Abstract
As the only nutritional source for newborn piglets, porcine colostrum and milk contain critical nutritional and immunological components including carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins (immunoglobulins). However, porcine milk composition is more complex than these three components. Recently, scientists identified additional and novel components of sow colostrum and milk, including exosomes, oligosaccharides, and bacteria, which possibly act as biological signals and modulate the intestinal environment and immune status in piglets and later in life. Evaluation of these nutritional and non-nutritional components in porcine milk will help better understand the nutritional and biological function of porcine colostrum and milk. Furthermore, some important functions of the porcine mammary gland have been reported in recent published literature. These preliminary studies hypothesized how glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids are transported from maternal blood to the porcine mammary gland for milk synthesis. Therefore, we summarized recent reports on sow milk composition and porcine mammary gland function in this review, with particular emphasis on macronutrient transfer and synthesis mechanisms, which might offer a possible approach for regulation of milk synthesis in the future.
Highlights
Piglets are born with low body fat reserves and immature immune systems
After uptake of free amino acids from blood into the porcine mammary gland, they are synthesized into milk protein, including caseins and whey proteins
Recent research reported other vital bioactive components in porcine milk. These antimicrobial and immunomodulatory components of porcine milk are hypothesized to compensate for immature neonatal immune systems and mitigate environmental infectious pathogens
Summary
Piglets are born with low body fat reserves and immature immune systems. Timely colostrum intake is crucial for piglets to gain sufficient nutrients and passive immunoglobulins from the sow after piglets are exposed to environmental cold and pathogens [1]. Recently studies reported additional components in porcine milk. We summarized the recent research progress in porcine mammary gland function in this review, especially macronutrient (lactose, protein and fatty acids) transfer and synthesis mechanisms. These bioactive compounds in milk can play important roles in mammary cell regulation and neonatal function (gastrointestinal tract or systemic) [48].
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