Parturition effects on reproductive health in the gilt and sow

In this review, we address significant characteristics of parturition in the pig and their connection to post-partum reproductive health and fertility. We discuss the normal physiology and behaviour around parturition and the effect of the second phase (expulsion of foetuses) on the third phase of parturition (expulsion of foetal membranes). In addition, we intend to cover retained placenta, and the connection to post-partum uterine health and fertility in the contemporary prolific sow. We also explore factors that support successful parturition or can cause potential problems. Successful parturition in the pig includes the possibility to express adequate maternal behaviour, rapid expulsion of the piglets, complete expulsion of the placenta, neonatal activity and colostrum intake. Abnormal incidents during any phase of parturition can cause subsequent problems. Duration of the expulsion phase of foetuses can be used as a simple measure of whether parturition is considered successful. Prolonged parturition can impair health of the sow and piglet and fertility after weaning. New insights, such as adding more fibre to sow diets during pregnancy, and especially during the period prior to farrowing, may prevent constipation, increase water intake of the sow around parturition and increase milk intake and performance of piglets. Maternal characteristics, including maternal behaviour, ease of parturition, colostrum production and piglet quality parameters, may be utilized to improve success rate of reproductive management during farrowing and early lactation. Additionally, we share some of the recent developments in methods, including ultrasonography in evaluation of post-partum uterine health. In conclusion, successful farrowing is of the greatest importance for reproductive health of the sow and survival of the piglets. We suggest connections exist among prolonged farrowing and yield of colostrum, retained placenta, development of PDS, and impaired involution of the uterus and reduced subsequent fertility.Peer reviewe

Variabilité de la production de colostrum par la truie. Implication des changements endocriniens et métaboliques en période péripartum. (Implication des changements endocriniens et métaboliques en période péripartum )

La consommation de colostrum conditionne la survie des porcelets car le colostrum leur apporte de l énergie et des immunoglobulines (Ig). La consommation de colostrum dépend en partie de la capacité de production de colostrum de la truie, très variable d une truie à l autre. Les objectifs de ce travail sont de déterminer dans quelle mesure les changements endocriniens et métaboliques en période péripartum sont impliqués dans la variabilité de la quantité de colostrum produit par la truie d une part, et dans la variabilité des concentrations en Ig de type G (IgG) dans le colostrum d autre part. Pour répondre à ces objectifs, nous avons mis en place une stratégie expérimentale en 3 étapes : 1) rechercher des relations entre les changements hormonaux et métaboliques des truies dans la phase péripartum et leur capacité de production de colostrum, 2) tester deux hypothèses issues de la première étape qui sont qu une progestéronémie élevée ou qu un déséquilibre hormonal en fin de gestation influencerait la quantité de colostrum produit, 3) étudier les facteurs de variation des concentrations en IgG du colostrum, par une analyse multifactorielle incluant l ensemble des données collectées au cours de ce travail. Cette étude montre qu une mauvaise production de colostrum en terme de quantité est liée à une faible synthèse de lactose par les cellules épithéliales mammaires et à un défaut d étanchéité de l épithélium mammaire, en conséquence d un retard dans la chute des concentrations plasmatiques de progestérone et de l augmentation des concentrations de prolactine. Ce travail suggère également l implication de l IGF-I dans les mécanismes de régulation de la quantité de colostrum produit chez la truie. Les concentrations en IgG dans le colostrum dépendent en partie des concentrations d IgG dans le plasma de la truie en fin de gestation. Elles seraient négativement influencées par les concentrations plasmatiques de prolactine avant la mise bas, en accord avec les connaissances disponibles chez les ruminantsRENNES-Agrocampus-CRD (352382323) / SudocSudocFranceF

Relations between sow hormonal concentrations around parturition and immunoglobulin G concentrations in colostrum

