Perfis fisiológico e metabólico de leitões neonatos em função do peso e da restrição de crescimento intrauterino

Abstract

Genetic improvement provided an increase in the number of piglets born/sow/year. However, it resulted in greater body wear of the sows during the gestation phase. In addition, the organism of sows has been shown to be limited, mainly in the ability of placental blood flow, increasing the incidence of piglets with low weight and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). These animals have a lower capacity for weight gain and a higher risk of mortality. Thus, these piglets are discarded from the production system. However, this removal is done without any well-defined criteria, which can lead to discarding piglets that would be viable for the production system. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate piglets of different IUGR categories and different weight ranges based on the physiological and metabolic profile of the piglets. A completely randomized design (DIC) was used with seven treatments with 10 replications, each replication consisting of one piglet. Treatments 1 and 2 were piglets (without IUGR characteristics) weighing less than 500 g and piglets weighing between 500 g and 800 g respectively; treatments 3 and 4, mild grade IUGR piglets (with only one IUGR head trait) below 500 g and 500 to 800 g respectively; treatments 5 and 6, severe grade IUGR piglets (with two or more IUGR head traits) below 500 g and 500 to 800 g respectively; treatment 7 were piglets with average birth weight on the farm of 1,200 g. Rectal temperature, morphological measurements (height and head length, body length and chest circumference), organ weight and blood biochemical composition were evaluated. Heavier piglets had higher rectal temperature (P=0.003). Piglets with average farm weight (1,200 g) and normal piglets, 500 g to 800 g, had greater thoracic circumference (P<0.05). Body length and head size were higher in average farm weight piglets (P<0.05). The weight of the esophagus, heart, stomach, kidneys, liver, small and large intestine, spleen and lung were higher in average piglets from the farm, followed by normal and IUGR piglets weighing 500 to 800 g (P<0.05), except the piglets CIUR severe 500 to 800 g, not differing from the piglets below 500 g. The blood metabolic profile, only piglets with average weight on the farm had higher concentrations of glucose (P=0.016), with the others being equal. Normal piglets weighing less than 500 g had higher concentrations of albumin, total protein and gamma glutamyl transferase (P<0.05). The concentrations of urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase were the same (P>0.05). Severe IUGR piglets from 500 to 800 g had higher concentrations of aspartate amino transferase, alanine amine transferase (P<0.05). Light IUGR piglets (500 to 800 g) had similar organ sizes and blood biochemical profile to normal piglets in the same weight range, indicating that these animals may be viable within the production system. Severe IUGR piglets (500 to 800 g) had worse organ development, and this may influence the future performance of these piglets.