Abstract
BackgroundIntake of colostrum after birth is essential to stimulate intestinal growth and function, and to provide systemic immunological protection via absorption of Immunoglobulin G (IgG). The birth order and weight of 745 piglets (from 75 litters) were recorded during a one-week period of farrowing. Only pigs weighing greater than 0.68 kg birth weight were chosen for the trial. Sow colostrum was collected during parturition, and piglets were bled between 48 and 72 hours post-birth. Piglet serum IgG and colostral IgG concentrations were determined by radial immunodiffusion.ResultsSow parity had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on sow colostral IgG concentration, being 5% higher in multiparous females. Sow colostral IgG concentration explained 6% and piglet birth order accounted for another 4% of the variation observed in piglet serum IgG concentration (P < 0.05); however, birth weight had no detectable effect. Piglet serum IgG concentration had both a linear (P < 0.05) and quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on % survival. Piglets with 1,000 mg/dl serum IgG or less (n=24) had a 67% survival; whereas, piglets with IgG concentrations between 2250 to 2500 mg/dl (n=247) had a 91% survival. Birth order had no detectable effect on survival, but birth weight had a positive linear effect (P < 0.05). Piglets weighing 0.9 kg (n = 107) at birth had a 68% survival rate, and those weighing 1.6 kg (n = 158) had an 89% survival.ConclusionWe found that the combination of sow colostrum IgG concentration and birth order can account for 10% of the variation of piglet serum IgG concentration and that piglets with less than 1,000 mg/dl IgG serum concentration and weight of 0.9 kg at birth had low survival rate when compared to their larger siblings. The effective management of colostrum uptake in neonatal piglets in the first 24 hrs post-birth may potentially improve survival from birth to weaning.
Highlights
Intake of colostrum after birth is essential to stimulate intestinal growth and function, and to provide systemic immunological protection via absorption of Immunoglobulin G (IgG)
The most significant finding of this study was that the combined effects of sow parity, sow colostral IgG concentration and birth order only explained 13% of the total variability found in piglet serum IgG concentration
We argue that while systemic serum IgG concentration might indicate an animals’ general immune status, circulating immunoglobulin content gives no indication as to the specificity of the immunity that may be present or that may have developed in the tissue immune system (e.g. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) secreted in the intestinal tract), which is important in resisting certain diseases common in young piglets
Summary
Intake of colostrum after birth is essential to stimulate intestinal growth and function, and to provide systemic immunological protection via absorption of Immunoglobulin G (IgG). Modern swine genotypes have been selected for increased litter size over the last 10–15 years which has resulted in greater heterogeneity of piglet birth weight [1] and decreased pre-weaning survival. Colostrum intake may be low in low birth weight piglets resulting in compromised health and elevated according to birth order, litter size and parity in their first day of life. There was a significant effect of birth order because of the rapid changes in colostrum composition between birth of the first and last piglet of each litter. The effect of birth weight was not detectable in serum IgG concentration and was different for the immunoglobulin classes. Parity had a significant effect on IgG concentration in sow’s colostrum with litter two to six. Machado-Neto and others [12] found that a concentration of IgG of less than 10 mg/ml on postnatal d 1 was associated with an increased pre-weaning mortality in piglets
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