The Maternity Ring was developed as a free farrowing alternative to crates that preserved space whilst providing the sow with unrestricted movement. This experiment aimed to apply the Five Domains model to assess sow welfare in the Maternity Ring in comparison with the farrowing crate. Eighty-eight sows were housed in a farrowing crate (FC) and 83 in a Maternity Ring (MR), and measures collected focussed on nutrition, environment, health, behaviour, and mental state outcomes. MR sows consumed less feed than FC sows (total feed intake: 93.8 ± 3.06 kg vs. 111.2 ± 3.13 kg; p < 0.001) but had reduced P2 backfat loss during lactation (0.0 ± 0.11 vs. 1.2 ± 0.11, p < 0.001). Fewer frustrated and pain-related behaviours during farrowing were observed in MR sows (bar biting: FC 3.3 ± 2.12 vs. MR 0.5 ± 0.29 events, p = 0.038, and back leg forward: FC 227 ± 50.7 vs. MR 127 ± 26.4 events, p = 0.019), and a decreased proportion of MR sows had facial injuries after farrowing (10% CI [5, 20] vs. 67% CI [47, 95], p < 0.001). More FC sows had udder damage at weaning (70% CI [48, 97] vs. 10% CI [6, 24], p < 0.001), and their piglets were medicated more frequently when compared to those in MR (51% CI [40, 61] vs. 30% [21, 41], p = 0.008). MR sows tended to have a higher reaction score to piglet processing (MR 2.0 ± 0.38 vs. FC 1.2 ± 0.27, p = 0.094) and had more contact with piglets once the procedure was complete than FC sows (13.5 ± 2.55 vs. 6.9 ± 1.26 events, respectively, p = 0.016). Whilst there was no difference in anticipation of a feeding event (p > 0.05), MR sows displayed a reduced startle response to an aversive noise stimulus at day 18 (FC 2.8 ± 0.35, MR 0.7 ± 0.16, p < 0.001). Using the Five Domains framework, sows housed in the MR during farrowing and lactation have improved welfare than those in FC and can be thought of as being in a positive affective state.

In 2018, classical swine fever (CSF) reemerged in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, after 26 years of absence, and vaccination of domestic pigs using a live attenuated vaccine was initiated in 2019. Because the vaccine efficacy in piglets is influenced by the maternal antibody levels, vaccination should be administered at the optimal age by assuming the antibody level in sows. In this study, the shift in the antibody titer distribution in sows due to the initiation of vaccination to naïve herds and its influence on the vaccine-induced immunity rate in fattening pigs were investigated for 3 years. The results indicated that higher antibody titers were induced in first-generation sows after vaccine initiation because they were immunologically naïve, but the distribution of antibody titers shifted to lower levels along with their replacement with second-generation sows. The average vaccination age of fattening pigs became earlier year by year, and the vaccine-induced antibody rate was almost ≥80%. Based on the estimation of the optimal age for vaccination, it was found that vaccination at a younger age may reduce the risk of CSF infection. Taken together, the risk of CSF outbreaks can be reduced by administering vaccines at the optimal age based on the sequential monitoring of the sow\'s immune status.

UNASSIGNED: No study has successfully isolated parvovirus in Vietnam. This study aimed to isolate and characterize parvovirus strains indigenous in Vietnam for vaccine development against porcine parvovirus (PPV).
UNASSIGNED: We collected serum and stillbirth samples from six provinces in Vietnam, and PPV-positive samples were identified using a polymerase chain reaction. Parvovirus isolation was attempted using the PK-15 cells maintained in a minimum essential medium supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotics (Penicillin-streptomycin). The cells were incubated at 37°C with 5% CO2. Virulence experiments were conducted on white primiparous sows to evaluate the virulence of the PPV strain through hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers and fetus lesions.
UNASSIGNED: We analyzed 360 serum and 32 stillbirth (liver and lungs) samples, revealing that 32/392 (8.2% ) of them were PPV-positive, all belonging to PPV1. Thirty-two PPV-positive samples were successfully isolated, with 100% identity as VP2 sequences. The phylogenetic tree revealed a close relationship with the Kresse strain (isolated from Canada in 1996) and the PPV1-0225-L-SD strain (isolated from China in 2022). Two PPV isolates (VC5 from Dongnai and TX7 from Thanhhoa) that exhibited high 50% tissue culture infectious dose titers were selected for the virulence experiment. On day 21, after injection, the HI antibody titers ranged from 10log2 to 12log2. On day 90, 71%-80% of fetuses were mummified.
UNASSIGNED: This study showed that the PPV infection rate in Vietnam was 8.2%. Thirty-two isolates belonged to PPV1. Two PPV strains, VC5 and TX7, were determined to be highly virulent by the results of HI titers after injection into gilts. VC5 and TX7 were determined to be good candidates for further research on PPV vaccines.

