Characterization of Birth Weight and Colostrum Intake on Piglet Survival and Piglet Quality

The objective was to quantify the relative importance of piglet birth weight and colostrum intake on subsequent piglet survival and weaning weight. Second parity, composite Landrace × Large White females (n=61) farrowed 808 piglets at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Tidewater Research Station summer 2016. Sows were housed in modern, environmentally controlled buildings with ad libitum access to water. At birth, piglets were individually identified and weighed (BWT). Piglets were again weighed at 24 h of age (WT24) and at 21 d of age (WWT). Colostrum intake (COLOSTRUM) was estimated as WT24 - BWT. Piglet survival (SURVIVAL) included stillborns and was recorded as 1 = alive at weaning or 0 = not alive. Data analysis was completed in SAS using PROC LOGISTIC for survival and PROC GLM for WWT. Piglet was the observational unit. Average BWT, WT24, COLOSTRUM and WWT were 1.145, 1.257, 0.102 and 5.32 kg, respectively. Piglet survival from birth to 24 h of age and from birth to weaning was 94.7 and 83.8%, respectively. Piglet BWT had a curvilinear association (P<0.01) with SURVIVAL (R²=0.14). As BWT increased, SURVIVAL improved at a decreasing rate with SURVIVAL plateauing at a BWT of 1.2 kg. Piglet COLOSTRUM was associated (P<0.01) with SURVIVAL (R²=0.19). As COLOSTRUM increased, SURVIVAL improved at a decreasing rate with SURVIVAL plateauing at a COLOSTRUM of 200 g. Piglet WT24 explained 20% of the variation in SURVIVAL. Yet the component traits of WT24, BWT and COLOSTRUM, together explained 26% of the variation in SURVIVAL. A kg increase in BWT improved (P<0.01) WWT by 2.8 kg (R²=0.34). Piglet COLOSTRUM had a curvilinear association (P<0.01) with WWT (R²=0.21). As COLOSTRUM increased, WWT improved at an increasing rate. Piglet WT24 explained 42% of the variation in WWT. Yet the component traits of WT24, BWT and COLOSTRUM, together explained 43% of the variation in WWT. Results describe the relative importance of BWT, WT24 and COLOSTRUM in relation to piglet SURVIVAL and WWT. Piglet WT24 accounted for greater than 40% of the variation in WWT. Hence strategies that increase piglet birth weight and piglet colostrum intake will substantially enhance piglet quality at weaning.