ArticleBMC veterinary research2025
Impact of parturition induction, farrowing environment and birth weight class on endocrine and metabolic plasma parameters related to piglet vitality.
Article in BMC veterinary research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Haematopoietic Traits in Indigenous and Modern Pig Breeds Are Modulated by Housing System and Developmental Stage.Animal genetics · 2026Article
- Reproductive efficiency and longevity of gilts and sows in group housing and free-farrowing systems versus traditional crate systems in tropical environments.BMC veterinary research · 2026Article
- Neonatal Blood Count Data of Piglets in Modern and Traditional Breeds following Spontaneous or Hormonally Induced Parturition.International journal of veterinary science and medicine · 2026Article
- Effects of the Litter of Origin and Rearing Litter Size on the Reproductive Potential of Replacement Gilts.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHigh pre-weaning mortality rate in pig husbandry is not acceptable across all production systems. Successful neonatal adaptation is key to improve piglet vitality and survival, which could be increased through adequate management practices around parturition. In this study, vitality parameters in German Landrace piglets (n = 96) are evaluated based on (i) the use or omission of hormonal parturition induction and (ii) the farrowing environment, i.e., crates (1.0 m
resultsFarrowing traits including litter size, stillborn piglets, and inter-farrowing intervals did not differ due to parturition induction nor farrowing environment (P > 0.05). Piglets from spontaneous parturitions required less time until the first suckling event (P < 0.05) and had higher rectal temperatures after 24 h than piglets from induced parturition (P < 0.05). Spontaneously born piglets exhibited lower plasma glucose (1d; 4d) and lactate levels (4d), but higher levels of NEFA (4d), total protein (4d; 20d), and blood urea nitrogen (1d; 20d) compared to piglets from induced parturitions (P < 0.05). This suggests higher organ maturation and that proteins are probably utilised primarily for growth rather than energy production during the neonatal adaptation phase, i.e., the first four days postnatum. Pen-born piglets exhibited lower glucose (1d; 4d), lower inositol (0.5-6.0 h; 1d), higher urea (0.5-6.0 h), and higher creatinine levels (0.5-6.0 h; 1d; 29d) compared to piglets from crated dams (P < 0.05), suggesting differences in energy metabolism, renal function, and physical activity between the two farrowing environments. Hypotrophic piglets showed lower plasma glucose concentrations (1d; 4d) and higher cortisol (1d; 4d) and NEFA levels (4d) indicating lipid mobilisation and induction of gluconeogenesis via muscle protein catabolism (P < 0.05).
conclusionSow management, i.e., the induced parturition using exogenous hormones as well as the applied farrowing environment are reflected in plasma metabolite profiles of piglets and must be critically questioned in routine use with regard to the effects on piglet development.
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