Rate of umbilical healing in newborn piglets: the influence of neonatal practices and birth weight

Authors

  • Fernanda Mariane dos Santos Laboratório de Pesquisa em Suínos
  • Caroline Veloso Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4724-1821
  • Ana Lígia Braga Mezzina Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0786-2231
  • Ana Clara Rodrigues Oliveira Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3908-6107
  • Nadia de Almeida Ciriaco Gomes Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0758-9412
  • Matheus Saliba Monteiro Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1949-6697
  • Jose Alfonso Echavarria Martinez Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5902-0056
  • Flávio de Aguiar Coelho Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9907-3423
  • Rafaella Fernandes Carnevale Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0722-6008
  • Laya Kannan Silva Alves Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9534-6121
  • Francisco Alves Pereira DB Genética Suína, Patos de Minas/MG, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8231-2355
  • Cesar Augusto Pospissil Garbossa Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3244-7184

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/avs.v31i1.102209

Keywords:

Hernia, Pre-Weaning, Sus scrofa domesticus, Swine, Umbilical Outpouchings

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of different umbilical cord care techniques in newborn piglets. A total of 212 piglets from 15 sows were allocated in a randomized block design. Treatments included: No Intervention (NI) – no intervention was performed in the cord at birth; Tying and Cutting (TC) – the cord was tied onto itself and cut below the knot; and String, Cutting, and Iodine (SCI) – the cord was tied with string, cut, and immersed in 10% iodine solution. The following variables were analyzed: colostrum intake, incidence of hemorrhage, healing time, incidence of umbilical hernias, growth performance and economic viability. No treatment effects were found among treatments for colostrum intake, performance, incidence of hemorrhage, or umbilical hernia occurrence. Piglets in the TC group showed a slightly shorter healing time than those in the NI and SCI groups (P = 0.035). Birth and weaning weights were negatively correlated with healing time—lighter piglets exhibited slower healing, whereas faster-healing piglets achieved higher weaning weights. In conclusion, additional umbilical care such as iodine application did not improve umbilical healing and performance. Under the conditions of this study, additional procedures such as iodine application did not prove extra benefits compared with a simple tying technique

Author Biographies

Caroline Veloso, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Marília (UNIMAR). Currently, she is a master's student in the Department of Nutrition and Animal Production at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at the University of São Paulo (VNP/FMVZ/USP), at the Swine Research Laboratory (LPS/FMVZ/USP), with the conducting the research project "Phytogenic additives in the diet of lactating sow pigs".

Ana Lígia Braga Mezzina, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Animal Scientist, graduated from the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) in 2022. Currently a Master of Science in the Postgraduate Program in Nutrition and Animal Production at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (FMVZ/USP), and a member of the Swine Research Laboratory (LPS/FMVZ/USP).

Ana Clara Rodrigues Oliveira, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Veterinarian. Master's studant at the University of São Paulo. 

Nadia de Almeida Ciriaco Gomes, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Veterinarian. Master in Science by the University of São Paulo. Currently a PhD studant at the University of São Paulo.

Matheus Saliba Monteiro, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Veterinarian. Master in science. 

Jose Alfonso Echavarria Martinez, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Veterinarian. 

Flávio de Aguiar Coelho, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Animal scientist 

Rafaella Fernandes Carnevale, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Veterinarian. Master in Science. 

Laya Kannan Silva Alves, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Animal scientist, PhD in Animal Nutrition and Production, specializing in swine production.

Francisco Alves Pereira, DB Genética Suína, Patos de Minas/MG, Brasil

Veterinaran. Master and doctor in science. 

Cesar Augusto Pospissil Garbossa, Swine Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

Professor of Swine Production and Nutrition (Department of Animal Nutrition and Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences)

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Published

2026-04-24

How to Cite

dos Santos, F. M., Veloso, C., Braga Mezzina, A. L., Rodrigues Oliveira, A. C., de Almeida Ciriaco Gomes, N., Saliba Monteiro, M., … Pospissil Garbossa, C. A. (2026). Rate of umbilical healing in newborn piglets: the influence of neonatal practices and birth weight. Archives of Veterinary Science, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.5380/avs.v31i1.102209

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 1 (2026): Advances at the Frontier of Veterinary Science

Section

Animal Welfare

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