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What is the anatomy of the sow mammary gland?
Composed of two complete gland systems with two teat orifices per teat, and if there are three orifices, one ends blindly
What is the optimum number of teats in a sow?
16 teats
What is the minimum number of teats required in a sow?
14 teats
What is the shape of the teats in a sow?
Elongated and pointed with two teat canals
What is an inverted teat in a sow?
A non-viable teat that mostly ends blindly
How are the teats positioned on a sow?
Equally placed in two parallel lines
What is considered poor teat placement in a sow?
Supramammary or diverging teats
What are the phases of milk production?
Colostral
Ascending
Plateau
Descending
What is the colostral phase of milk production in a sow?
The phase where immunoglobulins are present, lasting for 24 hours with 2.5-5L produced, and IgG decreases within 3 hours post-partum
What is the ascending phase of milk production in a sow?
The phase with increased nursings (up to 35), and milk quantity increases to 50g per nursing
What is the plateau phase of milk production in a sow?
Around day 10, this is when milk production reaches its maximum level
What is the descending phase of milk production in a sow?
The final phase of decreasing milk production
How is colostrum and milk ejected in a sow?
Colostrum: Elicited by movements of the sow
Milk: Synchronized by sow grunting, piglet massage of the udder, and oxytocin
What makes measuring milk productivity in sows difficult?
It requires 7-8 measurements over a 24-hour period
What are examples of mammary gland diseases?
Mastitis
Post-partum dysgalacia syndrome
Teat necrosis
Udder oedema
Agalactia
Mammary hypoplasia
What is mastitis in a sow?
Inflammation and infection of the mammary glands, commonly occurring during lactation
What are the classifications of mastitis in sows?
Uniglandular or multiglandular
Purulent/necrotic/parenchymatous/catarrhal
Acute/chronic
What infectious agents are commonly associated with mastitis in sows?
Coliform bacteria (e.coli, klebsiella)
Staphylococci
Streptococci
Miscellaneous bacteria
What are the predisposing factors for mastitis in sows?
Continual use of farrowing crates
Poor hygiene
Use of soiled bedding like sawdust
Wet floors
Contaminated water
Adverse temperatures
Build-up of faeces
What is the main route of entry for bacteria causing mastitis in sows?
Teat orifice
Bloodstream (septicaemia)
Piglets' teeth
What is the most severe type of mastitis?
Coliform
What is the pathogenesis of coliform bacteria mastitis in sows?
Causes severe acute mastitis resulting in reduced milk yield, illness in the sow, and poor piglet health
What are the clinical signs of acute mastitis in sows?
Inappetence, fever, hyperemia, swelling, discoloration
What are the clinical signs of chronic mastitis in sows?
Hard, non-painful lumps in mammary tissue that may ulcerate
What are the clinical signs of mastitis in piglets?
Hunger, squealing, potential death from starvation
What is the treatment for mastitis in sows?
Oxytocin
NSAIDs (flunixin, ketoprofen, meloxicam, dexamethasone)
Antibiotics (beta-lactams G-, streptomycin G+, broad-spectrum)
What is postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PPDS) in sows?
A condition occurring within the first three days after farrowing characterised by decreased milk production, affecting piglet growth and survival
What is the other name for postpartum dysgalactia syndrome?
Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia (MMA) complex
What are the infectious factors contributing to PPDS in sows?
E.coli, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella species from the GIT, uterus, or respiratory system
What are non-infectious factors contributing to PPDS in sows?
Mouldy feed
Obesity, insufficient exercise
Constipation, insufficient water intake, low fibre
High temperatures, slippery floors, poor cleaning
Induction of parturition, large litter size
What is the pathogenesis of PPDS in sows?
Endotoxemia from constipation leads to increased bacterial proliferation in the gut, absorption of endotoxins into the blood, and changes in hormone levels affecting milk production
What are the clinical signs of PPDS in sows?
Anorexia, depression, fever, vaginal discharge, occasional mastitis, and a primary inability to produce sufficient milk
What are the clinical signs of PPDS in piglets?
Poor growth, diarrhoea, loss of condition, increased mortality
What is the treatment for PPDS in sows?
Flunixin meglumine
Penicillin/amoxicillin for gram-negative bacteria
Oxytocin 5-10 IU/sow (4-5 times a day for milk production)
Prostaglandin F2a for parturition
What is the prevention against postpartum dysgalacia syndrome?
Do not feed sow day of farrowing (can lead to constipation → bacteria overgrowth)
Good hygiene (prevent mastitis/metritis)
After farrowing start feeding gradually depending on number of piglets
What is teat necrosis in piglets?
A condition observed within 18 hours of birth where the teat sphincters become necrotic due to trauma from floor surfaces
What causes teat necrosis in piglets?
Trauma to teats, especially those in front of the umbilical cord, due to contact with the floor; often exacerbated by swollen teats from female hormones from sow
What are the clinical signs of teat necrosis in piglets?
The teat end appears bright red, gradually becoming black, and may result in blind or inverted teats
How is teat necrosis diagnosed?
Examine teats 8 - 24 hours after birth for red or black teat sphincters.
What is the treatment for teat necrosis in piglets?
There is no treatment
What is udder oedema in sows?
Excess fluid in the mammary tissues causing reduced milk production
What are the predisposing factors for udder oedema in sows?
Breed predisposition, low water intake, excitement, high feed levels before farrowing, constipation, and low fibre intake
What is the pathogenesis of udder oedema in sows?
The pressure produced in the glands once farrowing has ceased prevents a good milk flow & there is a reduction in both the quantity & quality of the colostrum
What are the clinical signs of udder oedema in sows?
Firm mammary glands with discomfort on high pressure but no pain; diarrhoea in piglets
How is udder oedema in sows diagnosed?
This is based upon the appearance of the litter, piglets showing starvation, & the udder which lacks milk & is "drying up", or the udder may be hard with oedema or fluid. Mastitis may also develop as a result of the oedema.
What is the treatment for udder oedema in sows?
Oxytocin (every 4-6 hours), milk supplementation, and preventative antibiotic injection
What is the prevention for udder oedema in sows?
Lower feed intake (herd level problem), increase fibre, note constipation
What is agalactia in sows?
A shortage of milk supply in an otherwise healthy lactating animal, often seen as a result of oedema or mastitis
What are the causes of agalactia in sows?
Hypoplastic udder, mastitis, old age, obesity, water shortage, poor crate design
What are the clinical signs of agalactia in sows?
No milk production, inappetence, fever, starving piglets, and udder oedema
What is mammary hypoplasia in sows?
Failure of udder development due to insufficient hormone production
What are the causes of mammary hypoplasia in sows?
Early insemination, poor nutrition, mycotoxin exposure, and genetics (rare)
What is the treatment for mammary hypoplasia in sows?
Affected animals should be culled as they will not produce milk
What is the prevention for mammary hypoplasia in sows?
Ensure a good supply of water and avoid breeding affected sows
What are examples of NSAIDs?
Flunixin meglumine, carprofen, meloxicam, ketoprofen
What is the difference between agalactia and dysglactia?
Agalactia - no milk production
Dysgalactia - mild milk production
What combination/analogue of oxytocin can be given?
Depotocin (Active substance: Carbetocin)
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