Peripheral glycemia and farrowing traits in pigs: An observational study

• Published in: Livestock science Vol. 270; p. 105203
• Main Authors: Carnevale, Rafaella F, Muro, Bruno BD, Pierozan, Carlos R, Monteiro, Matheus S, Leal, Diego F, Poor, André P, Alves, Laya KS, Gomes, Nadia AC, Silva, Caio A, Maes, Dominiek, Janssens, Geert PJ, Almond, Glen W, Garbossa, Cesar AP
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2023
• Subjects: Blood glucose concentration; Energy status; Fasting; Parturition; Sow; Blood glucose concentration; Parturition; Energy status; Sow; Fasting
• ISSN: 1871-1413; 1878-0490
• DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2023.105203

•Glycemia, measured in the ear vein, is negatively correlated with farrowing duration.•The fasting period negatively affect sows’ glycemia.•Glycemia tend to rise in sows that star to farrow with low glycemia. Monitoring and maintaining adequate glycemia is pivotal to an optimal farrowing process benefiting sows and newborn piglets. The present observational study was performed to (1) evaluate if the peripheral glycemia (measured on ear vein) of sows at the onset of farrowing is related to farrowing traits and to (2) identify and quantify factors associated with peripheral glycemia and the interactions with farrowing kinetics. To this end, datasets with farm characteristics and sow farrowing data from four different farms were used. All sows were closely monitored during farrowing starting from the birth of the first piglet to the expulsion of the placenta. Farrowing duration (FD) was defined as the time elapsed between the birth of the first-born and the last-born piglet in the litter. Fasting period, defined as the time from the last meal until onset of farrowing, was recorded. Glycemia was assessed with a portable glucometer. The measurement was performed immediately after the birth of the first piglets, considered as the initial glycemia (IGly) and at the end of farrowing, considered as the final glycemia (FGly). The data were screened for correlations. Traits that were correlated with the glycemia at p < 0.2 were included in a multivariate regression model. The use of oxytocin, manual assistance, and IGly were negatively associated with farrowing duration (p < 0.05), whereas total piglets born and parity were positively associated to farrowing duration (p < 0.05). Fasting period was negatively associated with IGly (p < 0.05). Further, sows were classified based on their IGly in three groups according to quartile distribution. High group: initial glycemia ≥ 4.72mMol/L; Intermediate group: initial glycemia ≥ 4mMol/L and ≤ 4.71mMol/L; Low group: initial glycemia ≤ 3.99mMol/L. Sows in categories of high and intermediate IGly did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05) in their average FGly (5.06 ± 0.13 mMol/L and 4.64 ± 0.12 mMol/L, respectively). IGly can be used as a tool to identify sows more prone to prolonged FD. The results demonstrate that glucose metabolism varies with farrowing traits and is dependent on the glycemia at the onset of farrowing.