Factors influencing colostrum yield by sows

Abstract

An adequate colostrum intake, in order to ensure the survival and weight gain of piglets, depends on the sow's ability to produce enough colostrum for the whole litter. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors involved in colostrum yield (CY) variability related to the sow, the litter and the farrowing process. The experiment was conducted with 96 Camborough 25® sows of parities one to seven, whose farrowing was spontaneous. Colostrum production of each sow was estimated by summing up the colostrum intake of each piglet in the litter, estimated by an equation that takes into account the birth weight and weight gain during the first 24h of life. The multiple regression model explained 28% of variation in CY, with 24% and 4% respectively of variation being explained by the litter birth weight and the width of the first mammary glands. Litter birth weight was positively correlated with the number of total born (r= 0.73) and born alive piglets (r= 0.83). When categorised into two groups of colostrum yield (LOWCY; ≤3.4kg; n= 46 vs HIGHCY; >3.4kg; n= 50), LOWCY sows had fewer total born and born alive piglets and lighter litters (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that sows from parities 1, 2 and >3 had greater odds (P≤0.05) of belonging to the LOWCY group than parity 3 sows. Sows with two or more obstetrical interventions had higher odds (P<0.05) of belonging to the LOWCY group than sows without interventions during farrowing. The higher colostrum yield observed in sows of parity 3 and sows with less than two obstetrical interventions during farrowing was associated with a greater number of nursed piglets. This study showed that total birth weight of born alive piglets is the most important factor involved in colostrum yield variability, indirectly representing the number of piglets nursed by the sow.Keywords: litter weight, parity, obstetrical interventions RESUMO Um consumo adequado de colostro, para assegurar a sobrevivência e o ganho de peso, dos leitões, depende da capacidade da porca em produzir colostro suficiente para toda a leitegada. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar fatores relacionados com a porca, com a leitegada ou com o parto que possam influenciar a produção de colostro (PC). O experimento foi conduzido com 96 porcas Camborough 25, de ordem de parto (OP) 1 a 7, cujo parto foi espontâneo. A produção de colostro das porcas foi estimada pela soma do consumo individual de colostro pelos leitões, o qual foi estimado por equação que considera o peso ao nascimento e o ganho de peso nas primeiras 24h de vida. Por meio de modelo de regressão múltipla, 28% da variação na PC foi explicada pelo peso da leitegada (24%) e pela largura do primeiro par de glândulas mamárias (4%). O peso da leitegada foi positivamente correlacionado com o número total de leitões nascidos (r= 0.73) e com o número de leitões nascidos vivos (r= 0.83). Quando separadas em dois grupos de PC (BAIXAPC;≤3

Colostrum yield and litter performance in multiparous sows subjected to farrowing induction

“…Lower colostrum yield has been reported in sows with two or more obstetrical interventions (Machado, Otto, Bernardi, Wentz, & Bortolozzo, 2016). Longer farrowing length is associated with larger litters and higher number of obstetric interventions at birth (Mellagi, Heim, Bernardi, Bortolozzo, & Wentz, 2009).…”

“…Although several litter characteristics have been found to be negatively associated with the colostrum yield, such as the increase in stillborn piglets (Quesnel, ), low weight of piglets at birth (Devillers et al., ), increase in the coefficient of variation of piglet birth weight (Quesnel, ), and reduced total weight of live born (Machado et al., ), the effect of farrowing induction on these variables is still controversial (Kirkden et al., ). In our study, the induced farrowing did not result in increased stillbirths, because of implementing a proper induction protocol in relation to the gestational age and the intensive supervision of all the farrowings.…”

Fatty Acid Profiles and Nutritional Indices/Ratios of Colostrum and Transient Milk from Landrace, Large White, and Landrace × Large White Crossbred Sows

“…However, unlike dairy cows which produce milk far beyond the amount required by the calf, the production of sow colostrum and milk in commercial quantities and their further processing into high value products will be limited by the milk intake requirement of the newborn piglets (about 250 g colostrum/piglet as recommended by Quesnel et al (2012) and by the milk collection method with or without administration of oxytocin to stimulate milk ejection. Moreover, total colostrum yield from March 2023 113 the sow can vary widely and is measured indirectly by summing up the colostrum ingested by all piglets in the litter, estimated by an equation that takes into account the birth weight and weight gain during the first 24 h of life (Machado et al, 2016).…”