Miguel González-Lozano

Uterine activity and fetal electronic monitoring in parturient sows treated with vetrabutin chlorhydrate.

The aims of the study were to characterize the uterine activity in sows treated with vetrabutin chlorhydrate (VC), an uterotonic and muscle-tropic drug during farrowing, and to measure the effects of the drug on piglet neonatal viability. The experiment involved 1478 piglets from 130 Yorkshire-Landrace sows, randomly allotted into two groups. Farrowing monitoring began 12 h after PGF2alpha synchronization. Group 1 was given physiological solution (G1, n = 65); Group 2 was treated with VC (1 mL/60 kg LW) at the initiation of fetal expulsion (G2, n = 65). In spite of the total duration of expulsion being significantly longer (P < 0.0001), approximately 35 min in the VC treatment, VC application at the time the first piglet was expulsed favored the alive birth of at least one more piglet. Even though the pressure in the uterus was similar in both groups, the number and duration of uterus contractions recorded were significantly less (P < 0.0001) in G2, favoring fewer births with acute fetal suffering, compared with that in G1. VC treated group compared with the control group also had fewer (5.01% vs. 24%) alterations in umbilical cords, as well as a lesser incidence of secondary apnea (2.08% vs. 7.46%) and bradycardia (1.94% vs. 7.61%), which favored a significantly higher vitality score (P < 0.002). With the intent to evaluate uterine activity in sows during the farrowing process, we propose using the equation used in human medical practices to calculate Montevideo Units applied to swine obstetrics for the first time.

Outcomes of gestation length in relation to farrowing performance in sows and daily weight gain and metabolic profiles in piglets

The objectiveof this study was toevaluate uterineactivity at farrowing insows with differentgestation lengths (GL),anditseffectonthemetabolicprofile,bloodgasesanddailyweightgainofneonatepiglets.Theexperimentcovereda period of 25 weeks and involved 200 Yorkshire-Landrace sows. The animals were assigned to four groups of 50 sows each and distributed according to GL, as follows: GL1: 107-109 days; GL2: 110-113 days; GL3: 114-116 days; GL4: 117-119days.Theproductiveindicatorsofthesowswererecorded,aswerethesurvivaloutcomesoftheneonatalpigs.Fetal cardiac frequency and both intensity and frequency of myometrial contractions were monitored using a Corometrics Fetal monitor.Thebloodgases,electrolytesandglucoselevelsoftheneonateswereobtainedbymeansofanautomaticbloodgas and electrolyte analyser. The GL groups GL1 and GL2 had more prolonged births (>226.26 4.95 min) regardless of litter size(P <0.05).Ofthefourgroups,GL1presentedthelongestduration(P <0.05)oftheexpulsionphase(P <0.05),thehighest numberofuterinecontractions(P <0.05),andthehighestandlowestnumberofintra-partumdeaths(P <0.05)andlivebirths, respectively. The live birth piglets in this group had both the lowest birthweights (P < 0.05) and the highest incidences of hypercapnia, hyperlactatemia and hypercalcaemia (P < 0.05), which later resulted in lower rates of daily weight gain (P < 0.05). In conclusion, premature births increase the number of intra-partum deaths and result in lower birthweights, the presence of apnoea, and severe metabolic alterations in piglets.

Physiometabolic responses to road transport in weaned piglets for a short period and the effects of straw bedding

The aim of the study was to evaluate the physiometabolic responses to stress in hybrid suckling piglets that were weaned and transported at different ages on a paved road under two vehicle conditions: with and without a layer of straw bedding. The piglets were weaned and transported at the following ages: 8, 15 and 22 days. The duration of each trip was 1 h. The piglets in each group were further divided into two sub-groups for two distinct experimental transport conditions: (1) over the road with straw bedding; and (2) over the same road but without straw bedding. A total of three repetitions were performed for each experimental condition. In order to assess their responses to weaning- and transport-induced stress, the study evaluated a thorough physiometabolic blood profile. The 8- and 15-day-old piglets transported without straw bedding showed increases in their pCO2, blood glucose, blood lactate levels and the percentage of hematocrit, but a decrease of pO2 upon arrival (P < 0.05). In contrast, the 22-day-old piglets transported on the same road with straw bedding were able to re-establish their blood concentrations of lactate, pCO2, pO2, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and pH during the trip (P < 0.05).

