Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
11.3.3
Stockperson interventions
Management during gestation
Optimising management during gestation to limit the social and nutritional stressors
experienced by the sow and her developing offspring is an important aspect of reducing
piglet mortality and is discussed further in Chapter 3 (Spoolder and Vermeer, 2015), 5
(Meunier-Salaün and Bolhuis, 2015) and 12 (Prunier and Tallet, 2015). In addition, there
are nutritional interventions that might enhance piglet viability. Nutritional interventions
to improve embryo quality and subsequent birth weight and uniformity have included
use of fermentable ingredients in sow diets prior to breeding (Van den Brand et al. , 2009),
and essential amino acids at the time of placental development (Wu et al., 2004), whilst
essential fatty acid supplementation in late gestation can increase piglet vitality (Rooke et
al., 2001, see also Chapter 16 (Bontempo and Jiang, 2015). Campos et al. (2012) published
a recent review on these offspring benefits, whilst Meunier-Salaün et al. (2001) and De
Leeuw et al. (2008) discussed the influence of nutritional interventions on sow welfare.
Behavioural interventions may also be applied; positive handling of sows for short daily
periods prior to farrowing can reduce fearfulness (Andersen et al. , 2006), with potential
benefits for maternal behaviour and piglet survival as discussed in more detail in Chapter
12 (Prunier and Tallet, 2015).
Peri-parturient management: induction, supervision and assistance
Supervision at the time of parturition and obstetric intervention in the case of prolonged
inter-birth intervals can substantially reduce the incidence of stillbirths (English and
Edwards, 1996), whilst extra care of weak piglets immediately after birth can reduce
postnatal mortality (Andersen et al. , 2009; Christison et al. , 1997; Holyoake et al. , 1995).
In order to achieve these benefits of supervision it is necessary to ensure the presence
of stockpeople at the time of farrowing. The pharmacological induction of parturition
can be used to synchronise farrowings and facilitate supervision and interventions
which may reduce piglet mortality (Cerne and Jochle, 1981). However, this can also
be counter-productive if done incorrectly because of increased birthing complications
and stillbirths (Mota-Rojas et al. , 2002). The timing of induction is critical, since late
fetal development and maturation is a predisposing factor for survival (Randall, 1972b;
Van der Lende et al. , 2001). In the days preceding farrowing, the fetus experiences an
increase in growth rate (Biensen et al. , 1998) and development, with final physiological
preparations for extra-uterine life, particularly lung maturation. Premature induction of
birth may therefore result in a compromised neonate. The general consensus is not to
induce parturition before d 113 of gestation (see Kirkden et al. , 2013 for review) and to
avoid this intervention in gilts, as service dates are often inaccurate.
Another common pharmaceutical intervention is the administration of oxytocin, designed
to aid the farrowing progress in situations of fatigue. However, this should also be applied
with caution, since it can increase fetal asphyxia by strengthening the uterine muscle
contractions, impeding gaseous exchange between mother and fetus, and increasing
the chances of umbilical occlusion (Alonso-Splisbury et al. , 2004, 2005; Mota-Rojas et
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