Neonatal Pig Supplement Effects on Mortality.

Pre-weaning pig mortality is approximately 12% (MetaFarms, 2015) with 40% of these losses occurring in pigs weighing < 1 kg at birth. Small pigs (SP) have a lower BW and intestinal weight and size (Widdowson and Crabb, 1976). It has been hypothesized absorption of energy at birth may improve survival. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a pig supplement on pre-weaning piglet mortality and weaning weight. The oral supplement used contained glucose, a glutamate source, ascorbic acid, butyric acid, glycerol, dried milk, and flavorings. Pigs (n=577) were from 2 farms with differing parity distributions. Within 6 h of birth and within litter, pigs were weighed, tagged, and given 1.5 ml oral dose of the supplement treatment or only handled (control). At 14 d of age, pigs were re-weighed and mortality was recorded. Birth weight did not differ between farms (P = 0.7) or treatments. Weight at 14 d was different between farms (P = 0.004) but not between treatments, and there was no treatment x farm interaction (P = 0.5). At both farms, approximately 10% of the pigs born were SP. On farm TR, 60% of control SP died and 67% of treated SP died. No control SP from farm PR died and 13% SP receiving the oral supplement died. While overall survivability was 81% for control and 73% for treated pigs on farm TR; farm PR survival rates were 92% for controls and 91% for supplemented pigs. As expected, birth weight of pigs increased as the dam’s parity advanced to parity 5 (1.86 kg) then decreased through parity 9 to a similar birth weight of parity 1 sows (1.2 vs. 1.3 kg, respectively). Mean pig weights at 14 d were less for pigs from parity 9 sows than parity 1 (3.8 vs. 4.0 kg, respectively). When sow parities were grouped (A = parity 1 and 2; B = parities 3, 4, 5, and 6; C = parities 7, 8, and 9) survivability of SP and normal birth weight pigs was highest on PR farm for group A sows (75 and 90%, respectively) and the C sows on the TR farm (75 and 85%, respectively). Due to the differences in parity distribution and management on the 2 farms, it is difficult to evaluate this neonatal supplement. However, under these commercial conditions, this oral supplement does not appear to benefit the newborn pig.