Colostrum and Milk in Sow

Both colostrum and milk quality and quantity can influence piglet survival and growth, especially in a highly prolific sow. The Danish Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred was selected for high prolificacy and challenged to provide enough colostrum and milk of high quality to all piglets. This chapter reviewed the mechanism of colostrum and milk production, basic information of colostrum, and milk quality (immunoglobulin, fat, protein, lactose, etc.) and quantity. The importance of colostrum and milk in modern sows on piglet performance and survival was addressed. Since the sow immunoglobulin cannot pass epitheliochorial placenta in the sow to the piglet’s bloodstream. Therefore, colostrum is a crucial role in piglet survival and growth. However, the amount of colostrum and milk production in hyperprolific sow still improve from high litter size. The knowledge about the factors influencing colostrum and milk quality and quantity, such as parity number, piglet, the environment in hyperprolific sows, may support veterinarians and farmers in the commercial swine farms for increasing pig production. Moreover, the technique to improve colostrum and milk quality and quantity were explained, such as feed supplementation in gestating and lactating sows

Određivanje optimalne koncentracije Minitube Equex paste za krioprezervaciju sjemena nerasta prema karakteristikama pokretljivosti sperme

Equex paste is a non-permeating cryoprotective agent (CPA) that improved post-thaw survival of spermatozoa during boar semen cryopreservation. However, Equex paste produced by Nova Chemical Sales Inc. (MA, USA) is not currently available. The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal concentration of Minitube Equex paste (Minitube, Tiefenbach, Germany) for boar semen cryopreservation in comparison with Nova Equex STM paste (control). Fifteen ejaculates from 12 mature boars were collected by the glove-hand method. Each ejaculate was aliquoted and cryopreserved in base freezing extender III as Tris-citrate egg yolk (TEY) extender plus 9.0% glycerol classified into four groups. Group I was the control and included only 1.5% Nova Equex STM paste. Groups II, III and IV were the experiment groups, and contained different concentrations of Minitube Equex paste (Group II: 1.5%; Group III: 1.7%; and Group IV: 1.9%) added to the freezing extender III. After freezing and thawing, sperm motility characteristics were evaluated by Sperm Class Analyzer® incubated at 37 °C for 0 (10 min), 1 and 2 h post-thawing. In Group IV after thawing at 0 h, rapid velocity and the velocity curved line were significantly higher than in Groups II and III (P < 0.05) but did not differ from Group I. Moreover, after thawing at 1 h, LIN (linearity) in Group IV was higher than in Group II (P < 0.05), but did not differ from the other groups. In conclusion, the most suitable concentration of Minitube Equex paste in the current protocol was 1.9% supplemented with 9.0% glycerol in TEY-based freezing extender III, based on the conformity between data from manual guides and the observed sperm motility characteristics results.Equex pasta je neprožimajuće kriozaštitno sredstvo (CPA) za koje je dobro poznato da poboljšava preživljavanje spermija nakon odmrzavanja tijekom krioprezervacije sjemena nerasta. Međutim, Equex pasta koju proizvodi tvrtka Nova Chemical Sales Inc. (MA, SAD) trenutno nije dostupna na tržištu. Cilj ove studije bio je odrediti optimalnu koncentraciju Minitube Equex paste (Minitube, Tiefenbach, Njemačka) za krioprezervaciju sjemena nerasta u usporedbi s Nova Equex STM pastom (kontrola). Prikupljeno je petnaest ejakulata 12 zrelih nerasta metodom manualne fiksacije penisa. Svaki ejakulat bio je raspodijeljen i krioprezerviran u osnovnom razrjeđivaču za duboko zamrzavanje III – razrjeđivač trinatrijev citrat s dodatkom žutanjka jajeta (TEY) plus 9,0 % glicerola, razvrstano u četiri skupine (tj. skupine I, II, III i IV). Skupina I: 1,5 % Nova Equex STM pasta (kontrola) i tri različite koncentracije Minitube Equex paste (Skupina II: 1,5 %; Skupina III: 1,7 %; i Skupina IV: 1,9 %) dodano je osnovnom razrjeđivaču za duboko zamrzavanje III. Nakon zamrzavanja i odmrzavanja, karakteristike pokretljivosti spermija procijenjene su pomoću analizatora sperme Sperm Class Analyzer® inkubirano na 37 °C, 0 (10 min), 1 i 2 h nakon odmrzavanja. U Skupini IV, 0 h nakon odmrzavanja, brzina i krivulja brzine bile su značajno više nego u Skupinama II i III (P < 0,05), ali se nisu razlikovale od Skupine I. Nadalje, 1 h nakon odmrzavanja, LIN (linearnost) u Skupini IV bila je veća nego u Skupini II (P < 0,05), ali se nije razlikovala od ostalih skupina. Zaključno, najprikladnija koncentracija Minitube Equex paste u ovom protokolu bila je 1,9 % uz dodatak 9,0 % glicerola u TEY razrjeđivaču za zamrzavanje III, zbog sukladnosti između podataka iz priručnika i zamijećenih rezultata karakteristika pokretljivosti spermija

Supplementing semen extenders with a combination of phosphorus and vitamin B12 Improves post-thawed cryopreserved rooster semen quality

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 (p &lt; 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 (p &lt; 0.05). Phosphorus and vitamin B12 supplementation did not affect sperm kinematics at 0 and 30 min after thawing (p &gt; 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

Newborn traits associated with pre-weaning growth and survival in piglets

Publication history: Accepted - 10 July 2017; Published online - 17 July 2017.Objective: 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. Methods: 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). Results: 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%, p38.5°C (3.9%). Conclusion: Low BWB and low RT24h compromise piglet survival during the lactation period in the tropical conditions. Piglets in the litters with a high BA, low BWB and low blood glucose have reduced ADG.Financial support for the present study was provided by a grant for International Research Integration: Chula Research Scholar, Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund. M. Nuntapaitoon is a grantee of the Research and Researchers for Industries (RRI) Ph.D. program and the Thailand Research Fund, and part of the research grant was supported by the Rachadapisek Sompote Endowment Fund for the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University. Ramon Muns was supported by the Rachadapisek Sompote Endowment Fund for Postdoctoral Fellowship by Chulalongkorn University

Induction of parturition by double administration of prostaglandin F2α in sows reduces the variation of gestation length without affecting the colostrum yield and piglet performance

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

Dynamics of fatty acid and non-volatile polar metabolite profiles in colostrum and milk depending on the lactation stage and parity number of sows

Abstract 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

Administration of carbetocin after the first piglet was born reduced farrowing duration but compromised colostrum intake in newborn piglets

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 0.05). The piglet movement capacity in CONTROL was lower than CARBE group (1.36 vs 1.48, 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. © 2019 Elsevier Inc