Endemic and epidemic outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are causing large economic losses in commercial pig production worldwide. Given the complexity of controlling this disease with vaccines or other biosecurity measures, the selection for pigs with a natural resilience to this infection has been proposed as an alternative approach. In this context, we previously reported a vaccine-based protocol to classify 6-week-old female piglets from one farm into resilient and susceptible phenotypes. Subsequent analysis showed that resilient sows had fewer lost piglets during a PRRSV epidemic. In the present study, we validated the results in four additional farms by showing a robust effect on the percentage of piglets lost (P<0.05). We were able to associate the resilient phenotype with a 2-4% reduction in piglet losses on sow farms in both endemic and endemic/epidemic situations. Also consistent with previous results, susceptible sows delivered on average, almost 0.5 more piglets born per parity (P<0.05). However, we show here that resilient sows have a longer stayability in the farm (+57 d; P<0.05) and +0.3 more successful parities (P<0.05), which balances the total number of piglets born and born alive in the full productive life of the sow between the two groups. Resilient sows thus contribute towards to a more sustainable production system, reducing sow replacement and piglet mortality. The validation of this protocol on four independent production farms paves the way for the study of the genetic variation underlying the resilient/susceptible classification, with a view to incorporating this information into selection programs in the future.

UNASSIGNED: Sow mortality in the U.S. swine industry has increased in recent years, for which pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a major contributor, accounting for 21% of all sow mortality. Dysbiosis of microbial communities has been associated with disease and reproductive dysfunction in several species, and previous studies have shown changes in vaginal microbiota in sows with increased risk for POP during late gestation. However, there is insufficient knowledge surrounding the potential relationship between fecal microbiota and POP in sows. Therefore, the study objective was to identify differences in sow fecal microbiota and determine if fecal and vaginal microbial communities are correlated in relation to POP risk.
UNASSIGNED: Sows were evaluated for POP risk using an established perineal scoring system, with a perineal score (PS) of 1 (PS1) presuming little to no risk of POP to a PS of 3 (PS3) presuming high risk of POP. In the current study, 2,864 sows were scored during gestation week 15, and 1.0%, 2.7%, and 23.4% of PS1, PS2, and PS3 sows, respectively, subsequently experienced POP. Fecal swabs (n = 215) were collected between gestation days 108-115, DNA was extracted, and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing libraries were analyzed using mothur, phyloseq and SAS in reference to PS and POP outcome. Additionally, co-occurrence networks were constructed using CoNet to compare fecal and vaginal microbiota from the same cohort of sows and identify correlations between different taxa.
UNASSIGNED: Differences in fecal community composition (PERMANOVA; P < 0.05), structure (alpha diversity measurements; P < 0.05), and 13 individual operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were revealed between PS1 and PS3 assigned sows. No differences in fecal microbiota were detected as a result of POP outcome. However, the abundances of several taxa were correlated across sample collection sites, suggesting the fecal and vaginal microbial communities may be related to one another.
UNASSIGNED: Collectively, fewer differences in the fecal microbiota exist in sows with differing risk for POP compared to the vaginal microbiota, suggesting the vaginal microbiome may be more relevant in relation to POP outcome, although correlations between fecal and vaginal communities may provide insight for strategies to combat POP.

