Neonatal-piglet weight variation and its relation to pre-weaning mortality and weight gain on commercial farms

To determine the effect of within-litter neonatal-weight variation on pre-weaning mortality and weight gain, we analyzed piglet survival and weight gain within 400 litters from 10 commercial farms. Neonatal-weight variation (independent of mean neonatal weight, litter size and sow parity) was associated with pre-weaning survival and weaning-weight variation-but not with mean weaning weight. Neonatal piglets with weights well below the range of most of the litter (low-birth-weight piglets) had an increased risk of dying and were unable to obtain normal weight gains by weaning if they survived. These piglets experienced lower survival and poorer weight gain in larger litters. These piglets also tended to have lower survival but normal (albeit low) weaning weights if they survived in litters from middle-aged and old sows. High neonatal-weight variation resulted in lower survival and more variable weaning weights. Small piglets had a greater risk for poor survival and weight gain compared to their heavier litter-mates (a disadvantage that was exacerbated in large litters). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.