Aplicación de somatotropina recombinante porcina en lechones durante la primera semana de vida: efecto sobre variables metabólicas y somatométricas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of porcine recombinant somatotropin (rpST) administered to piglets during their first week of life, on metabolic and somatometric variables. A total of 220 piglets born from 40 hybrid Landrace x Large White sows were used. Piglets were randomly assigned to either Group 1 (G1, Control, n = 106) or Group 2 (G2, rpST treatment, n = 114). The rpST dose was 1mg/kg every 24h during 7 consecutive days. Serum pH at birth showed significant differences between groups (7.42 ± 0.47 and 7.31 ± 0.59), although this difference dissapeared on day 8. There was a significant increase (P < 0,001) in plasma glucose levels for the treated group on day 8 (68.78 ± 10.44 and 103.71 ± 18.44). Average daily weight gain was also higher for the somatotropin treated group compared to the control (137.25 ± 31.31 and 209.21 ± 45.97). Comparisons for interaction between treatment and sex showed dramatic differences (P < 0,001) for glucose, lactate and weight gain for the males from G2 when compared to the females from the same experimental group on day 7 post-treatment. Piglets treated with rpST showed significant differences in abdominal perimeter (28.67 ± 4.41 and 31.79 ± 3.74), dorsal length (28.42 ± 2.66 and 30.21 ± 4.70), and ham roundness (18.79 ± 2.62 and 22.38 ± 2.98). There is an ongoing research that will allow to determine the composition of body mass (bone or muscle) in the treated piglets. Con el fin de evaluar el efecto de la administración de la somatotropina recombinante porcina (rpST) en lechones, sobre las variables metabólicas y somatométricas durante la primera semana de vida, se evaluaron un total de 220 lechones al nacimiento de 40 cerdas híbridas Landrace x Large White. Los lechones fueron clasificados aleatoriamente en dos grupos. El Grupo 1 conformado por 106 lechones (Grupo testigo) y el grupo 2 por un total de 114 lechones (Grupo tratado con pST). La administración de la rpST se realizó a una dosis de 1 mg/kg cada 24 h durante siete días. En el pH al nacimiento se apreciaron diferencias significativas (P < 0,05) en ambos grupos (7,42 ± 0,47 y 7,31 ± 0,59), fenómeno que desaparece a la semana de vida. A la semana se observó un aumento significativo (P < 0,001) en los niveles de glucosa en los lechones del G2 vs. G1 (103,71 ± 18,4468, 78 ± 10,44). Al final del experimento la ganancia diaria de peso fue mayor para el grupo tratado con rpST (209,21 ± 45,97) respecto al grupo testigo (137,25 ± 31,31). Al comparar el