Sulphate plays a vital role in the growth and development of the foetus. Sodium sulphate (Na2SO4) is utilised as a dietary protein nutrient factor and helps replenish sulphur elements in livestock and poultry. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of Na2SO4 supplementation in mid to late pregnancy on bile acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, placental vascular development and antioxidant capacity of sows. At day 1 of gestation (G1), a total of twenty-six primiparous sows were carefully chosen and randomised into two groups: (1) control group, (2) Na2SO4 group (1.40 g/kg). Blood samples and placentas from sows were collected to measure biochemistry parameters, antioxidant indexes, placental vascular density, and indicators related to bile acid metabolism and amino acid concentrations, respectively. We found that dietary supplementation with Na2SO4 had a tendency for a reduction of incidence of stillborn at farrowing. Further observation showed that sows supplemented with Na2SO4 had decreased total bile acid level in cord blood, and increased placental gene expression of sulphotransferase and organic anion transport peptide. Na2SO4 supplementation increased catalase and total superoxide dismutase activity in cord blood, decreased placental malondialdehyde content, and enhanced placental protein expression of Sirtuin 1. Moreover, Na2SO4 consumption resulted in increased vascular density of placental stroma and elevated amino acid levels in sows and cord blood. Furthermore, maternal Na2SO4 consumption reduced serum urea concentrations of sows and umbilical cord blood at G114. In addition, dietary supplementation with Na2SO4 activated the protein expression of the placental mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1. Collectively, these findings indicated that maternal supplementation with Na2SO4 during mid-to-late gestation elevated foetal survival via improving placental angiogenesis, bile acid metabolism and amino acid utilisation.

Gestating sows are often fed a single diet throughout their gestation cycle, leading to situations of nutrients deficiency or excess at the individual level. The purpose of this study was to characterize, over 3 consecutive cycles, the impact of a precision feeding (PF), i.e., dietary supplies adjusted at individual level in terms of quantity (energy intake) and quality (standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) intake), on gestating sows\' productive performance, feeding behavior, environmental outputs, and health status compared with sows fed a conventional feeding (CF, i.e., fixed SID Lys intake). At the start of the trial, 2 batches of 20 Landrace × Large White gestating sows were allocated to one of the 2 feeding strategies (PF vs. CF), based on their parity (1, 2, or 3 and more), body weight, and backfat thickness (BT) 3 days after insemination. The PF strategy consisted in mixing with automatic feeders 2 iso-energetic diets (9.8 MJ/kg of net energy with 3.3 and 8.5 g SID Lys/kg, respectively) in variable proportions at individual and daily levels, whereas for the CF strategy these proportions remained constant throughout gestation (73% and 27%, respectively, resulting in an SID Lys concentration of 4.7 g/kg). Sows were followed over 3 consecutive gestations and the sows remained allocated to the same strategy throughout the study. Some sows were culled before the end of the study and were replaced by other sows who therefore performed only 1 or 2 gestations during the study. Thus, 106 gestations and lactations from 51 sows were fully studied and their data analyzed. The PF strategy allowed the sows to reach more closely the expected BT values at farrowing across cycles than the CF strategy (P < 0.001). The PF sows consumed 16% less SID Lys per gestation than the CF sows (P < 0.001), resulting in a 4% improvement in N efficiency (P < 0.001), with no impact on performance at farrowing (P > 0.10). The sows consumed their daily ration in a single visit whatever the feeding strategy (P = 0.41), but CF sows spent more time in the feeder in cycles 2 and 3 (P < 0.001). Thus, compared to the CF strategy implemented by farmers, the individual and daily nutritional supplies implemented with the PF strategy were more efficient in enabling sows to achieve body condition objectives at farrowing over the long term, also with a reduced SID Lys intake and an improved N efficiency without negative impact on farrowing performances.
In commercial farms, sows are often fed a single diet throughout gestation. This results in a mismatch between feed intake and individual needs, which can lead to complications during farrowing. Precision feeding is a way of providing the sows an individual daily intake in terms of quantity and nutritional quality, by blending different diets using automatic feeders. We investigated the long-term effects of precision feeding of gestating sows, on their performance and feeding behavior. The results showed that precision feeding enabled farrowing body condition targets to be reached over time. Compared to a conventional feeding strategy, amino acid intake was reduced by 16% per gestation with precision feeding, enabling a 4% increase in nitrogen efficiency, with no impact either on the number or average birth weight of born alive piglets. Whatever the feeding strategy applied, sows consumed their daily ration in a single visit accounting for only 18% of the visits to the automatic feeders. In contrast, 92% of the visits to the drinking troughs were devoted to drinking. The economic and environmental long-term benefits of precision feeding are nuanced when compared to the conventional feeding, depending on how this latter strategy is applied.

