Early appearance of "runting" in piglets
Cooper, J.E.; John, M.; McFadyen, I.R.; Wootton, R.
Veterinary Record 102(24): 529-530
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 676002 Document Number: 134316
In growth retardation the brain continues to grow but the liver is affected early. Thus the ratio of brain to liver weight can be used to measure the degree of retardation. At an abattoir 153 piglets from 17 litters were obtained in complete and undamaged uteri. Runting was initially assessed by clinical appearance of the fetus. Runts are thinner, smaller and have disproportionately large heads. Four, with a possible fifth, uteri were judged to contain runts. This was tested by application of Dixon's (1953) test to the logarithm of body weight. Four runts were confirmed. The gestation ages of the four were 44, 53, 56 and 75 days. These results confirm that runting can occur before mid-pregnancy in the pig. Previous studies have suggested that this was not so at least in other species.