Importance of Selected Nutrients and Additives in the Feed of Pregnant Sows for the Survival of Newborn Piglets.

This systematic review analyzed the effect of selected nutrients and additives in the feed of pregnant sows on the survival of newborn piglets. We analyzed 720 peer-reviewed publications in English in PubMed® and Web of Science®, dated July 2023 to January 2024, related to the effect of dietary supplementation with fatty acids and various percentages of protein, amino acids, and/or sources of dietary fiber on the offspring of gestating sows. While several papers evaluated the effect of nutrition on gestating sows, only a few delved into the distinct feeding strategies required at each stage of gestation to meet the NRC's nutritional requirements for maternal tissue gain and postnatal neonatal survival and growth. This body of research suggests that as gestation progresses the sow's nutritional requirements increase, as the NRC established, to satisfy their own metabolic needs and those of their fetuses. Additional research is needed to determine an optimal feeding strategy.

Effect of thiamine pyrophosphate on the characteristics of farrowing and piglet vitality.

Asphyxia is considered the main non-infectious cause of prepartum mortality in swine, as well as an important factor that negatively affects neonatal vitality and can trigger physiological and metabolic disorders. Hence, the search for pharmacological protocols to reduce the harmful effects of asphyxia is a key area of research. Recent observations show that administering thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) prior to a hypoxic event in certain species (rabbits, rats) has a neuroprotector effect that preserves energy metabolism under hypoxic conditions. Given this, the objective of this study was to evaluate a prophylactic protocol in high- and low-vitality neonate piglets based on TPP's effect on physiological and metabolic responses, body temperature, and weight. A total of 149 piglets born from 15 multiparous sows were used. The dams were randomly divided into two groups: control (NaCl 0.9%) and TPP (25 ml of TTP) administered 24 and 12 h before the expected farrowing date. The following reproductive variables of the sows were recorded: duration of farrowing, total number of piglets born per litter, number of liveborn piglets per litter, number of stillbirths and mummified fetuses at birth, and number of live piglets at weaning. In addition, the expulsion interval and vitality of all neonates were evaluated, body temperatures were recorded at ten intervals, and physiological profiles (blood gases, electrolytes, glucose) were registered for each neonate. Results show that the TPP-treated sows had shorter farrowing duration (P = 0.0060) and higher percentage of high-vitality neonates (60%). Moreover, their offspring exhibited greater vitality, fewer imbalances in their physiological and metabolic profiles, and greater weight gain at weaning (P < 0.0001). Findings suggest that administering TPP exerts a protective effect when hypoxic events occur, though this differs from results obtained with rat pups, where applying TPP after such events did not provide protection from asphyxia-induced damage. These differences may be due to the moment at which TPP was applied. The application time we selected was distinct from the procedure followed with rats because it was based on a dataset that describes the influence of administering TPP as a prophylactic treatment before a hypoxic event. Prophylactic administration of TPP to sows at the end of gestation exerted a neuroprotective effect on neonatal vitality and gas exchanges and energy metabolism in the offspring that were reflected in the greater weekly weight gain in those piglets.

Energy Supplementation during the Last Third of Gestation Improves Mother-Young Bonding in Goats.

We tested whether maternal energy supplementation during the last third of gestation improves birth weight, neonatal wellbeing, and mother-young bonding. Thirty-six pregnant French Alpine goats were randomly allocated among three nutritional treatments for the last third of pregnancy: (i) Control, fed alfalfa (T-0; n = 12); (ii) alfalfa + 150 g/head daily energy concentrate (T-150; n = 12); (iii) alfalfa + 300 g/head daily energy concentrate (T-300; n = 12). At birth, we collected progeny data on birth weight, birth type, sex, rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, time to standing, time to udder connection, and time to first feeding. For the dams, we collected data on the duration of labor, time to clean the progeny, and time to allow first suckling. At birth, body weight, rectal temperature, heart rate, and the respiratory rate did not differ among treatments (p > 0.05). In the dams, labor duration was not affected by the treatments (p > 0.05). The T-150 dams were faster to clean the newborn and allow first suckling (p < 0.05). The T-150 progeny were faster to stand and the T-300 progeny were faster to connect to the udder (p < 0.05). We conclude that energy supplementation of the dam during the last third of gestation does not affect the birth weight of the progeny, but enhances the mother-young bonding.

