Factors associated with colostrum consumption in neonatal piglets

Abstract

Insufficient colostrum consumption within 24 h after birth is a major problem, causing an increased neonatal piglet mortality. The aims of the present study were to determine the risk factors associated with colostrum consumption by neonatal piglets and the proportion of piglets that had inadequate colostrum from hyper-prolific sows. In total, 861 live-born piglets from 59 Danish Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred sows (parities 1–6), farrowed naturally, were included in the study. The sow characteristics recorded included farrowing duration, total number of piglets born (TB), number of piglets born alive (BA), number of stillborn piglets (SB) and number of mummified foetuses (MM) per litter. Individual piglet data were recorded during delivery, including the time of birth, individual birth weight before colostrum ingestion and body weight at 24 h postpartum. Cumulative birth interval of the piglets was classified into six groups: <1.0, 1.0–1.9, 2.0–2.9, 3.0–3.9, 4.0–4.9 and ≥5.0 h. Birth weight of the piglets was classified into four groups: <800, 800–999, 1000–1299 and ≥1300 g. The BA was classified into three groups: 7–13, 14–17 and ≥18 piglets per litter. Colostrum consumption of the piglets was estimated and compared among groups of associated factors. On average, piglet colostrum consumption was 416 ± 176 g. Of all piglets, 26.6% had colostrum consumption of <300 g. Factors correlated negatively with the piglet colostrum consumption included TB (r = –0.144, P < 0.001), BA (r = –0.121, P < 0.001), SB (r = –0.092, P = 0.009) and cumulative birth interval (r = –0.115, P < 0.001). On the other hand, factors positively correlated with the piglet colostrum consumption included body weight at birth (r = 0.250, P < 0.001), body weight gain (r = 0.927, P < 0.001) and rectal temperature at 24 h of postnatal life (r = 0.200, P < 0.001). The proportion of piglets that had inadequate colostrum (< 300 g) in litters of 7–13 was lower than in litters of ≥18 (13.2% and 33.1%, respectively, P = 0.002). The effect of litter size on piglet colostrum consumption was not significant in piglets with birth weights of ≥1300 g (P > 0.05) or 1000–1299 g (P > 0.05) but was more pronounced in piglets with low birth weight (P < 0.05). In conclusion, body weight at birth, cumulative birth interval and litter size were significant risk factors affecting piglet colostrum consumption.