Neonatal Hypothermia in Lambs and Piglets

New born hypothermia mostly noticed in lambs and piglets. Hypothermia and Hypoglycemia are the common cause for the neonatal mortality and these two are closely interrelated.

Etiology

Cool Environment

• Cool environment in shed, bedding material and climate cause neonatal hypothermia in lambs and piglets.

Low birth weight

• Poor nutrition to pregnant animal
• Twining / triplet ewes
• More litter size with poor body weight in pigs

Starvation

• Loss of sucking reflex: low colostrum intake leads depletion of energy
• Poor mothering
• Birth injury: Misshapen of oral cavity or mouth by dystocia- leads low sucking drive.

Brown adipose tissue

• Body temperature maintained by non-shivering thermo regulation in neonates.
• Piglets limited brown adipose tissue.

Body Surface

• Small body surface more susceptible to hypothermia.

Management and treatment

• Providing warm environment by warming box / warm water bag / warm lamp/ incubator etc.
• Administration of 20% glucose at 2 g/kg body weight per calf.