Chronic Allopurinol Treatment during the Last Trimester of Pregnancy in Sows: Effects on Low and Normal Birth Weight Offspring

Low-birth-weight (LBW) children are born with several risk factors for disease, morbidity and neonatal mortality, even if carried to term. Placental insufficiency leading to hypoxemia and reduced nutritional supply is the main cause for LBW. Brain damage and poor neurological outcome can be the consequence. LBW after being carried to term gives better chances for survival, but these children are still at risk for poor health and the development of cognitive impairments. Preventive therapies are not yet available. We studied the risk/efficacy of chronic prenatal treatment with the anti-oxidative drug allopurinol, as putative preventive treatment in piglets. LBW piglets served as a natural model for LBW. A cognitive holeboard test was applied to study the learning and memory abilities of these allopurinol treated piglets after weaning. Preliminary analysis of the plasma concentrations in sows and their piglets suggested that a daily dose of 15 mg.kg-1 resulted in effective plasma concentration of allopurinol in piglets. No adverse effects of chronic allopurinol treatment were found on farrowing, birth weight, open field behavior, learning abilities, relative brain, hippocampus and spleen weights. LBW piglets showed increased anxiety levels in an open field test, but cognitive performance was not affected by allopurinol treatment. LBW animals treated with allopurinol showed the largest postnatal compensatory body weight gain. In contrast to a previous study, no differences in learning abilities were found between LBW and normal-birth-weight piglets. This discrepancy might be attributable to experimental differences. Our results indicate that chronic prenatal allopurinol treatment during the third trimester of pregnancy is safe, as no adverse side effects were observed. Compensatory weight gain of treated piglets is a positive indication for the chronic prenatal use of allopurinol in these animals. Further studies are needed to assess the possible preventive effects of allopurinol on brain functions in LBW piglets

Consequences of intermittent suckling for performance in the pig

In Europe, piglets are usually weaned before 4 weeks of age, thus changing abruptly from highly digestible milk to a less digestible starter diet, resulting in reduced feed intake and growth after weaning and sometimes post weaning diarrhea. Intake of a sufficient amount of creep feed during lactation can reduce these post weaning problems, but creep feed consumption is usually low and highly variable. This thesis describes the effect of intermittent suckling (IS; a management technique in which piglets are separated from the sow for 12 h/ day from d 14 to weaning (d 25), on performance of pigs before and after weaning. IS increased average creep feed intake during lactation. Distribution of creep feed intake shifted from a skewed one, with a majority of litters consuming less than 250 g.piglet-1 in control litters, to a normal distribution with an average creep feed intake of 500 to 750 g.piglet-1 in IS litters. The higher creep feed intake caused by IS resulted in better performance after weaning: IS litters had higher feed intake and higher weight gain in the first two weeks after weaning. Thereafter no differences were found until slaughter. IS litters with little or no creep feed intake during lactation tended to have higher weight gains and feed intake after weaning than control litters with comparable creep feed intake during lactation. IS did not increase the percentage of eaters within a litter during lactation and weaning weights did not differ between eaters and non-eaters. From one until four weeks after weaning piglets that were eaters during lactation had higher weights than non-eaters. IS did not affect feeder visiting behaviour of piglets from litters with an anyhow high level of feed intake during lactation, but IS piglets from litters with a low level of feed intake were stimulated to visit the feeder during lactation, which probably made them already familiar with the feeder and the feed. Part of the variation in feed intake between litters might be explained by differences in suckling behaviour and activity. To investigate if IS and/or creep feed intake affects the absorptive capacity of the small intestines, an in vivo small intestine segment perfusion test was performed in 24 newly weaned piglets (6 eaters and 6 non- eaters from each treatment). Net absorption in non-infected segments of the small intestine was significantly higher in eaters than in non-eaters. No difference was found between IS and control piglets. IS also affected the sows: weight loss during lactation was decreased and ovulations were advanced. The results of these studies demonstrate that IS improves both creep feed intake during lactation and feed intake and weight gain after weaning. Piglets consuming creep feed during lactation had higher weights and net absorption in the small intestine after weaning, independent of the suckling regimen. IS was especially efficient in piglets from low feed intake litters; these piglets were stimulated to investigate the feeder during lactation, which facilitated consumption of feed after weaning

