Variability of colostrum yield and colostrum intake in pigs

Abstract

Colostrum yield and composition of 40 Landrace3Large White sows were determined from the onset of parturition until 24 h post partum. Colostrum yield was calculated by adding individual piglets' colostrum intakes for each litter. Colostrum was assayed for prolactin, progesterone, oestradiol-17b, immunoglobulin G and its nutritional composition was determined. Piglets' individual colostrum intake averaged 300 6 7 g and sows' colostrum yield averaged 3.67 6 0.14 kg (minimum 1.91 kg, maximum 5.31 kg). Live weight and characteristics at birth (umbilical cord already ruptured, splayleg, difficulty to breathe) were the major factors influencing individual colostrum intake. Colostrum yield was not affected by litter size, tended to be influenced by parity (P 5 0.059) and was lower when farrowing was induced (P 5 0.017). On the other hand, no relationships were found between hormone concentrations in colostrum and colostrum yield. Mean piglet birth weight and litter weight variation at birth were related to colostrum yield (r 5 0.38; P 5 0.015 and r 5 20.34; P 5 0.030, respectively). These results suggest that determinism of colostrum yield depends, in part, on global vitality of the litter but seems to be, most probably, affected by the capacity of sows to produce enough colostrum for the whole litter. Further studies are needed to understand the endocrine regulation of colostrum secretion in sows.

Influence of colostrum intake on piglet survival and immunity

“…The same piglets also exhibited hypoglycemia, high cortisol concentration and lower IgG intake, which often characterize piglets that die before weaning as already demonstrated (Tyler et al, 1990;Herpin et al, 1996;Tuchscherer et al, 2000). Therefore, the present findings support previous observations that weak piglets, whatever the cause of their weakness (low birth weight, hypoxia or malformation), are disadvantaged for colostrum intake (Devillers et al, 2007) and enter a vicious cycle where low colostrum intake leads to hypoglycemia and hypothermia (Herpin et al, 2002) and beyond to high plasma cortisol and lactate concentrations, which are characteristic of glycogen reserve mobilization and high gluconeogenesis (Lepine et al, 1989). It is therefore all the more important to identify piglets at risk as early as possible and to give them assistance to increase their chance of getting a proper amount of colostrum.…”

“…Results relative to the influence of piglet and sow characteristics on colostrum intake were published previously (Devillers et al, 2007). This study focused on the consequences of colostrum intake for piglet survival and immunity.…”

“…Weaning occurred between 25 and 31 days of age. Each piglet's colostrum intake between birth and T 24 was estimated according to a previously described equation (Devillers et al, 2004b) with the mean interval between birth and first suckling estimated to be 30 min as previously reported (Devillers et al, 2007) and where the piglet's colostrum intake (CI, in g) is calculated from birth weight (BW B , in kg), weight gain (BW-BW B , in kg) and age (t, in min), as follows:…”

“…Relationships between colostrum intake, colostrum composition and physiological variables were described using principal component analysis (PCA; PRINCOMP procedure). Further reference to the colostrum concentration of any component corresponds to the estimate of the average concentration of the component [C ] A in the colostrum ingested for each piglet, which was calculated from the colostrum composition measured at T 0 , T 2 , T 4 and T 24 ([C ] The average colostrum composition for all sows was published previously (Devillers et al, 2007). Regression Devillers, Prunier and Le Dividich analyses and Pearson's or Spearman's correlations (REG and CORR procedures) were used to further describe the specific relationship between the two variables.…”

“…The amount of colostrum ingested is highly variable between piglets and depends on both the sow's ability to produce enough colostrum for the whole litter and the piglet's ability to extract colostrum from the teats. Since colostrum production is independent of litter size (Devillers et al, 2007), factors influencing a piglet's colostrum intake, such as low birth weight and vitality (Herpin et al, 1996;Tuchscherer et al, 2000;Devillers et al, 2007), are crucial for its survival. Most of the studies looking at the role of the colostrum in piglet physiology and immunity were conducted in experimentally controlled conditions using force-or bottle-feeding.…”