Intra-uterine growth retardation affects birthweight and postnatal development in pigs, impairing muscle accretion, duodenal mucosa morphology and carcass traits
A. L. N. Alvarenga A , H. Chiarini-Garcia A , P. C. Cardeal A , L. P. Moreira A , G. R. Foxcroft B , D. O. Fontes C and F. R. C. L. Almeida A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural e Reprodução, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil.
B Swine Reproduction-Development Program, Swine Research and Technology Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada.
C Departamento de Zootecnia, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil.
D Corresponding author. Email: falmeida@icb.ufmg.br
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 25(2) 387-395 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD12021
Submitted: 18 August 2011 Accepted: 25 March 2012 Published: 16 May 2012
Abstract
The present study investigated the occurrence of intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) in newborn (n = 40) and 150-day-old (n = 240) pigs of different birthweight ranges (high, HW: 1.8–2.2 kg; low, LW: 0.8–1.2 kg) from higher-parity commercial sows and its impact on their subsequent development and carcass traits in a Brazilian commercial production system. HW newborn pigs had heavier organs than LW pigs (P < 0.01), and all brain : organ weight ratios were higher (P < 0.01) in LW compared with HW offspring, providing strong evidence of IUGR in the LW piglets. HW pigs had higher bodyweights and average daily gain (ADG) in all phases of production (P < 0.05), but ADG in the finisher phase was similar in both groups. Additionally, LW newborn and 150-day-old pigs showed a lower percentage of muscle fibres and a higher percentage of connective tissue in the semitendinosus muscle, greater fibre number per mm2 and a lower height of the duodenal mucosa (P < 0.05). On the other hand, HW pigs had higher hot carcass weight, meat content in the carcass and yield of ham, shoulder and belly (P < 0.01). Hence, lower-birthweight piglets may suffer from IUGR, which impairs their growth performance, muscle accretion, duodenal mucosa morphology and carcass traits.
Additional keywords: growth performance, intestinal development, muscle histomorphometry, neonatal organ weights.
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