Baxter E M, Jarvis S, D'Eath R B, Ross D W, Robson S K, Farish M, Nevison I M, Lawrence A B, Edwards S A
Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Sustainable Livestock Systems, Scottish Agricultural College, University of Newcastle, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 JHE, UK.
Theriogenology. 2008 Apr 1;69(6):773-83. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.12.007. Epub 2008 Feb 1.
Survival is reduced in low birth weight piglets, which display poor thermoregulatory abilities and are slow to acquire colostrum. Our aim was to identify additional behavioural and physiological indicators of piglet survival incorporating traits reflective of both the intrauterine and extrauterine environment. Data were collected from 135 piglets from 10 Large White x Landrace sows to investigate which physiological measurements (e.g. individual placental traits), and which behavioural measurements (e.g. the quantification of piglet vigour), were the best indicators of piglet survival. Generalised linear models confirmed piglet birth weight as a critical survival factor. However, with respect to stillborn mortality, piglet shape and size, as measured by ponderal index (birth weight/(crown-rump length)(3)), body mass index (birth weight/(crown-rump length)(2)), respectively, and farrowing birth order were better indicators. With respect to live-born mortality, postnatal survival factors identified as crucial were birth weight, vigour independent of birth weight, and the latency to first suckle. These results highlight the importance of the intrauterine environment for postnatal physiological and behavioural adaptation and identify additional factors influencing piglet neonatal survival.
低出生体重仔猪的存活率较低,它们体温调节能力差,获取初乳的速度也慢。我们的目标是确定仔猪存活的其他行为和生理指标,纳入反映子宫内和子宫外环境的特征。从10头大白猪×长白猪母猪的135头仔猪收集数据,以研究哪些生理指标(如个体胎盘特征)和哪些行为指标(如仔猪活力的量化)是仔猪存活的最佳指标。广义线性模型证实仔猪出生体重是一个关键的存活因素。然而,对于死产死亡率,分别通过 ponderal 指数(出生体重/(顶臀长度)³)、体重指数(出生体重/(顶臀长度)²)测量的仔猪形状和大小以及分娩出生顺序是更好的指标。对于活产死亡率,确定为关键的产后存活因素是出生体重、与出生体重无关的活力以及首次吮乳的潜伏期。这些结果突出了子宫内环境对产后生理和行为适应的重要性,并确定了影响仔猪新生儿存活的其他因素。