Relationship between birth order, birth weight, colostrum intake, acquisition of passive immunity and pre-weaning mortality of piglets

Jean Le Dividich,Françoise Thomas,Rui Charneca

doi:10.5424/sjar/2017152-9921

Abstract

This study investigates the relation between birth order (BO), birth weight (BW0), colostrum intake (CI), level of passive immunity and pre-weaning mortality of piglets. The animals used were 551 cross-bred piglets [Piétrain × (Large-White × Landrace)] born from 40 sows. Colostrum immunoglobulins G (IgG) determinations were made from 17 sows. Colostrum samples were obtained at birth of the first piglet then at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 h later, and on the first-two and the last-two piglets born. Serum IgG determinations from 68 piglets were made at 2d of age and at weaning. Individual CI was estimated from body weight gain. Relative birth order (RBO) and BW0 within-litter were weakly (R2<0.05) but positively correlated (p<0.01). Colostrum intake of piglets was independent from RBO (p>0.10) but increased by 26 ± 1.6 g per 100 g increase in BW0 (p<0.001). Serum IgG concentrations of the last two born piglets were 29.5% lower (p<0.01) than the first two born at 2 d of age, and 25% (p<0.05) at weaning. They were also lower at weaning than at 2 d of age (p<0.001). Serum IgG concentrations of piglets at weaning and at 2 d of age were positively correlated (R2=0.50, p<0.001). Within-litter, CI explained 11% (p<0.01) of the variation observed in piglets’ IgG at 2d of age. Mortality of piglets was irrespective of RBO (p>0.10). It was concluded that despite last-born piglets obtained less passive immunity than first-born, they were not at higher risk of dying before weaning. Major causes of mortality were low birth weight and insufficient colostrum (energy) intake.

Highlights

Piglets are born with low energy reserves (Mellor & Cockburn, 1986; Theil et al, 2014) and deprived of immunoglobulins (Bourne, 1969)
This study investigates the relation between birth order (BO), birth weight (BW0), colostrum intake (CI), level of passive immunity and pre-weaning mortality of piglets
Reproductive performance of sows and pre-weaning mortality observed in the present study were consistent with the national French results (IFIP, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

Piglets are born with low energy reserves (Mellor & Cockburn, 1986; Theil et al, 2014) and deprived of immunoglobulins (Bourne, 1969). It is of vital importance that piglets ingest adequate amounts of colostrum to provide enough energy and passive immunity to ensure their survival and development (Le Dividich et al, 2005; Quesnel et al, 2012). The acquisition of passive immunity from the sow might be compromised in late-born piglets (de Passillé et al, 1988; Klobasa et al, 2004; Devillers et al, 2011; Kielland et al, 2015), Jean Le Dividich, Rui Charneca and Françoise Thomas due to the rapid decline of colostral Ig concentrations (Klobasa et al, 1987; Markowska-Daniel et al, 2010) over time. The objective of the current experiment was to study the relationship between birth order and piglet’s birth weight, colostrum intake, acquisition of passive immunity, and preweaning mortality

Methods

Results

Conclusion