INFLUENCE OF BIRTH-WEIGHT ON THE EARLY PO STNATAL VITALITY OF PIGLETS

Investigations with 1248 newborn piglets in 7 farms showed a high sign ificant influence of birth weight on parameters of early postnatal vit ality. The duration between birth and first standing up was by two tim es, the time between birth and first udder contact by 3.5 times and th e duration between birth and first colostrum intake was by 4 times lon ger in piglets with a low birth weight (< 800 g) in comparison with he avier piglets at birth (> 2200 g). The drop in rectal temperature up t o 30 minutes after birth reached 4.5 Kelvin in lightweight piglets, wh ereas their litter mates with a high body weight at birth had a value of 0.85 K (p < 0.01). The birth weight of piglets belongs to the most important endogenous factors with influence on the vitality of newborn piglets and has a high prognostic value in relation to the risk of lo sses and the live weight development of neonates.