https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/student_scholarship_posters/1016/thumbnail.jp

Emery, Audrey L

Harrelson, Patricia L

Harrison, Flint W

Moore, Courtney K

Siefert, Dillon Q

English

Morehead State University

Effect of Calcium Supplementation on Gestation Length, Number Born Live, and Number of StillbornsCourtney K. Moore*, Audrey L. Emery, Dillon Q. Siefert, Drs. Flint W. Harrelson, and Patricia L. Harrelson, MentorsDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, College of ScienceABSTRACTCalcium, when supplemented prior to farrowing, has been shown to reduce stillborn deaths by shortening farrowing duration. Our objective was to examine the effect of calcium supplementation on gestation length, pigs born alive/dead, and litter weight. We hypothesized that increased calcium levels in the female’s diet, would reduce gestation length by inducing farrowing sooner, and therefore decrease the number of stillbirths per litter. Females receiving calcium supplementation farrowed earlier compared to controls (114.9 vs. 116.0 days; P < 0.001). No treatment effect on birth weight was observed (3.13 vs. 3.05 pounds; P = 0.41). This was also seen with total litter weight, as treatment and controls were similar (33.8 vs. 30.9 pounds; P = 0.74). The number of total pigs born alive was similar between groups (treated: 10.5; control: 11.22 pigs; P = 0.57). The number of stillborns per litter was not significantly different, however a numeric difference was observed in treated females compared to controls (0.9 vs. 1.7 pigs; P = 0.58). Overall, females receiving the calcium supplement farrowed earlier, however number of piglets born alive/dead and weights were similar when compared to control females. This project was supported by Hubbard Feeds and MSU Undergraduate Research Fellowship program.INTRODUCTIONDISCUSSIONGestation length is defined as the number of days between the farrowing date and the date of first insemination (Sasaki and Koketsu, 2007; Rydhmer et al., 2008). In swine, the typical gestation length is 114 days, however it is not uncommon for sows to deliver piglets earlier, or later than their expected due date. Type two stillbirths (piglets that die intrapartum) occur in over 30% of swine litters, with almost 8% of all piglets being born type two stillborn (Gonzales-Lozano et al., 2009). It has been shown that a longer gestation length (one of 113 days or more) can lead to an increase in the incidence of stillborn piglets (Sasaki and Koketsu, 2007; Rydhmer et al., 2008). Calcium supplementation has been shown to aid in the contractibility of smooth muscle in the uterine system, due to higher cytosolic calcium levels (Parkington et al. 1999). Elrod et al., (2015) showed a significant reduction in the number of stillbirths in sows given calcium supplementation. In this study, we hypothesized that increased calcium levels in the female’s diet, would reduce gestation length by inducing farrowing sooner, and therefore decrease the number of stillbirths per litter. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of calcium supplementation on gestation length, pigs born alive/dead, and litter weight. MATERIALS AND METHODSTreatments1Item CON CAL SEM2 P-valueGestation Length, days 116.0 114.9 0.18 < 0.001Average Birth Weight, lbs 3.05 3.3 0.77 0.41Litter Weight, lbs 30.9 33.8 7.76 0.74Number Born Alive 11.22 10.50 0.84 0.57Number of Stillborn 1.7 0.9 1.24 0.581Treatments: CON = control (no calcium supplement); CAL = calcium supplement2SEM = highest standard error of the meanACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis project was supported by Hubbard Feeds and MSU Undergraduate Research Fellowship program.RESULTS• Conducted from 12-16-17 through 3-2-18 • Trial conducted at the Derrickson Agricultural Complex • This project was approved by the MSU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, 17-10-01R1• Females were stratified by parity and randomly assigned to treatment. Controls (CON) received no additional supplement, whereas treatments (CAL) received a calcium supplement for three days prior to expected due date  • 27 crossbred sows and gilts ranging in parity from 0 to 9 (average parity; CON: 1.5; CAL: 2.4) • Calcium supplementation continued until farrowing, even if it preceded or exceeded the expected three day treatment period   • Supplementation was completed at the 3:00pm feeding by top-dressing their normally received feed ration • Free-flowing urine samples were collected around the 3:00pm feeding. A urine pH value was obtained using a handheld pH meter (data not reported)• Sows were monitored from the time that labor started, until the delivery of the placenta• Time of delivery was recorded for each piglet, along with birth weight and sex • Statistical analysis was completed using the mixed procedures of SAS Based on our results, there was no effect on birth weight, total litter weight, or number of piglets born alive, as results were similar across both groups. Number of stillbirths per litter was not significantly different, but there was numerically fewer stillbirths in the treatment group compared to the control group. Sows in the treatment group did farrow significantly earlier than sows in the control group. Producers could easily provide their sows a calcium supplement in order to reduce the length of gestation, along with the potential added benefit of fewer stillbirths per litter. LITERATURE CITEDTIMELINE OF SAMPLING* = If farrowing had not occurred, pH/supplement continuedElrod, N. D., Harp, R. M., and Bryan, K. G. 2015. Effect of                          calcium ion supplementation in swine parturition. The Texas Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 28: 12-17.Gonzalez-Lozano, M., Trujillo-Ortega, M. E., Becerril-Herrera, M., Alonso-Spilsbury, M., Rosales-Tores, A. M., and Mota-Rojas, D. 2009. Uterine activity and fetal electronicmonitoring in parturient sows treated with vetrabutinchlorhydrate. Journal of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals and Therapeutics. 33: 28-34.Parkington, H. C., Tonta, M. A., Brennecke, S. P., and Coleman,H. A. 1999. Contractile activity, membrane potential, and cytoplasmic calcium in human uterine smooth muscle in thethird trimester of pregnancy and during labor. AmericanJournal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 181: 1145-1151. Rydhmer, L., Lundeheim, N., and Canario, L. 2008. Geneticcorrelations between gestation length, piglet survival andearly growth. Livestock Science 115: 287-293. Sasaki, Y. and Koketsu, Y. 2007. Variability and repeatability ingestation length related to litter performance in female pigson commercial farms. Theriogenology. 68: 123-127. Day  109             110           111             112               113                114              115*pH readingpH readingpH reading

Effect of Calcium Supplementation on Gestation Length, Number Born Live, and Number of Stillborns

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=student_scholarship_posters

Effect of Calcium Supplementation on Gestation Length, Number Born Live, and Number of Stillborns

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Morehead State University