Assessment of viability of new born piglets using an adjusted APGAR score

Since decades pig breeding goals have mainly focused on prolificacy. However, large litters can have implications on piglets’ and sows’ welfare. Due to increased litter size viability of piglets may decrease, leading to a higher number of stillborn piglets and increased suckling piglet mortality. Piglet viability can be assessed using an adjusted APGAR score. This score measures in the new born piglet indicators crucial for the ability to survive. So the aim of this paper is to investigate the main effects on piglet viability by using an adjusted APGAR score. For this purpose, 25 sows and 404 born piglets were assessed using an adjusted APGAR scoring system. Every live born piglet was evaluated directly after birth regarding the parameters skin colour, umbilical cord condition, latencies to respiration, first movement, first attempt to stand up and first teat contact. Each parameter was scored from 0 (bad) to 2 (good) according to predefined categories and summed up to an overall APGAR score. The influence of provision of oxytocin or manual intervention during farrowing, care of the new born by the farmer and obstetrics on viability was investigated. It was found, that new born care and the condition of the umbilical cord had the highest influence on piglet viability. Oxytocin and obstetrics had no influence on the viability of piglets and therefore on the APGAR score