Got Colostrum? Effect of Diet and Feeding Level on Piglet Colostrum Intake and Piglet Quality

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of late gestation diet and feeding level on piglet colostrum intake and piglet quality. Second parity, composite Landrace × Large White sows (n=61) were housed at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Tidewater Research Station. At d 104 of gestation sows were randomly allocated by body condition to one of two diets, gestation (GEST) or lactation (LACT), and one of three feeding levels (1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 kg/d) in a 2 × 3 factorial design. Experimental diets were fed until farrowing. The GEST diet contained 2,979 Kcal/kg ME, 0.58 SID lysine and the LACT diet contained 3,322 Kcal/kg ME, 0.99 SID lysine and 2.5% added fat. 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 was calculated as litter size at weaning ÷ total number born. Data analysis was completed in SAS using PROC GLM. Fixed effects included diet, feeding level and a covariate of litter size for all traits. Sow was the experimental unit. Average litter size at birth, 24 h and weaning was 13.11, 12.49 and 11.05, respectively. Average piglet BWT, COLOSTRUM and WWT were 1.16 kg, 111 g and 5.63 kg, respectively. Total litter COLOSTRUM was not associated (P>0.05) with litter size. Hence on a piglet basis, a one piglet increase in litter size reduced (P<0.01) average piglet COLOSTRUM by 12.8 g. A one day increase in gestation length improved (P<0.05) average piglet COLOSTRUM by 8.4 g. In relation to dietary treatments, average BWT did not differ (P>0.05) between diets or feeding levels. Yet average COLOSTRUM was greater (P<0.01) for sows fed LACT compared to those fed GEST (127 vs. 96 g). A one kg increase in feeding level increased (P=0.05) average piglet COLOSTRUM by 9 g. Average piglet WWT was heavier (P<0.01) for sows fed LACT compared to those fed GEST (5.84 vs. 5.45 kg). Both BWT CV and WWT CV were lower (P<0.05) for sows fed LACT compared to those fed GEST. Sows fed LACT had similar (P>0.05) piglet survival to those fed GEST (87.3 vs. 84.2%, respectively). Results showed, regardless of feeding level, feeding a lactation diet the last 10 d of gestation reduced litter variation, enhanced piglet colostrum intake and improved piglet weaning weights.