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. 2019 Oct 1:5:22.
doi: 10.1186/s40813-019-0129-6. eCollection 2019.

Blood-glucose levels in newborn piglets and the associations between blood-glucose levels, intrauterine growth restriction and pre-weaning mortality

Trude Staarvik  1 , Tore Framstad  1 , Mina Heggelund  1 , Sunniva Brynjulvsrud Fremgaarden  1 , Camilla Kielland  1
Affiliations

Blood-glucose levels in newborn piglets and the associations between blood-glucose levels, intrauterine growth restriction and pre-weaning mortality

Trude Staarvik et al. Porcine Health Manag. .

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between blood-glucose levels in one-day-old-piglets (ODOP), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and pre-weaning mortality in a commercial piglet-producing herd in Norway.

Material and methods: The study was carried out in a non-crate commercial piglet-producing herd in Norway and 426 live born piglets from 31 litters were included. Piglets were blood-sampled, ear tagged, weighed and measured within 24 h after birth. Litter size, cross fostering and deaths until weaning were recorded. Blood was collected by vein puncture of Vena subcutanea abdominis and blood-glucose levels were measured using a handheld glucometer. Piglets were given an IUGR-score (1-3) based on head-morphology where a score of 3 is defined as an intrauterine growth restricted piglet.

Results: Of the 426 live born piglets, 391 piglets survived until weaning, resulting in 8.22% pre-weaning mortality. Mean piglet weight in ODOP was 1.59 kg (SD = 0.36), and mean blood-glucose level was 5.48 mmol/l (SD = 1.44). IUGR score 3 piglets had lower blood-glucose levels (Coef. = - 1.7 mmol/l, P < .001) than normal piglets (IUGR score 1). Males had significantly higher blood glucose levels (Coef. = 0.23 mmol/l, P = .044) compared to females. There was a trend that blood-glucose levels in individual piglets were lower in large litters with - 0.07 mmol/l per extra piglet born (P = .054). Piglets with blood-glucose levels in the second quartile had reduced risk of pre-weaning mortality (OR = 0.32, P = .046) compared to piglets with blood-glucose levels in the lower quartile. This is also true for piglets in the third and fourth quartile (OR = 0.13, P = 0.004).

Conclusion: This study identified IUGR to be associated with low blood-glucose levels in ODOP. It also found increased pre-weaning mortality in ODOP with low blood-glucose. By identifying IUGR piglets by the shape of their head, piglet producers may reduce pre-weaning mortality by making sure these piglets get enough colostrum, milk or supplement feeding (i.e. energy).

Keywords: Blood-glucose levels; IUGR; Mortality; Piglets; Swine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Design of the farrowing pen. Illustration of the farrowing pen used in this study. The creep area had heated floors, in addition to a heat lamp. Water nipples were distributed in two heights, one for the sow and one for piglets. Sows were loose housed during the entire production cycle
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Correlation between weight and blood-glucose levels in one-day-old piglets (ODOP), Blood was collected from Vena subcutanea abdominis from one-day-old piglets (N = 426) and analyzed with a handheld glucometer. Piglets were weighed; heavier piglets were shown to have higher blood-glucose levels. The green line is the fitted values, which shows the best-fit straight line. This line shows a clear correlation. However, the red line is the lowess smoothing line, and it is the line that fits the data best. This line demonstrates that if the piglet weighs more than 2 kg there is no additional gain on blood-glucose levels. Piglets less than 1 kg are at risk of hypoglycemia
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of blood-glucose levels at day one in piglets alive and deceased at weaning. Blood was collected from Vena subcutanea abdominis from one-day-old piglets (N = 426) and analyzed with a handheld glucometer. Piglets who did not survive until weaning had significantly lower blood-glucose levels the day after birth compared to piglets who survived until weaning
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Blood-glucose levels in one-day-old piglets (ODOP) with different intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) score. Blood was collected from Vena subcutanea abdominis from one-day-old piglets (N = 426) and analyzed with a handheld glucometer. Piglets were given a score [–3] for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) based on the shape of their head. IUGR-piglets had significantly lower blood-glucose levels the day after birth compared to normal piglets. 196 piglets were given IUGR score 1, 203 piglets were given IUGR-score 2, and 27 piglets were given IUGR-score 3. * p = 0.038, ** = p < 0.001
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