Physiological responses in horses, donkeys and mules sold at livestock markets

Abstract The horse welfare at markets includes fatigue, fear, fasting, dehydration and injuries. However, the scientific literature contains no readily-available information on the physiology responses of equids sold in livestock markets. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of holding in livestock markets on gas exchange, the acid-base balance, energy metabolism, and the mineral and water balance in 4 types of horses (Equus caballus), donkeys (Equus asinus) and mules ((Equus asinus × Equus caballus). To this end, a total of 1,438 equine were utilized, after classification into six groups, as follows: mules, donkeys, culled horses, charrería horses (Mexican rodeo horses), foals, and ponies. The time intervals evaluated were 1 and 5 h. During the study, the animals received only water ad libitum. The physiological blood indicators assessed were: PvCO2 (mm Hg) and PvO2 (mm Hg) pressure, pH, glucose (mg/dL), lactate (mg/dL), bicarbonate levels (mmol/L), hematocrit (%), Na+, K+ and Ca2+ (mmol/L). The animals that presented the most marked physiological alterations were the mules and donkeys. The mules that remained in the corrals for 1 h presented increases (P < 0.0001) in the values for pO2, glucose, hematocrit and blood pH, compared to reference values (RV), while the donkeys had increases (P < 0.0001) in glucose and hematocrit values. By the end of the first hour at the exhibition corrals the equine were dehydrated, suffered fatigue, and suffered metabolic and compensatory problems, probably due to the combined effects of a series of factors that include transport and inadequate handling.

Effect of the number of incisions and use of local anesthesia on the physiological indicators of surgically-castrated piglets

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effect of local anesthesia and the number of incisions performed on the physiological blood profile of piglets after surgical castration. A total of 60 male piglets were divided into five groups of 12 each, based on the surgical method employed and the use, or not, of local anesthesia, as follows: surgical castration using one horizontal incision in both testicles with (C1+L) and without (C1) local anesthesia; surgical castration using two vertical scrotal incisions with and without local anesthesia (C2+L and C2); and control piglets which were removed from their pens and held head-down by their hind limbs for approximately 90 s to simulate castration (SIM). Reference blood samples were drawn 24 h before castration (RV), immediately after surgery or simulated castration (PC), and at 24 and 48 h post-castration, to determine physiological profiles including; pH, hematocrit, glucose, electrolytes, lactate, pCO2 (mmHg), SO2 (mmHg), and bicarbonate. Results showed increases in lactate and hematocrit immediately after surgical or simulated castration with decreases in pH, HCO3− and base excess (BE). Surgical castration produced marked alterations of the physiological profile, detected by reduced pH and HCO3, higher lactate levels and BE alterations. These changes indicated metabolic acidosis that was greater in the piglets castrated surgically with one horizontal incision than in those castrated with two vertical incisions. More research is needed on the use of lidocaine during surgical castration, as it showed no effect on physiological profile in this study, but did alter hematocrit values.

Physiological and metabolic responses in newborn piglets associated with the birth order

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of birth order on the physiological and metabolic responses of the newborn piglet the first hours after birth. A total of 281 randomly selected newborn piglets were included, classified according to birth order in 12 groups (L1-L12). The expulsion interval, neonatal vitality, latency in connecting to the maternal teat and physiological profile were recorded for each piglet. The number of piglets born alive and dead was also recorded. The blood gases, electrolytes and glucose levels of the neonates were obtained by means of an automatic blood gas and electrolyte analyzer. Groups L1, L2, L11, and L12 had the least score on the vitality scale, the longest expulsion intervals, and longest latency to connect with the maternal teat, as well as greater physiological alterations (hyperglycemia, hyperlactatemia and hypercapnia) compared to groups L4 to L9. Likewise, type-II stillbirths only occurred in the first and last quarter of the birth order of the litter. In conclusion, piglets born in the first and last quarter of the birth order of the litter had a greater risk of having physiological and behavioral alterations during farrowing.