Effect of thiamine pyrophosphate on the characteristics of farrowing and piglet vitality

Asphyxia is considered the main non-infectious cause of prepartum mortality in swine, as well as an important factor that negatively affects neonatal vitality and can trigger physiological and metabolic disorders. Hence, the search for pharmacological protocols to reduce the harmful effects of asphyxia is a key area of research. Recent observations show that administering thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) prior to a hypoxic event in certain species (rabbits, rats) has a neuroprotector effect that preserves energy metabolism under hypoxic conditions. Given this, the objective of this study was to evaluate a prophylactic protocol in high- and low-vitality neonate piglets based on TPP's effect on physiological and metabolic responses, body temperature, and weight. A total of 149 piglets born from 15 multiparous sows were used. The dams were randomly divided into two groups: control (NaCl 0.9%) and TPP (25 ml of TTP) administered 24 and 12 h before the expected farrowing date. The following reproductive variables of the sows were recorded: duration of farrowing, total number of piglets born per litter, number of liveborn piglets per litter, number of stillbirths and mummified fetuses at birth, and number of live piglets at weaning. In addition, the expulsion interval and vitality of all neonates were evaluated, body temperatures were recorded at ten intervals, and physiological profiles (blood gases, electrolytes, glucose) were registered for each neonate. Results show that the TPP-treated sows had shorter farrowing duration (P = 0.0060) and higher percentage of high-vitality neonates (60%). Moreover, their offspring exhibited greater vitality, fewer imbalances in their physiological and metabolic profiles, and greater weight gain at weaning (P