This study evaluated the ability of 2 penetrating captive bolt (PCB) types (PISTOL, INLINE) to reach and disrupt the thalamus when applied in 2 placements (FRONTAL, BEHIND EAR) to chilled cadaver heads (N = 60) from sows >200 kg. Heads were randomly distributed across 6 treatments (n = 10): FRONTAL-INLINE, FRONTAL-PISTOL, FRONTAL-NO SHOT, BEHIND EAR-INLINE, BEHIND EAR-PISTOL, and BEHIND EAR-NO SHOT. The FRONTAL shot was placed 3.5 cm superior to the optic orbits at the midline; the BEHIND EAR shot was placed directly caudal to the pinna of the ear on the same plane as the eyes and targeting the middle of the opposite eye. For INLINE treatments, a Jarvis PAS-Type C 0.25R Super Heavy Duty PCB with a Long Bolt and 6.0 GR power loads was used. For PISTOL treatments, a Jarvis PAS-Type P 0.25R Pistol PCB with a Long Stunning Rod Nosepiece Assembly and 3.5 GR power loads was used. Heads were split along the bolt with a band saw. Tissue depth measurements are reported as Mean ± SE followed by 97.5% one-sided upper reference limit (URL). Total tissue thickness was less (P < 0.0001) at the FRONTAL (56.31 ± 1.76 mm; URL: 73.17 mm) than the BEHIND EAR placement (95.52 ± 3.30 mm; URL: 126.53 mm). Thalamic depth was less (P < 0.0001) at the FRONTAL (78.31 ± 1.32 mm; URL: 88.19 mm) than the BEHIND EAR placement (111.86 ± 3.22 mm; URL: 135.99 mm). The effective angle was greater (P < 0.0001) at the FRONTAL (4.72 ± 0.20°) than the BEHIND EAR placement (3.22 ± 0.17°). Potential for bolt-brain contact was not different (P = 1.0000) between FRONTAL-INLINE (10/10, 100% ± 0.01%), FRONTAL-PISTOL (10/10, 100% ± 0.01%), BEHIND EAR-INLINE (9/10, 90% ± 9.49%), and BEHIND EAR-PISTOL (10/10, 100% ± 0.01%); brain damage (P = 0.5577) between FRONTAL-INLINE (9/9, 100% ± 0.02%), FRONTAL-PISTOL (10/10, 100% ± 0.02%), BEHIND EAR-INLINE (4/10, 40% ± 15.49%), and BEHIND EAR-PISTOL (1/10, 10% ± 9.49%); potential for bolt-thalamus contact (P = 0.0683) for FRONTAL-INLINE (2/10, 20% ± 12.65%), FRONTAL-PISTOL (8/10, 80% ± 12.65%), BEHIND EAR-INLINE (7/9, 77.78% ± 13.86%), and BEHIND EAR-PISTOL (9/9, 100% ± 0.02%); or thalamic damage (P = 0.8041) for FRONTAL-INLINE (1/10, 10% ± 9.49%), FRONTAL-PISTOL (1/10, 10% ± 9.49%), BEHIND EAR-INLINE (2/8, 25% ± 15.31%), and BEHIND EAR-PISTOL (0/9, 0% ± 0.00%). The FRONTAL placement with an INLINE PCB may present the least risk of failure for the PCB euthanasia of mature sows >200 kg body weight due to less total tissue thickness and thalamic depth, greater effective angle, and prevalent brain damage.
Euthanasia is a necessary procedure to safeguard animal welfare on swine farms. Penetrating captive bolt (PCB) is often used to euthanize sows by passing a metal bolt through the animal’s skull and into the brain. This causes severe brain damage with the anticipated result of an immediate loss of consciousness. This study evaluated frontal and behind-ear PCB placements for sows weighing more than 200 kg with 2 commercially available types of PCB devices. The frontal placement, when used with an inline free-flight PCB device, may be more reliable than other placement and device combinations due to less total tissue thickness, more room for error with positioning the PCB, and prevalent brain damage.

