<> "The repository administrator has not yet configured an RDF license."^^ . . . "Prolonged suckling period in organic piglet production – effects on selected immunological parameters"^^ . "During weaning, piglets are under strain from the loss of their dam, the change in feed, and a new microbiological environment. How much this strain influences the piglets depends mostly on their immune system. Piglets from organic production are weaned later (at least 40 days) than piglets from conventional rearing, but the performance and health status of organic piglets are often not satisfying. Therefore, it was the aim to investigate whether a prolonged suckling period of 63 days results in better immune status of piglets than with weaning at day 42. To answer that question we vaccinated piglets at different times with a “known” (by vaccination of dam) and an “unknown” antigen and analysed the plasma for immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration and the antigen-specific IgG antibodies by ELISA. Two farrowing cycles of 36 sows were recorded. Time of vaccination did not influence IgG concentration. In contrast, early weaned piglets showed a higher IgG concentration on day 49 than late weaned piglets. During the first farrowing cycle a significant immune response against both antigens was present in piglets vaccinated on day 42. Such a response was not found in piglets vaccinated on day 63 and in piglets of the second farrowing cycle. In conclusion, the results did not show an improved immune status of piglets undergoing a suckling period of 63 days."^^ . "2008" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Yvonne"^^ . "Sünkel"^^ . "Yvonne Sünkel"^^ . . "Michael Helmut"^^ . "Erhard"^^ . "Michael Helmut Erhard"^^ . . "Tanja"^^ . "Pollmüller"^^ . "Tanja Pollmüller"^^ . . "Friedrich"^^ . "Weissmann"^^ . "Friedrich Weissmann"^^ . . "Frank"^^ . "Ahrens"^^ . "Frank Ahrens"^^ . . "Ralf"^^ . "Bussemas"^^ . "Ralf Bussemas"^^ . . . . . . "Prolonged suckling period in organic piglet production – effects on selected immunological parameters (RTF (Rich Text Format))"^^ . . . "Ahrens_12252_ed.doc"^^ . . "HTML Summary of #12252 \n\nProlonged suckling period in organic piglet production – effects on selected immunological parameters\n\n" . "text/html" . . . " Pigs"@en . " Schweine"@de . . . "Prolonged suckling period in organic piglet production – Effects on some performance and health aspects"^^ . "The organic piglet suckling period typically takes about 6 weeks due to the minimum requirement of the EEC Regulation 2092/91 of 40 days. But piglets weaned in such a period are often characterized by inferior performance and health status. It is the aim of the present study to examine whether a prolonged suckling period of 63 days results in better performance and health status of the piglets. Therefore 36 sows were divided into 2 groups of 18 sows each as a control group with 42 days suckling period and a test group with 63 days suckling period. The rearing period for both the control group and the test group ended on day 77 p.n., which was also the end of the piglets´ data collection period. Three farrowing cycles with 108 litters were recorded. The extended suckling period resulted in an improved growth rate and in a reduced number of medically treated piglets and did not negatively affect the body condition and teats of the sows. Hence a prolongation of the suckling period compared to the minimum requirement of the EEC Regulation 2092/91 seems to be advisable."^^ . "2008" . . . . . . . . . . . "R."^^ . "Bussemas"^^ . "R. Bussemas"^^ . . "F."^^ . "Weissmann"^^ . "F. Weissmann"^^ . . . . . . "Prolonged suckling period in organic piglet production – Effects on some performance and health aspects (RTF (Rich Text Format))"^^ . . . "Bussemas_12087_rev.doc"^^ . . "HTML Summary of #12087 \n\nProlonged suckling period in organic piglet production – Effects on some performance and health aspects\n\n" . "text/html" . . . " Pigs"@en . " Schweine"@de . . . " Animal husbandry"@en . "Tierhaltung"@de . . . " Production systems"@en . " Nutztiere"@de .