Blood parameters and weight gain in piglets at birth

//07 Dec 2011
Parameters recorded at birth and day 1, and weight gain at day 1 are highly associated with survival at weaning.
In addition, being born in the last third of the litter was less favourable with regard to vitality.
 
Study by Norwegian scientists
In short, these were the conclusions of a study of Norwegian scientists to record 22 blood parameters and weight gain in the first day of life in Landrace-Yorkshire-Duroc crossbred piglets and to find associations between these parameters and survival at weaning. All live piglets from 18 litters were weighed and blood sampled at birth and day 1 and monitored to weaning at the age of five weeks.
 
 At birth, levels of lactate, pH, red blood cells, haemoglobin, and haematocrit were associated with survival to weaning. Also, levels of lactate increased, and pH decreased when born in the last third of a litter.
 
At day 1, levels of glucose, haemoglobin, and weight gain were all decreased in piglets that did not survive to weaning. Weight gain also decreased when born in the last third of a litter. Level of IgG decreased when born in the last third of a litter. The study was published in Journal of Animal Science.