Consequences of intermittent suckling for performance in the pig

In Europe, piglets are usually weaned before 4 weeks of age, thus changing abruptly from highly digestible milk to a less digestible starter diet, resulting in reduced feed intake and growth after weaning and sometimes post weaning diarrhea. Intake of a sufficient amount of creep feed during lactation can reduce these post weaning problems, but creep feed consumption is usually low and highly variable. This thesis describes the effect of intermittent suckling (IS; a management technique in which piglets are separated from the sow for 12 h/ day from d 14 to weaning (d 25), on performance of pigs before and after weaning. IS increased average creep feed intake during lactation. Distribution of creep feed intake shifted from a skewed one, with a majority of litters consuming less than 250 g.piglet-1 in control litters, to a normal distribution with an average creep feed intake of 500 to 750 g.piglet-1 in IS litters. The higher creep feed intake caused by IS resulted in better performance after weaning: IS litters had higher feed intake and higher weight gain in the first two weeks after weaning. Thereafter no differences were found until slaughter. IS litters with little or no creep feed intake during lactation tended to have higher weight gains and feed intake after weaning than control litters with comparable creep feed intake during lactation. IS did not increase the percentage of eaters within a litter during lactation and weaning weights did not differ between eaters and non-eaters. From one until four weeks after weaning piglets that were eaters during lactation had higher weights than non-eaters. IS did not affect feeder visiting behaviour of piglets from litters with an anyhow high level of feed intake during lactation, but IS piglets from litters with a low level of feed intake were stimulated to visit the feeder during lactation, which probably made them already familiar with the feeder and the feed. Part of the variation in feed intake between litters might be explained by differences in suckling behaviour and activity. To investigate if IS and/or creep feed intake affects the absorptive capacity of the small intestines, an in vivo small intestine segment perfusion test was performed in 24 newly weaned piglets (6 eaters and 6 non- eaters from each treatment). Net absorption in non-infected segments of the small intestine was significantly higher in eaters than in non-eaters. No difference was found between IS and control piglets. IS also affected the sows: weight loss during lactation was decreased and ovulations were advanced. The results of these studies demonstrate that IS improves both creep feed intake during lactation and feed intake and weight gain after weaning. Piglets consuming creep feed during lactation had higher weights and net absorption in the small intestine after weaning, independent of the suckling regimen. IS was especially efficient in piglets from low feed intake litters; these piglets were stimulated to investigate the feeder during lactation, which facilitated consumption of feed after weaning

Addition of chromic oxide to creep feed as a fecal marker for selection of creep feed-eating suckling pigs

Objective-To determine whether the addition of chromic oxide (Cr2O3) to creep feed could be used as a visual marker in feces for selection of creep feed-eating suckling pigs. Animals-20 suckling pigs. Procedures-Via syringe, 5 pigs (2 to 3 days old on day 0; 1 pig/treatment) from each of 4 litters received oral administrations of 10, 20, 30, or 40 g of creep feed containing 10 g of Cr2O3 center dot kg(-1) on each of 2 consecutive days (days 20 and 21) or 30 g of creep feed containing 10 g of Cr2O3 center dot kg(-1) on day 20 and 30 g of Cr2O3 free creep feed on day 21. On days 21 through 24, 6 fecal samples were collected from each pig at regular intervals between 8:00 Am and 6:00 Pm. Green-colored feces were considered indicative of creep feed consumption (eaters). Data analyses were based on single and multiple fecal samples. Results-On day 22, evaluation of 1 fecal sample/pig and multiple fecal samples per pig resulted in identification of as many as 40% and only 15% of the feed-treated pigs wrongly as noneaters, respectively. Repeated sampling over multiple days would identify 99% of eaters accurately. Pigs erroneously identified as noneaters were those administered either low amounts of Cr2O3 supplemented creep feed for 2 days or Cr2O3 supplemented creep feed on only 1 day. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Data suggest that addition of Cr2O3 to creep feed enables selection of individual creep feed-eating suckling pigs via examination of feces, provided that repeated fecal samples are evaluated

Intermittent suckling affects feeder visiting behaviour in litters with low feed intake

Intermittent suckling (IS) has proven to stimulate creep feed intake in suckling piglets. This paper describes the development of feeding behaviour in three litters with high (H) and three litters with low (L) feed intake during lactation in both control (C) and IS treatment. In order to synchronize the start of intermittent suckling within a farrowing room, treatment day 0 (T0) was designated as the start of data collection. IS litters were separated from the sow for a period of 12 h/day (0930 to 2130) from T14 to weaning (T25). Feeder visits of individual piglets and nursing behaviour were analysed from continuous video recordings at 5 treatment days: T13, T16, T24, T25 and T26. A high number of CL piglets never visited the feeder during lactation; at T24, 56% of the CL piglets did not visit the feeder. On the other hand, 91% of the ISL and CH piglets and all ISH piglets visited the feeder at least once at T24. In contrast to the other groups, no increase was seen in visiting frequency during lactation in CL piglets. At T24, visiting frequency was higher in ISL than in CL piglets. So, IS stimulated piglets from low feed intake litters to visit the feeder. Between T16 and T24, total feeder time increased in piglets from all groups (P 0.10). Latency to first visit to the feeder after weaning did not differ between groups. It is concluded that IS stimulates piglets from litters with a low level of creep feed intake to visit the feeder during lactation, which familiarizes them with the feeder and the feed during lactation. The IS treatment does not affect feeder visiting behaviour of piglets with an anyhow high level of feed intake during lactatio