Session 2 : Endocrine regulation of the mammary gland at different functional stagesInternational audienceLike most farm animals, the piglet is born devoid of systemic humoral immunity and therefore relies on maternal immunoglobulins G (IgG) provided by colostrum. Concentrations of IgG in colostrum are highly variable among sows and factors influencing them are not fully known in pigs. Although passive diffusion between mammary epithelial cells cannot be excluded, the uptake of IgG by mammary glands in pigs could be mediated by a Fc-specific receptor, the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), as is the case in ruminants. In cattle, the expression of FcRn could be stimulated by the decrease in progesterone/oestradiol ratio in late pregnancy and then be inhibited by the peripartum peak of prolactin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relations between hormonal concentrations around parturition and colostral IgG concentrations in primiparous sows. Colostrum samples were collected in 40 Landrace × Large White primiparous sows at the onset of parturition (t0) and 24 h later (t24) and were assayed for IgG concentrations. Colostrum yield was estimated during 24 h starting at the onset of farrowing using piglets’ weight gains. Jugular blood samples were taken on d-8, d-2, d-1 and the day of farrowing (d0) and were assayed for prolactin, progesterone, oestradiol-17β, cortisol, IGF-I, and IgG. Amounts of IgG exported into colostrum in 24 h were estimated (colostrum yield x ([IgG] at t0 + [IgG] at t24)/2). Analyses of correlations and multiple regression were performed. Multiple regression was focussed on a subset of 20 sows because one of the most contributing variables (IgG concentrations in sow plasma) had been measured in 20 sows only. Concentrations of IgG in colostrum (means ± SD) averaged 70.5 ± 23.5 and 13.0 ± 7.4 mg/mL at t0 and t24, respectively. Concentrations of IgG in colostrum at t0 were positively correlated with plasma concentrations of IgG at all times (with IgG on d-1: r = 0.61, P = 0.004) and IGF-I on d0 (r = 0.33, P = 0.041) and were negatively correlated with prolactin on d-2 (r = -0.36, P = 0.031). In the multiple regression analysis, variation in colostral IgG concentrations at t0 were explained by plasma concentrations of IgG on d-1 (36%, P = 0.005), prolactin on d-2 (24%, P = 0.019), and progesterone on d-8 (6%, P = 0.118). Amounts of IgG exported in 24 h averaged 157 ± 55 g and this value was partly explained by plasma concentrations of IgG on d-1 (37%, P = 0.004) and progesterone on d-8 (13%, P = 0.044). In conclusion, IgG concentrations in colostrum at the onset of farrowing are related to IgG concentrations in sow plasma in late pregnancy, as previously reported, and IgG transfer into colostrum could be partly regulated by circulating progesterone in sows

Mécanismes de régulation endocrinienne de la production de colostrum chez la truie

National audienc

Mécanismes de régulation endocrinienne de la production de colostrum chez la truie

National audienc

Altrenogest treatment during late pregnancy did not reduce colostrum yield in primiparous sows

International audienceThe decrease in circulating concentrations of progesterone is the lactogenic trigger in many species. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an orally active progestogen, altrenogest, administered in late gestation, on lactogenesis in sows. Gilts were treated with altrenogest (20 mg/d) from d 109 to 112 of gestation (ALT112, n = 6) or d 113 (ALT113, n = 8) or were not treated (control, n = 9). Colostrum production, estimated from the BW gains of the piglets, was measured during 24 h starting at the onset of parturition. Colostrum samples were collected at the onset of parturition until 48 h later. Jugular blood samples were taken from d 8 prepartum until d 3 postpartum. Altrenogest treatment extended the gestation length of ALT113 sows in comparison with control sows (116.3 vs. 114.7 d; P 0.1). Estimated colostrum yield was not reduced in altrenogest-treated sows compared with control sows (4.20 kg) and tended to be greater in ALT112 (4.73 kg) than in ALT113 sows (3.74 kg; P = 0.09). Altrenogest reduced endogenous progesterone concentrations during the 2 d prepartum in ALT113 relative to control sows (P < 0.05), likely because luteolysis occurred earlier in relation to parturition in ALT113 sows. Altrenogest reduced estradiol-17 beta concentrations during the 2 d prepartum in ALT113 (P < 0.05) and ALT112 (P < 0.1) sows. Altrenogest treatment did not influence the timing of the prepartum peak of prolactin in relation to parturition. The ALT113 sows had lesser (P < 0.05) concentrations of lactose in plasma and a lesser Na:K ratio in colostrum after parturition than Control and ALT112 sows, indicating that the junctions between their mammary epithelial cells were tighter. Concentrations of colostral IgG in sows that received altrenogest tended to be less than in control sows (P = 0.08). In conclusion, altrenogest administered from d 109 to 112 or 113 of pregnancy did not affect lactogenesis in sows, possibly because the treatment delayed farrowing and main hormonal changes without affecting the relative chronology of these changes