Immunocrit, serum amino acid concentrations and growth performance in light and heavy piglets depending on sow's farrowing system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The conventional farrowing crate is criticised due to the limited mobility of sows during farrowing and lactation. The present study aims to investigate the effects of three different farrowing systems on the performance of suckling neonates on the basis of immunocrit (IC; a quantification of immunoglobulins), serum amino acid (AA) concentrations and growth performance.

Methods

From a total of 149 sows placed in three housing systems (farrowing crate - FC, loose housing - LH, group housing - GH), 18 sows and their respective litters, formed the basis for a two-factorial study design (farrowing system and body weight (BW) of neonates). Therefore, also blood samples of two light (1.0-1.4 kg) and two heavy (≥ 1.4 kg) piglets were taken within 48 h post natum (p.n.) a

SUBMITTER: Schnier S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6567442 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature