EuroTier 2008
Thin sow syndrome
Occurrence: Worldwide
Age affected: Sows
Effects: Weight loss, anoestrus.
Pig health & diseases main page
The condition results classically from a combination of parasitism (helminths or mange), low environmental temperatures and inadequate feed intake, particularly during lactation. Weight loss at this time may never be regained. Parasitism is less important when therapy is routinely carried out. In outdoor pig populations, low environmental temperatures are important. Outdoor sows require at least 200 kg more feed per sow per year than indoor animals. Indoors, thin sows in sow stalls should be kept at 22˚C and sows in moderate condition at 21˚C. Lower temperatures may be tolerated in the presence of bedding. Temperatures below this require extra feed to maintain sow weight gain in gestation.
Feed intake is the most important cause. Feed intake may be affected by bullying, disease, a high environmental temperature in the farrowing accommodation, or an over fat condition at farrowing. Sows should be in condition score 3/4 or 6/10 (fat depth at P2 16-20 mm) at farrowing and may fall to condition score 2-2.5/4 or 4/10 (fat depth P2 12 mm) after lactation. Unless these criteria are met, total weaning weight of the litter will be reduced, return to oestrus will be delayed and egg numbers will be reduced to give small subsequent litters.
In extreme cases, emaciation may occur in 30-90% of sows and boars in a herd, associated with hypothermia 36.5-38˚C (97-100˚F), depraved appetites, restlessness, apathy and later, difficulty in rising. The skin may be dirty and greasy and there may be surface abrasions, especially pressure sores in lactating crated sows. As the condition progresses, failure to return to oestrus and permanent infertility may occur. Where accurate individual feeding to condition is not practised and bullying occurs, individual animals in a groups can be clinically affected. Sows in less than optimum condition are frequently found in winter where temperature control is not practised. Suboptimal condition or even thin sows may be found during the recovery period from disease such as influenza and may be more extreme in lean breeds. Clinical signs of suboptimal condition include increased weaning to service intervals, small litters and low weaning weights. Piglets of sows in suboptimal condition may be restless and demand milk more frequently.
Thin sows may be identified by observation and systematic condition scoring of the herd. Ultrasound is particularly useful for quantitative measurement as scoring is more difficult in older animals due to their conformation. As sows should gain at least 12.5 kg body weight between parities, regular weighing can identify animals in sub-optimal condition. Pressure scores in sows at weaning also indicate poor condition. Some production parameters can be used to detect thin sows. Where gilt condition and nutrition in lactation is inadequate, the second litter is the same size or smaller than the fist, and low number born may reflect overall sow condition at service. Extended weaning to service intervals and low weaning weights may be due to poor body condition. The causes of poor sow condition should be established. It should be established that feed of adequate quantity and nutrient density is being supplied to each individual especially during lactation and until implantation 10-14 days after service. Parasitism can be ruled out by inspection and sampling for mange and faecal sampling for worm eggs and coccidia. The influence of disease may be established by inspection, clinical examination or consultation of the recent history of the herd of the animals concerned.
There is not treatment. The effects of thin sows on litter weaning weights can be reduced by supplementary feeding of the litter. The effects on numbers born may be reduced when sows or gilts are in poor condition by delaying service until the next oestrus (herd inventory projections permitting). Ensure that adequate quantities of food are given to all affected animals and that individual feeding is possible. In loose housing systems, crate feeding or electronic sow feeding may be required. Environmental temperatures should be restored to normal and anthelminthic or mange treatment should be considered. Adequate feed intake during lactation and early pregnancy should maintain the weight of the sow and increase it by 10-15 kg between litters by increasing the energy content of lactating rations with fat or feeding three times daily during lactation. It may be necessary to weight sows after weaning in order to ensure that adequate weight gain has occurred between lactations, to assign them to groups for feeding at an appropriate level thought pregnancy or to feed individually to condition. Management systems which feed low protein rations to lean gilts can increase relative fat levels and ensure adequate production during the second parity.
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