BACKGROUND: Reproductive ability of sows is a primary element influencing the development of pig farming. Herbal extracts of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., and Polypodium glycyrrhiza D.C.Eaton showed effects on improvement of reproduction in sows.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of the treatment effects by a compound of these four Chinese herbs in a 1:1:1:1 ratio (ALAE) on endometriosis, endometritis, uterine adhesion, intrauterine growth retardation, pre-eclampsia, and its enhancement of reproductive efficiency in sows.
METHODS: Active components of ALAE were identified by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and network pharmacology. Then we used the results to construct a visualization network. Key targets and pathways of ALAE involved in sow reproduction improvement were validated in sow animals and porcine endometrial epithelial cells (PEECs).
RESULTS: A total of 62 active compounds were found in ALAE (41 in Polypodium glycyrrhiza D.C.Eaton, 5 in Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, 11 in Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., 5 in Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels) with 563 disease-related targets (e.g. caspase-3, EGFR, IL-6) involved in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, PI3K-AKT, and other signaling pathways. Molecular docking results indicated GC41 (glabridin), GC18 (medicarpin), EGFR and CCND1 are possible key components and target proteins related to reproductive improvement in sows. In PEECs, EGFR expression decreased at the mRNA and protein levels by three doses (160, 320, and 640 μg/mL) of ALAE. The phosphorylation of downstream pathway PI3K-AKT1 was enhanced. The expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β), ESR1 and caspase-3 decreased through multiple pathways. Additionally, the expression levels of an anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10), angiogenesis-related factors (MMP9, PIGF, PPARγ, IgG), and placental junction-related factors (CTNNB1, occludin, and claudin1) increased. Furthermore, the total born number of piglets, the number of live and healthy litters were significantly increased. The number of stillbirths decreased by ALAE treatment in sow animals.
CONCLUSIONS: Dministration of ALAE significantly increased the total number of piglets born, the numbers of live and healthy litters and decreased the number of stillbirths through improving placental structure, attenuating inflammatory response, modulating placental angiogenesis and growth factor receptors in sows. The improvement of reproductive ability may be related to activation of the EGFR-PI3K-AKT1 pathway in PEECs. Moreover, ALAE maybe involved in modulation of estrogen receptors, apoptotic factors, and cell cycle proteins.

Alternative farrowing systems that have been developed in recent years could have a positive effect on the welfare of sows during farrowing and lactation. Oxytocin measurements in saliva may provide information about positive animal welfare status. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in salivary oxytocin concentrations in sows during the lactation period in three different farrowing systems and in two different seasons. Crossbred Duroc sows (n = 34, average parity = 3.6 ± 1.80) were housed in conventional farrowing crates (FC) (n = 10) or in farrowing pens with temporary crating (TC), including SWAP (n = 12) and JFL15 (n = 12) in two different seasons: summer and winter. Saliva samples were collected for six days during lactation: days 2, 4, 12, 23, 25 (i.e., 1-day post-weaning) and 26 (i.e., 2-day post-weaning) after farrowing. Moreover, behavioral data from sows was recorded on days 2, 4, 12 and 23 after farrowing, using a 30-s scan sampling method for 3 min per pen to record the behaviors which were assessed by the same observer. The results showed that the salivary oxytocin concentrations were 472.5 pg/mL and 399.4 pg/mL higher in both TC (SWAP and JLF15, respectively) than in the FC in early-lactation period, and these differences were more pronounced in summer and at the end of lactation in winter. In terms of behavior, higher number of mother-young interactions were observed in TC than FC in early- and mid-lactation period. In conclusion, TC is associated to a higher salivary oxytocin concentration that could indicated an increased mother-young interaction, although oxytocin concentration can be influenced by other factors, such as season or day of lactation.