Abstract
Background:
Farrowing is a precarious moment in pig production potentially associated with a wide range of ailments in sows and gilts, and often having a negative impact on pre-weaned piglet zootechnical performances.
Aim:
To evaluate zootechnical parameters of piglets born and suckled from dams treated postpartum with tolfenamic acid at a commercial farm.
Methods:
Dams were randomised to receive an intramuscular injection of 4% tolfenamic acid at 2 mg/kg body weight within 12 hours postpartum (TA group) or no inflammatory treatment (control group). Evaluated parameters included individual piglet live weight at birth (day 0); number of live piglets at day 2; mortality at weaning; and individual weight at weaning. IgG transfer assessment was conducted in a subset of piglets stratified by suckling position.
Results:
81 dams and their litters were included (TA group: 20 sows, 21 gilts, 472 piglets; Control group: 20 sows, 20 gilts, 458 piglets), with IgG transfer assessment conducted in 80 piglets of 20 randomly selected dams (TA group: 40; Control group: 40). Piglet performances in the TA versus control groups respectively, were: average daily gain 0.23 ± 0.06 versus 0.20 ± 0.06 kg (p<0.05); weaned weight 6.32 ± 1.23 versus 5.50 ± 1.09 kg (p<0.05); day 1 plasma IgG levels in piglets from gilts were 20.60 ± 3.78 versus 16.99 ± 4.23 µg/ml (p<0.05); and mortality at weaning was 6.6% (31/472) versus 11.8% (54/458) (p<0.05). The within-litter weaned weight variation in the TA group was not significant (p=0.11) at 6.50 ± 1.11 kg in the anterior suckling position versus 6.76 ± 1.01 kg in the posterior teat suckling positions, while the difference was significant (p<0.05) in the control group, at 5.61 ± 0.68 kg versus 5.37 ± 0.75 kg, respectively.
Conclusions:
Piglets in the TA group had statistically significant improved zootechnical performances, while their within-litter weaned weights did not differ significantly.

Key words: NSAID, Tolfenamic acid, Within-litter, Weight, Variation