Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Sow metabolic status
To the best of our knowledge, current findings on the relation between sow metabolic
status during late gestation and colostrum production are solely based on correlations.
Positive correlations were reported between colostrum yield and urea and creatinine
concentrations measured before parturition (Loisel
et al.
, 2014). Plasma urea is the
final product of protein oxidation and creatinine may be used as an indicator of protein
mobilisation from muscles. A greater lean mass and(or) a greater body protein mobilisation
may therefore be associated with an increased colostrum yield. Amino acids originated
from body protein mobilisation may be used by the mammary gland for protein synthesis
utilised for mammary growth and colostral immunoglobulins and proteins. They may
also be used as glucogenic substrates (Theil
et al.
, 2012). Decaluwé
et al.
(2013) reported
a negative correlation between colostrum yield and circulating concentrations of (iso)
butyrylcarnitine, which was used as an indicator of protein catabolism. With regard to
energy supply, colostrum yield was positively correlated with plasma concentrations of
free fatty acids measured on the day before parturition (Loisel
et al.
, 2014), which indicate
that a low (or negative) energy balance enhances the colostrum yield. On the contrary,
findings from Decaluwé
et al.
(2013) suggested a negative impact of lipid mobilisation
from adipose tissue during the last 5 days of gestation on colostrum yield. Finally, Hansen
et al.
(2012a) observed no correlation between piglet weight gain during the first 24 h
after parturition and free fatty acid concentrations or sow energy balance during the last
week of gestation. Such discrepancies may be related to differences in sow body condition,
feeding strategies and dietary compositions among studies. Clearly, the impact of sow
metabolic state during late gestation on colostrum yield needs to be further investigated.
Maternal feeding
As for sow metabolic status, not much is known on how sow nutrition affects colostrum
yield. Nevertheless, the most recent studies collectively indicate that sow nutrition in
late gestation is important for colostrum production. Indeed, sows fed 1.3% CLA (an
equal mixture of cis-9/trans-11 and trans-10/cis-12 isomers) from d 108 of gestation
until parturition tended to produce less colostrum (409 versus 463 g/piglet; Krogh
et al.
,
2012). In another study (Flummer and Theil, 2012), sows fed a conventional lactation
diet and supplemented with 2.5 g/d Ca(HMB) from d 108 of gestation until parturition
produced more colostrum as predicted by piglet weight gain during the colostrum period
(132 vs. 76 g for HMB and control piglets, respectively,
P
=0.05). Diets high in fibre fed to
sows throughout gestation may be beneficial for colostrum production of sows, although
it depends on the dietary fibre source. In a study by Theil
et al.
(2014a), the colostrum
intake of piglets (measured by the DO dilution technique) was greater when sows from
mating until d 108 of gestation were fed pectin residue or sugar beet pulp (520 and 504
g/piglet, respectively) as compared with potato pulp or a low fibre control diet (393 and
414 g/piglet, respectively;
P
=0.02). Quesnel
et al.
(2009) reported a numerically greater
colostrum yield in sows fed a high-fibre diet compared with a low fibre control diet
from d 26 of gestation until parturition (3.4 vs. 3.0 kg), although the difference was not
significant. Loisel
et al.
(2013) found no dietary effect of high fibre (originating from a
mixture of soybean hulls, wheat bran, undecorticated sunflower meal, and sugar beet
