Use of powder drying in curing and drying of the umbilical cord of piglets

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the use of drying powder and iodine in the drying and curing the umbilical cord of newborn piglets. We used 56 samples of umbilical cords of newborn piglets, and 13 samples collected shortly after the birth of piglets, 22 in treatment A, which were involved with powder drying, and B, 21 samples, which was used iodine to 10 %. In both treatments the samples were collected 20 and 24 hours after birth and piglet management. The analysis to measure the percentage of humidity of each sample were made at the Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Uberlandia using the method of drying in the oven to 105 º C for 8 hours and then the data were played on a formula to determine the percentages humidity. The umbilical cord at birth had 91.83% moisture, the analysis at 20 and 24 hours after birth in treatment A showed statistically significant differences in those of treatment B (P <0.05). In treatment A, we observed that 20 hours after birth, the humidity dropped to 24.80% after 24 hours and to 18.15% moisture, as in B was found 28.37% at 20 hours after birth and 26 75% at 24 hours. It is concluded that the use of drying powder was effective for curing and drying of the umbilical cord of piglets after 24 hours of birth.