Colostrum is an important source of nutrition and defense for piglets in pig farming. During the first hours of life, the consumption of colostrum must be guaranteed. This is to ensure that piglets will have a healthy development, with antibodies and a well-developed immune system.

Pig production: a strong sector

Pig farming is one of the most important animal production systems in the world. It is one of the most solid sectors of the animal protein market. Within all its production stages, the management of piglets stands out because they are the basis of the growth of any farm.

The world’s largest pig meat producers are: China, with 48 million tons produced in 2019. Then there is the United States with 12 million tons and, finally, Brazil with 4 million tons, during the same year.

However, in Latin America the largest producers of pork are:

1. Mexico with 1.3 million tons.
2. Argentina with 670 thousand tons;
3. Chile with 555 thousand tons and
4. Colombia with 410 thousand tons.

Immunity in piglets

The sow has an epitheliochorial placenta. In this placentation, it is not possible to pass antibodies (defense molecules) or leukocytes (defense cells) from the sow to the piglet. Therefore, when piglets are born, they are exposed to all kinds of environmental microorganisms that could lead to a disease. To control this, the sow secretes the first milk called colostrum.

Pig production continues to face a major problem related to perinatal mortality. Compared to other production systems, pig farming still has high percentages, between 10% and 15% of piglets, that die after birth. Mortality is due to several factors, the low consumption of colostrum during the first hours of life is one of the most common.

The sows have a high number of antibodies that they have generated after being exposed to pathogens. These antibodies are transferred into colostrum and then to the piglets.

The immunity to pathogens in sows is acquired in two ways:

• Vaccination: Vaccines in sows generate an immune response that ends up generating circulating antibodies. When the sow is gestating and begins to produce colostrum, it will transfer its antibodies to the piglets through it.
• Exposure: Sows during their lifetime may be exposed to microorganisms in the environment, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, among others. This exposure inevitably generates the immune response that ends up generating circulating antibodies. In this way, the sow can also transfer antibodies to piglets in the colostrum.

The piglet is partially immunocompetent and can generate its antibodies. However, these may be insufficient if the piglet is exposed to a high load of pathogens in its body. That is when the immunity acquired by colostrum becomes important.

After a few months, these antibodies provided by colostrum begin to decrease in quantity and the piglet is compromised at the immune level. Loss of antibodies usually occurs at the weaning stage. It is in this window of time that the vaccination of piglets begins. Vaccination will allow piglets to generate and re-have antibodies and a solid acquired immune system.

What is the colostrum?

Colostrum is the first milk produced by the sow at the time of farrowing. Colostrum has a different composition than normal milk that will be produced later.

The consumption of colostrum by piglets will mainly provide two benefits:

• Maternal antibodies: Maternal antibodies are defense molecules that the sow transfers to the piglets in the colostrum. As piglets are born with low defenses, the antibodies supplied in this colostrum will provide the piglet with sufficient protection against infectious agents for several months.
• Antibodies are also called immunoglobulins (Ig) and there are several. IgM is the most produced in colostrum and smaller quantities IgG and IgA are also produced.
• Energy: Colostrum has a high composition of molecules such as lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. All of these will give the newborn piglet enough energy to survive. A critical stage is the temperature in piglets because its decrease can increase mortality. Ensure that piglets have the energy of colostrum they need is to avoid deaths from hypothermia, common in pig farming.

For Passive Immunoglobulin Transfer to be effective, piglets in the litter must consume colostrum during their first hour of life. This ensures that antibodies, which are large molecules, can cross the intestinal barrier and reach the blood. If colostrum is not consumed during this time, the intestinal epithelium will begin to make it difficult for antibodies to pass and the piglet may be left without lifetime immunity.

On the other hand, several studies have shown that piglets have a higher chance of survival against viruses such as Circovirus type 2 when they acquire large amounts of antibodies from the colostrum. (Martelli, P., et al., 2016)

Colostrum management

Piglets after birth should be able to consume colostrum from the mammary glands of the sow. However, sometimes this can fail and the veterinarian together with the farmer must intervene to ensure the consumption of colostrum.

