INFLUENCE OF EARLY POSTNATAL VITALITY OF NEWBORN PIGLETS ON LIVE WEIGHT DEVELOPMENT AND MORTALITY UP TO 28TH DAY OF LIFE

Ethological and physiological parameters of newborn piglets allow pros pective informations in relation to chances of survival and developmen t in neonates of swine. Birthweight plays an important role as an indi cator for vitality in newborns and for informations to performance und er aspects of practicability. There are many significant relations bet ween the postnatal parameters of vitality, teat position of piglets, l ive weight development and mortality during suckling period. Fast colo strum intake and low postnatal drop in rectal temperature are of progn ostic Value for successful fighting to occupy the preferred cranial te at position. The cranial teat position itself has a significant influe nce on daily weight gain up to 28th day of life. Also, direct relation s between time up to first milk intake, drop in rectal temperature res p. and live weight development and mortality up to the end of 4th week of age were found in investigations with 1223 piglets.