Piglets׳ colostrum intake associates with daily weight gain and survival until weaning

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify sow and piglet parameters that were associated to piglets׳ daily weight gain (DWG) and survival. We were especially interested in associations with colostrum intake (CI) and how CI affects amino acid use in neonatal piglets.Survival and DWG was recorded of piglets born to 37 PIC sows (parity 1–7) until weaning. Parameters regarding reproduction, sow body condition, colostrum quantity, and colostrum nutritional and immunological composition were noted. Four piglets per litter were randomly selected for serum collection 24–30h after birth and this was analysed for urea, creatinine, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and A (IgA), and 7 free amino acids.The DWG was positively associated with birth weight (BWB) and CI/kg BWB, and negatively with time between birth and first suckle (tFS) until day 3 of lactation (R2=0.39, p<0.001), day 7 of lactation (R2=0.26, p<0.001) and weaning (R2=0.18, p<0.001). The mortality rate was higher for piglets with a BWB <1kg (p<0.001), a CI/kg BWB <160g (p<0.001) and a tFS>60min (p<0.01).The CI/kg BWB was negatively associated to urea (p=0.002), positively to some free amino acids (p<0.05) but not to creatinine, NEFA, IgG and IgA in piglets׳ serum. The DWG was negatively associated to urea and positively to leucine until day 3 of lactation (R2=0.19, p<0.001), until day 7 of lactation (R2=0.13, p<0.001) and until weaning (R2=0.08, p<0.001).A lower CI/kg BWB was accompanied by a higher catabolism of protein that did not seem to originate from the piglets׳ body reserves. It seems that piglets with a lower CI/kg BWB use a larger proportion of colostral protein as a substrate for energy production instead of other purposes such as lean growth, as there was a negative association between parameters indicating protein catabolism and DWG at least until weaning.In conclusion, the study demonstrated that piglets׳ daily weight gain and survival until weaning was positively associated with birth weight, colostrum intake per kg birth weight and negatively to time between birth and first suckle. The effect of colostrum intake per kg birth weight seems to be related to a shift in nutrient use. With a decreasing colostrum intake per kg birth weight, piglets use a relatively higher amount of colostral protein in catabolic processes.