Intermittent suckling affects feeder visiting behaviour in litters with low feed intake

Intermittent suckling (IS) has proven to stimulate creep feed intake in suckling piglets. This paper describes the development of feeding behaviour in three litters with high (H) and three litters with low (L) feed intake during lactation in both control (C) and IS treatment. In order to synchronize the start of intermittent suckling within a farrowing room, treatment day 0 (T0) was designated as the start of data collection. IS litters were separated from the sow for a period of 12 h/day (0930 to 2130) from T14 to weaning (T25). Feeder visits of individual piglets and nursing behaviour were analysed from continuous video recordings at 5 treatment days: T13, T16, T24, T25 and T26. A high number of CL piglets never visited the feeder during lactation; at T24, 56% of the CL piglets did not visit the feeder. On the other hand, 91% of the ISL and CH piglets and all ISH piglets visited the feeder at least once at T24. In contrast to the other groups, no increase was seen in visiting frequency during lactation in CL piglets. At T24, visiting frequency was higher in ISL than in CL piglets. So, IS stimulated piglets from low feed intake litters to visit the feeder. Between T16 and T24, total feeder time increased in piglets from all groups (P 0.10). Latency to first visit to the feeder after weaning did not differ between groups. It is concluded that IS stimulates piglets from litters with a low level of creep feed intake to visit the feeder during lactation, which familiarizes them with the feeder and the feed during lactation. The IS treatment does not affect feeder visiting behaviour of piglets with an anyhow high level of feed intake during lactatio

Effects of intermittent suckling and creep feed intake on pig performance from birth to slaughter

An experiment was conducted to determine if the improved creep feed intake observed during intermittent suckling (IS) is important for postweaning performance. Therefore, creep feed intake of litters was assessed, and within litters, eaters and noneaters were distinguished using chromic oxide as an indigestible marker. Batches of sows were suckled intermittently (IS, 7 batches; n = 31) or continuously (control, 7 batches; n = 31). In the IS group, litters were separated from the sow for a period of 12 h/d (0930 to 2130), beginning 11 d before weaning. Litters were weaned at 4 wk of age. Litters had free access to creep feed from 1 wk of age onward. Five days after weaning, the piglets were moved as a litter to weanling pens. At 8 wk of age, 2 barrows and 2 gilts were randomly chosen from each litter and moved to a finishing facility. Feed intake was improved by IS during the last 11 d of lactation (IS, 284 ± 27 vs. control, 83 ± 28 g/piglet; P <0.001) and after weaning during the first (IS, 201 ± 24 vs. control, 157 ± 25 g·piglet¿1·d¿1; P <0.05) and second (IS, 667 ± 33 vs. control, 570 ± 35 g·piglet¿1·d¿1; P <0.05) wk. Thereafter, no differences were found to slaughter. Weaning BW was lower in IS litters (IS, 7.1 ± 0.01 vs. control, 8.1 ± 0.01 kg/piglet; P <0.05), but 7 d after weaning BW was similar (IS, 8.5 ± 0.2 vs. control, 8.7 ± 0.2 kg/piglet; P = 0.18), and no differences were found to slaughter. The percentage of eaters within a litter was not increased by IS during lactation (IS, 23 ± 4.5% vs. control, 19 ± 4.1%; P = 0.15). Weaning BW did not differ between eaters and noneaters (eater, 7.7 ± 0.1 vs. noneater, 7.5 ± 0.08 kg/piglet; P = 0.63). From 1 until 4 wk after weaning, piglets that were eaters during lactation had heavier BW than noneaters (eater, 20.3 ± 0.3 kg vs. noneater, 18.2 ± 0.2 kg; P <0.05). The influence of eating creep feed during lactation on BW and ADG and the influence of suckling treatment never showed an interaction. We conclude that IS increases ADFI during lactation on a litter level and improves ADG in the first week and ADFI in the first and second weeks after weaning. No long-term effects on ADFI or ADG were observed throughout the finishing period. In the current experiment, in which creep feed intake was low, the percentage of eaters within a litter was not increased, suggesting that creep feed intake of piglets that were already eating was stimulated by IS. Further, piglets that were eaters during lactation had heavier BW up to 4 wk after weaning