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Physiological Changes in Sows that may Contribute to Higher Risk for Mortality and Prolapse

Abstract

Long-term profitability of swine farms is highly related to maintaining a healthy sow farm that consistently improves production efficiency. In recent years, genetic selection techniques have successfully reversed the trend of increased pre-wean pig mortality with increased litter size by improving litter weight at birth. However, the genetics modifications to reduce pre-wean pig mortality may have exerted more physiological pressure on the sow to deliver a heavier litter birth weight because sow mortality and incidence of Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) has increased over the past few years. Recent production records have reported an annualized sow mortality of 12.7% in North American herds, with POP contributing to 21% of the sow mortality. Some factors associated with risk for POP include poor sow body condition, sows with greater protrusion of the perineal region, higher stillborn rate, constipation, inadequate pre-farrow feed intake, and poor water quality. Similar factors associated with POP in humans have been reported and include other metabolic triggers like anemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation as likely contributing factors. Recent data indicates about 50% of sows have anemia with a higher prevalence in older parity sows and in sows during late gestation and lactation. Other metabolic factors like elevated serum glucose in sows with high risk for POP may indicate a possible somatotropic relationship and sensitivity of maternal organs to growth hormone on regulation of glucose homeostasis and transplacental nutrient supply to fetuses. Herein, we review the physiological changes during gestation and lactation, propose how these changes may be contributing to POP, and briefly discuss other potential factors associated with sow mortality.

Yanbin Shen, Joe Crenshaw*

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