Caffeine administered to pregnant sows improves piglet vitality, gas exchange and body weight gain.

Intra-partum asphyxia is the most common non-infectious etiology limiting the performance of neonate piglets. Previous studies indicate caffeine (orally and subcutaneously) reverses the effects of intra-partum asphyxia in neonate piglets. In this study, there was investigation of whether use of a novel therapeutic protocol for administering caffeine subcutaneously to pregnant sows would improve the newborn piglets' vitality, physio-metabolic profiles and body weight gain. Sows were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10 each). Caffeine or NaCl 0.9% was administered 2 days pre-farrowing. Physio-metabolic profiles were measured using blood from the anterior vena cava. The vitality of piglets was evaluated immediately after birth. Piglets (n = 180) were weighed at birth and on days 7, 14 and 21 of lactation. Caffeine positively affected the vitality of the piglets, as indicated by greater vitality scores than that for the control group (8.72 ±â€¯0.12 compared with 7.28 ±â€¯0.16, P < 0.001). Metabolic values were similar between groups, but pO2 values were greater in the piglets with greater vitality scores treated with caffeine (19.10 ±â€¯0.82 compared with 14.49 ±â€¯1.42, P < 0.01), indicating increased respiratory rates. Body weight gain at day 21 was greater in the piglets treated with caffeine that had greater vitality scores than the control piglets having greater vitality scores (6.87 ±â€¯0.18 compared with 6.52 ±â€¯0.25 kg, P < 0.05). Caffeine administration before birth improves the vitality and respiratory capacity of piglets, increasing their adaptation to extra-uterine environment.

Adaptation of ostriches to transport-induced stress: physiometabolic response.

This study assessed the effects of five different transport periods on physiometabolic responses and gas exchange in ostriches. It included 138 ostriches that were assigned to five experimental groups. G1 included 78 birds that were set aside as a reference group (RG). Each one of the four remaining experimental groups included 20 ostriches, which were transported in the following manner: G1 on one occasion for a period of 1 h; G2 on one occasion for 2 h; and G3 on one occasion for 3 h; G4a was made up of the ostriches from G1 but they were shipped on a second occasion, for 2 h (making a total of 3 h); finally, G4b was that same group, but after a third transport period, on this occasion during 3 h (for a total of 6 h). Groups G2 and G3 presented the most marked blood alterations (P < 0.05), including an increase in pH, hypocapnia (27.8 ± 0.80 mmHg), hypernatremia (171.75 ± 1.84 mmol/L), hypocalcemia (0.95 ± 0.03 mmol/L), and hyperglycemia (224.05 ± 3.94 mg/dL). Also, group G3 presented the lowest hematocrit values (26.5 ± 0.47 HTC%). Therefore, transporting ostriches with no prior experience for 3 h caused the most pronounced physiometabolic changes.

Effects of administration of caffeine on metabolic variables in neonatal pigs with peripartum asphyxia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of 2 doses of caffeine on metabolic variables in neonatal pigs with peripartum asphyxia. ANIMALS: 180 neonatal pigs. PROCEDURES: Neonatal pigs were assigned to 2 groups (groups P and F) on the basis of results for a vitality scale (passed or failed, respectively). Within each group, there were 3 subgroups of 30 pigs each. Within each group, the 3 subgroups received a placebo that consisted of an empty gelatin capsule, a gelatin capsule that contained 20 mg of caffeine, and a gelatin capsule that contained 35 mg of caffeine, respectively; all capsules were administered orally (0 hours). Blood samples were collected immediately before and 24 hours after capsule administration. RESULTS: Pigs in groups P and F that received 20 or 35 mg of caffeine had significant increases in triglyceride concentrations. All pigs in groups P and F had a significant decrease in lactate concentrations, although the placebo-treated pigs in group F had larger decreases than did the group F pigs treated with 20 or 35 mg of caffeine. Glucose concentrations increased significantly in group F pigs treated with 20 or 35 mg of caffeine (30% and 50%, respectively), whereas glucose concentrations remained unchanged in group P pigs. In pigs treated with 35 mg of caffeine, the final weight obtained for group F was approximately 8% lower than that obtained for group P. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administering caffeine immediately after birth to neonatal pigs with severe oxygen restriction resulted in significant improvements in metabolic variables.