Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T05:02:03.160Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of sub-clinical nematode parasitism on reproductive performance in the sow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

H. D. Pattison ,
W. C. Smith  and
R. J. Thomas
H. D. Pattison
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
W. C. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
R. J. Thomas
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
Get access

Abstract

Ten sows were each infected with 300 000 larvae of Oesophagostomum dentatum after weaning their second litter, and subsequent per formance over one parity was compared with that of 10 ‘worm free’ controls. Mean worm burden in the sows when slaughtered immediately after weaning, was 13 480 ±2377. From service to weaning of the litter the mean body weight of worm-free sows increased (+11·3 kg) whereas that of infected sows declined (—13·1 kg) and at slaughter the carcasses of infected sows had lower depths of backfat. Worm-free sows averaged 12·8 pigs born of which 11·3 were born alive, corresponding values for infected sows being 12·4 and 9·5. Worm infection reduced birth weights by 15% but differences were not significant. Litters were equalized at eight pigs shortly after birth, and subsequent weaning weights were 10·5 % lower in those of infected sows despite a 29 % higher consumption of creep feed. Clinical disease was never observed in the infected sows, and no parasitic infection was found in the piglets. It is concluded that sub-clinical infections of O. dentatum in sows may be of economic significance.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , December 1979 , pp. 321 - 326
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Davidson, J. B. and Taffs, L. F. 1965. Gastro-intestinal parasites in pigs. Vet. Rec. 77: 403.Google Scholar
Dodd, D. C. 1960. Hyostrongylosis and gastric ulceration in the pig. N.Z. vet. J. 8: 100–103.Google Scholar
Elsley, F. W. H., MacPherson, R. M. and Lodge, G. A. 1968. The effects of level of feeding of sows during pregnancy. III. Body composition. Anim. Prod. 10: 149–156.Google Scholar
Funger, H. 1974. Effect on the development of piglets of a parbendazole treatment of sows in late pregnancy. Inaug. Diss., Tierärztl.Hochsch., Hanover.Google Scholar
Gitter, M., Gibson, T. E., Kidd, A. R. M. and Davies, G. 1966. Gastro-intestinal parasites in sows. Vet. Rec. 79: 447–450.Google Scholar
Gordon, H. McL. and Whitlock, H. V. 1939. A new technique for counting nematode eggs in sheep faeces. J. Court, scient. ind. Res. Aust. 12: 50–52.Google Scholar
Klupp, I. and Pfeiffer, A. 1975. The influence of anthelmintic treatment of gravid sows with Eustidil (Haloxon) on the development of piglets. Bed. Munch, tierartzl. Wschr. 88: 10–13.Google Scholar
MacLean, C. W. 1968. The thin sow problem. Vet. Rec. 83: 308–316.Google Scholar
MacLean, C. W. 1969. Observations on non-infectious infertility in sows. Vet. Rec. 85: 675–682.Google Scholar
Pattison, H. D., 1976. A study of gastro-intestinal parasitism in pigs with particular reference to the genus Oesophagostomum, Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Newcastle upon Tyne.Google Scholar
Smith, W. C, Tonks, H. M. and Lawrence, N. 1967. A note on the use of back rasher ratios as predictors of lean percentage in pigs of bacon weight. Anim. Prod. 9: 255–258.Google Scholar
Symons, L. E. A. 1969. The pathology of gastro-intestinal helminthoses. Int. Rev. trop. Med. 3: 49–100.Google Scholar
Thomas, R. J. and Smith, W. C. 1968. Anthelmintic treatment of sows with thiabendazole. Vet. Rec. 83: 489–491.Google Scholar