8. Colostrum and milk production

Abstract

Colostrum and milk production play an essential role in ensuring piglet survival and growth. Sow colostrum yield is a limiting factor for piglet survival during the few days after birth and for piglet health and growth until weaning, and sow milk yield is a limiting factor for piglet growth rate. Both colostrum and milk yields are even more limiting in the current context where hyperprolific sow lines are being used. Colostrum and milk are produced during two distinct physiological stages of lactation and differ in timing of secretion and composition. Unlike sow milk yield, sow colostrum yield is not highly determined by litter size and suckling intensity. Factors that affect colostrum yield are less known than those affecting milk yield. Colostrum production is under hormonal control, with prolactin and progesterone concentrations prepartum having, respectively, positive and negative influences on colostrum yield. Colostrum yield varies with parity. The most recent studies collectively indicate that sow nutrition during late gestation is important for the colostrum yield of sows, but it is at present unknown which part of gestation is most critical for colostrum production. The potential impact of mammary gland development, on the one hand, and of sow metabolic status, on the other hand, on colostrum yield clearly warrants more research. Milk yield varies with sow genetics and parity and is influenced by the environment (noise, ambient temperature), and sow management and housing. Additionally, several nutritional aspects are important for the milk yield of sows including supply of dietary energy, dietary amino acids, bioactive ingredients, dietary fat sources, feeding curve, sow body condition and sow body mobilisation.