Constructing a simulated udder for neonatal piglets as an alternative to nurse sows

ABSTRACT

An incubator with a simulated udder was constructed using information on piglet-sensory stimuli preferences. Neonatal piglets were randomly assigned to water in troughs (n = 38), milk-replacer (n = 36) or bovine-colostrum in simulated udder (n = 39). Weight was measured at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours, and rectal temperature at 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 8 hours. An interaction between time and treatment affected weight change (P < 0.001), where all piglets lost weight during the first hour., Piglets with access to water continued loosing weight (82.1 ± 32.8 g over 8 h), milk-replacer-piglets gained 88.6 ± 53.2 g and bovine-colostrum-piglets gained 55.7 ± 66.5 g over 8 h. Overall, piglets with access to the simulated udder gained weight during their first eight hours postpartum. An interaction between temperature at first handling and time (P < 0.001) as well as an interaction between time and treatment (P < 0.001) affected temperature. Further development of the method could reduce the need for nurse sows.

KEYWORDS:

• Neonatal piglet
• simulated udder
• nutrition
• milk replacer
• bovine colostrum
• weight gain

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the staff at Overgaard Gods for helping with the pigs and the trial. In addition, Mathilde Tordrup Bach (Aarhus University) and Ann Freja Mørch Jensen (SEGES Innovation P/S), who helped during the experiment, and Jeanett Snitgaard Pelck (statistician, SEGES Innovation P/S) are acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data is available on request.

Additional information

Funding

The authors declare that funding was received from the Danish Pig Levy Foundation, and that V.A.M. works for the SEGES Innovation P/S.