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Are porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) exposed gilts and sows farrowing problems improved by vitamin E?
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) is a coronavirus that infects epithelia cells lining the small intestine of pigs. Producers and veterinarians believe that sows exposed to PDEv have longer farrowing times and an increased number of mummies and pigs born dead especially when more than 10 piglets are farrowed in a litter. Since vitamin E (E) is important in reducing oxidative stress and improving immunity, the objective of our research was to determine if E increases survivability of offspring and reduces farrowing time in PEDv exposed sows. Following confirmation of pregnancy, 22 PEDv exposed sows and gilts were given a 5 ml i.m. injection of Vital E Repro (300 I.U. E, 200,000 I.U. Vitamin A, 100,000 I. U. Vitamin D3) or saline 7 days before farrowing. Sows were observed during farrowing and weighed before and after. Pigs were weighed at birth and weaning. Sow parity, body condition score, pre- and post-weaning weights did not differ between treatments (P ≥ 0.32). However, farrowing time was reduced (P = 0.05) for sows injected with E vs. saline (190 vs.287 min), respectively. Number of pigs born to sows given the E injection was not different (P = 0.10) than those injected with saline (11.6 vs. 13.5). Similarly, number of live births was not different (10.5 vs. 12.0, P = 0.10). Number of pigs weaned from sows given the E injection did not differ from pigs born to sows given saline (9.7 vs. 11.6; P = 0.06), respectively. The mean litter weight at birth did not differ between the E and saline injected sows (13.5 vs. 15.1 kg, P = 0.32) nor did litter weaning weight differ (57.5 vs. 59.1 kg, P = 0.81), respectively. The plasma E concentrations of the pigs at 3 d (5.00 vs. 5.25 ppm, P = 0.61), 21 d (3.15 vs. 3.05 ppm, P = 0.10), and 42 d (1.03 vs. 0.73, P= 0.10) did not differ by sow’s treatment with E or saline, respectively. With the limited number of observations, the vitamin E injection did not affect number of pigs born or their weight but did reduce farrowing time and tended to prevent a reduction in circulating vitamin E concentrations.
Keywords: Nursery pig, Vitamin E, Sow