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Effects of meloxicam (Metacam®) on post-farrowing sow behaviour and piglet performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2011

E. Mainau ,
J. L. Ruiz-de-la-Torre ,
A. Dalmau ,
J. M. Salleras  and
X. Manteca
E. Mainau*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Food Science, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
J. L. Ruiz-de-la-Torre
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Food Science, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
A. Dalmau
Affiliation:
IRTA, Finca Camps i Armet s/n, 17121 Monells (Girona), Spain
J. M. Salleras
Affiliation:
Boehringer Ingelheim España, S.A., Prat de la Riba, 50, 08174 Sant Cugat del Vallès (Barcelona), Spain
X. Manteca
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Food Science, School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
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Abstract

Farrowing is an intrinsically risky process for both the sow and the piglets that can cause welfare and economic problems. The effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam on post-farrowing behaviour of sows, and the performance of piglets were investigated. A total of 48 sows were randomly allocated at the day of farrowing (day 0) into two homogeneous groups regarding parity, and treated with either meloxicam or saline solution as placebo. For each sow, number of position changes, total time lying and standing or sitting, feed intake and rectal temperature (RT) were recorded during 3 days after farrowing. Piglets were individually weighed at farrowing and at weaning. The number of position changes did not show significant differences between treatments (P = 0.79). Sows spent significantly less time lying during day +3 after farrowing in the meloxicam group than in the placebo group (P = 0.04). Feed intake and RT showed a parity effect (P < 0.001 in both cases); however, no treatment effect was observed (P = 0.67 and P = 0.47, respectively). Pre-weaning mortality rate in piglets was not affected by treatment. In litters from multiparous sows, piglets of low birth weight (defined as percentile 15: BW <1180 g) had an average daily gain significantly higher in the meloxicam group than in the placebo group (196.6 ± 7.2 v. 166.6 ± 9.1 g/day; P = 0.03). Although the administration of meloxicam 90 min after farrowing showed a positive effect on the total time lying of the sows, additional investigations are required to better qualify relevant indicators of pain following farrowing in sows and to specify the analgesic effects of meloxicam on piglet performance.

Keywords

behaviourfarrowingsowsmeloxicamperformance

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