyruvate kinase deficiency, the most unusual clinical manifestation of this disease. CONCLUSION: Pyruvate kinase deficiency, as other erythrocyte enzymopathies, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of non-immune hydrops fetalis. This has important implications for clinical investigations, therapy and genetic counselling.