Blood glucose predicts survival in piglets

Piglet mortality causes welfare challenges and economic losses in commercial pig production. Crushing is the most common cause of death, but as an empty stomach is frequently found in crushed piglets, starvation is often a precursor to be crushed. Piglets are born with a limited resource of energy in the form of glycogen and with very little body fat. Thus an abundant amount of sow colostrum and later sows milk is vital for the survival of the piglets. In most published studies the mortality in small piglets (600-1000 gram) is 20- 30 %.

The study was performed in two commercial sow herds using DanAvl DxLY genetics. When the manager expected that the piglets had obtained colostrum, the smallest piglets were observed for a few seconds to see, if they had a teat or not. Piglets lying under the heat lamp were activated before observation. The piglets were weighed, and 158 piglets weighing below 1050 gram were included in the study and eartagged. Blood glucose was measured using an onsite device (Accu-Check Aviva (www.MediqDanmark.dk)) after venipuncture. Rectal temperature was measured using a digital thermometer. The small piglets were then transferred to nurse sows, nursing only small piglets, and kept under routine management until outcome was registered at day 14. For control, 30 piglets weighing between 1200 and 1600 gram were tested for blood glucose. These 30 piglets were not followed any further.

The limit for hypoglycemia was set at 2.8 mmol/liter. None of the 30 control piglets had levels of blood glucose below 2.8 mmol/liter. Among the 158 small piglets, 38 % showed hypoglycemia. Small piglets with blood glucose above 2.8 mmol/liter had just 6 % mortality, while small piglets hawing hypoglycemia had 35 % mortality. Hypoglycemia at the time of adjustment of litter size is a good indicator of piglet mortality. Thirty of the 158 piglets were not actively nursing at collection. Of these, 26 piglets had hypoglycemia (87 %). Among the 128 piglets with normal activity, 34 piglets had hypoglycemia (27 %). Mortality was 18 % if piglets had a temperature above 370C (155 piglets), and 44 % if temperature was 370C or below (22 piglets).

Normal blood glucose in a small piglet indicates a good chance to survive. Of piglets with hypoglycemia shortly after birth, 36 % died before the last observation on day 14. Hypoglycemia was thus a good predictor of piglets dying after adjustment of litter size. Not having a specific teat was a good predictor of hypoglycemia. Finding causes for the piglets suffering hypoglycemia is an important step in reducing piglet mortality.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.