243. Factors Influencing Sow Colostrum and Subsequent Impacts on Piglet Performance.

Abstract Colostrum provides piglets with essential nutrients and bioactive compounds that support growth, thermoregulation, gut development, and passive immunity. Colostrum quality and yield among sows varies widely potentially impacting piglet outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate factors influencing colostrum and subsequent impacts on piglet performance. Starting at 100 days of gestation (dg), 32 nulliparous (P0) gilts were followed into their first (P1) and second (P2) farrowings. During gestation, females were housed in either free access stalls (FAS; n = 12) or open pens with electronic sow feeders (ESF; n = 20) for both parities. Blood samples were collected at approximately 109 dg to determine pre-farrowing serum IgG concentration. Aggression during late gestation was assessed by recording skin lesion counts at 110 dg. At farrowing, colostrum was collected after the birth of the first piglet and Brix values were obtained using a digital refractometer. Piglet weights at birth and 24 h post-farrowing were utilized to calculate estimated colostrum intake of each piglet. Approximate colostrum yield was determined for each sow by summing litter colostrum intakes. Piglet average daily gain (ADG) was calculated during the pre-weaning (n = 694) and nursery (n = 495) periods using birth, weaning, and 8-wk weights. Serum and colostrum IgG concentrations were quantified using a commercially available ELISA (Bethyl Laboratories, Montgomery, TX). Sow-level measures were analyzed utilizing linear mixed models including fixed effects of parity and housing style, and random effect of individual sow. Piglet-level measures were analyzed utilizing linear mixed models including fixed effects of parity, colostrum intake, and Brix value, and random effect of individual sow. Sow colostrum yield was significantly impacted by parity, gestation housing type, farrowing duration, and litter birth weight (P < 0.05). Total skin lesion count severity was negatively associated with colostrum yield (P < 0.05). Colostrum IgG had a positive association with pre-farrowing serum IgG (P < 0.05), but tended to be lower with longer gestation lengths (P = 0.051). Brix values were positively correlated with colostrum IgG concentration (r = 0.59; P < 0.001). During the nursery period, piglets with low colostrum intake had lower ADG compared to piglets with higher intake (P < 0.05), and high colostrum Brix values were associated with greater ADG (P < 0.05). In conclusion, gestational environment including aggression and type of group-housing may impact colostrum yield. In addition, colostrum quality as estimated by Brix value improved piglet performance suggesting Brix refractometers may serve as a practical on-farm tool for assessing sow colostrum quality.