Constructing a simulated udder for neonatal piglets as an alternative to nurse sows.

An incubator with a simulated udder was constructed using information on piglet-sensory stimuli preferences. Neonatal piglets were randomly assigned to water in troughs (푛 = 38), milk-replacer (푛 = 36) or bovine-colostrum in simulated udder (푛 = 39). Weight was measured at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours, and rectal temperature at 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 8 hours. An interaction between time and treatment affected weight change (푝 < 0.001), where all piglets lost weight during the first hour., Piglets with access to water continued loosing weight (82.1 ± 32.8 g over 8 h), milk-replacer-piglets gained 88.6 ± 53.2 g and bovine-colostrum-piglets gained 55.7 ± 66.5 g over 8 h. Overall, piglets with access to the simulated udder gained weight during their first eight hours postpartum. An interaction between temperature at first handling and time (푝 < 0.001) as well as an interaction between time and treatment (푝 < 0.001) affected temperature. Further development of the method could reduce the need for nurse sows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]