Porcine Neonatal Survival and Serum Gamma Globulins

Sixty sows and gilts were randomized among three treatments according to breed and parity to determine whether removal of piglets from the dam at birth and simultaneous return would alter piglet serum gamma globulin concentration and reduce piglet mortality at 21 days of age. Neostigmine was also studied to determine whether it was effective in reducing farrowing interval. Treatments consisted of natural farrowing and nursing, piglet removal at birth and simultaneous return to the dam and piglet removal plus an injection of 5 mg of neostigmine methysulfate after birth of the fifth piglet. Serum was collected from each piglet at approximately 12 hr of age and assayed for gamma globulin by single radial immunodiffusion. Piglets that survived to 21 days of age had a higher (P<.001) gamma globulin concentration, shorter (P<.05) birth interval, heavier (P< .001) birth weight and were born earlier (P<.10) in the litter than those piglets that were born alive but died before 21 days. In the control treatment, there was a correlation (P<.001) of .28 between birth weight and gamma globulin concentration. Neostigmine did not reduce (P>.05) farrowing interval or number of stillbirths. Piglet removal did not affect (P>.05) mean litter gamma globulin concentration or number of piglets surviving to 21 days of age.