Associations between day one piglet serum immunocrit ratio and subsequent growth during gilt development

Authors: SUPAKORN, C - Iowa State University; Lents, Clay; MARTINEZ, X - Smithfield Foods, Inc; Vallet, Jeff; BOYD, R - Hanor Family Of Companies; Rohrer, Gary; DEDECKER, A - Smithfield Foods, Inc; STALDER, K - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2018
Publication Date: 7/29/2019
Citation: Supakorn, C., Lents, C.A., Martinez, X., Vallet, J.L., Boyd, R.D., Rohrer, G.A., Dedecker, A.E., Stalder, K.J. 2019. Associations between day one piglet serum immunocrit ratio and subsequent growth during gilt development [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 97 (Supplement 2):146. Abstract 352. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz122.258.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz122.258

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Colostrum intake affects gut development in the neonatal piglet. The pig’s subsequent growth performance and viability may be affected by colostrum intake. Immunoglobulin uptake can be effectively estimated from the piglet’s immunocrit ratio (IR). The objective of this study was to determine the association between IR and growth performance from weaning to 200 days. Associations between serum IR measures and subsequent growth performance such as body weight, backfat thickness, caliper reading, and flank-to-flank distance at weaning (WW), 100, 142, 160, and 200 days, average daily gain (ADG) between weaning to 100 days (ADG1), and ADG between 100 to 200 days (ADG2) were evaluated. The IR measures were collected from 2,715 female piglets on Day 1 at Circle 4 Farms, Milford, UT and measured by USMARC. The IR evaluation was divided into 5 groups: lowest (0.05 < IC; n = 90), low (0.05 = IC < 0.1; n = 362), medium (0.1 = IC < 0.15; n = 1,314), high (0.15 = IC < 0.2; n = 949), and highest (IC = 0.2; n = 141), respectively. Weaning weight, subsequent growth performance, and ADG least square mean for each IR category were analyzed using PROC GLM and PDIFF option for mean comparisons. Fixed effects for post-weaning growth traits were contemporary group (week x room), development diet, and birth weight category. Development diet was not included in the model for WW. Gilts from high and highest IR had significantly (P < 0.05) greater weaning weight (6.5 ± 0.1 kg and 6.5 ± 0.1 kg, respectively), backfat thickness, caliper reading, and flank-to-flank distance at 100 to 200 days, ADG1 (0.45 ± 0.004 kg/day and 0.45 ± 0.007 kg/day, respectively) and ADG2 (0.79 ± 0.005 kg/day and 0.81 ± 0.001 kg/day, respectively) when compared to gilts from lowest IR (5.9 ± 0.2 kg for WW, 0.39 ± 0.008 kg/day for ADG1, and 0.75 ± 0.01 kg/day for ADG2). These data support the concept that neonatal piglet colostrum intake results in improved subsequent growth performance.