Some methods have been developed for this:

Divided lactation

We can divide the lactation of piglets when they are many, or the sow has a small number of nipples. Priority should be given to the smallest piglets to consume colostrum. Then the bigger piglets can do it. After, both groups of piglets must alternate every 30-40 minutes to consume colostrum equally. Both groups of piglets should be provided with a warm and comfortable environment.

Assisted breastfeeding

We must assist the lactation when the litter of piglets is born weak and cannot consume the colostrum optimally. They should be taken by the hand and brought closer to the nipples of the sow and check they are eating the colostrum correctly.

Manual breastfeeding

We carried out lactation manually when most piglets in the litter are unable to breastfeed the colostrum. The sow must be milked during the first 5 hours post-partum to obtain colostrum. Administer to the piglets orally through a syringe. It has been calculated that they should consume about 160 grams of colostrum per kilogram of live weight.

Artificial colostrum

There may be a moment where the sow dies in farrowing and there is no possibility of a suckling sow, making it difficult to consume colostrum in piglets. That is when artificial colostrum is used.

Recommendations on swine lactation

1. Consumption of colostrum must be done preferably during the first hour of life of all piglets in the litter to properly absorb maternal antibodies.
2. After 12 hours of life, the piglets do not have any uptake of maternal antibodies and will be exposed.
3. The sow vaccination scheme is important because it generates the necessary antibodies for piglets. The vaccination program should focus on the prevalent pathogens in the region.
4. Milked colostrum may be frozen to ensure stability and administered as required.
5. A colostrum bank on the farm to fill future shortages can be created. It is recommended to do it with colostrum from multiparous sows.
6. Sow nutrition should be adequate for excellent and sufficient production of colostrum.
7. Provide a warm environment for piglets between 28-31°C to prevent hypothermia and neonatal death.
8. Evaluate the health of the mammary glands of the sow and the production of colostrum.

Conclusions

Colostrum is the most important food during the first hours of the life of piglets. We must be guaranteed colostrum consumption to make a correct passive transfer of immunoglobulins. Colostrum is also a source of energy for piglets and gives them vigor during their neonatal stage. Pig farms must ensure good neonatal management to reduce piglet mortality.

References

• Elizondo-Salazar, J. A. (2007). AlimentaciĂłn y manejo del calostro en el ganado de leche. AgronomĂ­a Mesoamericana, 18(2), 271-281.
• Martelli, P., Saleri, R., Ferrarini, G., De Angelis, E., Cavalli, V., Benetti, M., … & Borghetti, P. (2016). Impact of maternally derived immunity on piglets’ immune response and protection against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) after vaccination against PCV2 at different age. BMC veterinary research, 12(1), 1-12.
• Mota, D., RamĂ­rez, R., Roldan, P., MartĂ­nez, R., (2018). La Importancia del Calostro. En lĂ­nea: https://bmeditores.mx/porcicultura/la-importancia-del-calostro/
• Nogueira, R. C., Paiva, R., Oliveira, L. M. D., Soares, G. D. A., Soares, F. P., Castro, A. H. F., & Paiva, P. D. D. O. (2007). Indução de calos em explantes foliares de murici-pequeno (Byrsonima intermedia A. Juss.). CiĂŞncia e Agrotecnologia, 31(2), 366-370.
• PĂ©rez, F. A. (2010). Prácticas de manejo del lechĂłn en maternidad: estrategias para mejorar su sobrevida y aumentar la productividad. REDVET. Revista electrĂłnica de Veterinaria, 11(1), 1-21.
• Quiles, A. (2014). Importancia del calostro en la termorregulaciĂłn del lechĂłn. Revista INFO INGASO. Universidad de Murcia.[Internet], 16, 2-3. En lĂ­nea: http://axonveterinaria.net/web_axoncomunicacion/criaysalud/19/cys_19_Importancia_del_calostro.pdf
• Reece, W. O., & Aramayona Alonso, J. J. (2010). Dukes: fisiologĂ­a de los animales domĂ©sticos (No. 636.0892 D8).

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