Oral administration of an energetic supplement for farrowing sows and its impact on farrowing kinetics and piglet mortality until weaning

• Grant number: 19/23320-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2020
• End date: August 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Cesar Augusto Pospissil Garbossa
• Grantee: Rafaella Fernandes Carnevale
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/07109-4 - Observational study on the guanidino-acetic acid (GAA) related pathways in peripartal sows in association with farrowing duration and neonatal piglet survival and development, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Delivering piglets is one of the most demanding activities sows undergo in their lifetime. Sows can have myometrial contractions from two to 12 hours before the first piglet is expelled and also have a nest building behavior. Thus, when the first piglet is delivered the female has already used part of the energy supply. When the sow gets exhausted due to lack of energy, the farrowing process is interrupted, causing great damage to the viability and vitality of the piglets. This study aims to develop an unprecedented energy supplement orally administered to sows at farrowing, ensuring optimal plasma glucose levels during the farrowing process. The experiment will take place at Swine Research Laboratory in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences - University of São Paulo (FMVZ - USP), located at Pirassununga. To develop the optimum energetic supplement, a pre-trial will be performed to determine the best combination of carbohydrates, which can keep plasmatic glucose between 3 mMol and 6 mMOL and do not surpass the renal threshold for glucose excretion. In the main experiment each farrowing sow will be considered an experimental unit and will be blocked by body condition score and birth order, and allocated to one of the following treatments: SUP (sows supplemented with energy supplement based on pretest results; n = 50) and CON (unsupplemented sows; n = 50). Plasma glucose concentration will be measured, farrowing kinetics will be recorded (farrowing duration, birth interval, number of live born and number of pre- delivering stillbirths, and intrapartum stillbirths), ketone body levels will be measured in plasma, milk, and urine. Piglets will be evaluated for vitality ranging from 0 to 10, rectal and eye temperature will be measured, all piglets will be individually weighed at birth, 24 hours after birth of the first piglet at 3, 14, and 21 days. Finally, the behavior of piglets until the first suckling will also be evaluated. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MURO, BRUNO B. D.; CARNEVALE, RAFAELLA F.; ANDRETTA, INES; LEAL, DIEGO F.; MONTEIRO, MATHEUS S.; POOR, ANDRE P.; ALMOND, GLEN W.; GARBOSSA, CESAR A. P.. Effects of uterotonics on farrowing traits and piglet vitality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Theriogenology, v. 161, p. 151-160, FEB 2021. (19/23320-7, 20/02731-6)

MURO, BRUNO B. D.; CARNEVALE, RAFAELLA F.; LEAL, DIEGO F.; ALMOND, GLEN W.; MONTEIRO, MATHEUS S.; POOR, ANDRE P.; SCHINCKEL, ALLAN P.; GARBOSSA, CESAR A. P.. The importance of optimal body condition to maximise reproductive health and perinatal outcomes in pigs. NUTRITION RESEARCH REVIEWS, v. N/A, p. 21-pg., 2022-06-24. (19/17683-0, 19/01192-7, 20/02731-6, 19/23320-7, 20/11016-9)

CARNEVALE, RAFAELLA F.; MURO, BRUNO B. D.; PIEROZAN, CARLOS R.; MONTEIRO, MATHEUS S.; LEAL, DIEGO F.; POOR, ANDRE P.; ALVES, LAYA K. S.; GOMES, NADIA A. C.; SILVA, CAIO A.; MAES, DOMINIEK; et al. Peripheral glycemia and farrowing traits in pigs: An observational study. LIVESTOCK SCIENCE, v. 270, p. 7-pg., 2023-03-07. (19/23320-7, 20/02731-6, 20/11016-9)

MONTEIRO, MATHEUS S.; MURO, BRUNO B. D.; CARNEVALE, RAFAELLA F.; POOR, ANDRE P.; ARAUJO, KAWANY M.; VIANA, CARLOS H. C.; ALMOND, GLEN W.; MORENO, ANDREA M.; GARBOSSA, CESAR A. P.; LEAL, DIEGO F.. The beneficial effects of providing prepartum sows with nesting materials on farrowing traits, piglet performance and maternal behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis. APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE, v. 259, p. 11-pg., 2023-01-30. (21/07101-3, 20/11016-9, 20/02731-6, 21/07109-4, 19/23320-7)

DONATELLI MURO, BRUNO BRACCO; RODRIGUES OLIVEIRA, ANA CLARA; CARNEVALE, RAFAELLA FERNANDES; LEAL, DIEGO FEITOSA; MONTEIRO, MATHEUS SALIBA; POOR, ANDRE PEGORARO; PEREIRA, FRANCISCO ALVES; DE SOUZA, LEURY JESUS; FERREIRA, JULIANA BONIN; ALMOND, GLEN WILLIAM; et al. Altrenogest Supplementation during Early Pregnancy Improves Reproductive Outcome in Pigs. ANIMALS, v. 12, n. 14, p. 8-pg., 2022-07-01. (21/14247-4, 20/11016-9, 19/01192-7, 20/02731-6, 21/07109-4, 19/23320-7)

MONTEIRO, MATHEUS S.; MURO, BRUNO B. D.; POOR, ANDRE P.; LEAL, DIEGO F.; CARNEVALE, RAFAELLA F.; SHIROMA, MARINA P.; ALMOND, GLEN W.; GARBOSSA, CESAR A. P.; MORENO, ANDREA M.; VIANA, CARLOS H. C.. Effects of farrowing induction with prostaglandins on farrowing traits and piglet performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Theriogenology, v. 180, p. 16-pg., 2022-03-01. (17/09515-4, 19/17683-0, 19/23320-7, 20/02731-6, 19/01192-7, 20/11016-9, 20/04596-9)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CARNEVALE, Rafaella Fernandes. Glycemia and farrowing traits in pigs: exploring the association between energetic metabolism and farrowing traits in pigs. 2022. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) Pirassununga.