Effect of birth weight and colostrum intake on mortality and performance of piglets after cross-fostering in sows of different parities

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of colostrum intake on mortality and growth performance of piglets until 42 days of age, taking into account the birth weight, and parity order of sows. Colostrum intake from birth to 24 h after birth was estimated in 300 piglets each from primiparous and multiparous sows. The piglets were cross-fostered in 25 primiparous and 25 multiparous sows at 25.9 ± 0.09 h after farrowing. The concentration of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) was determined in the sows after the end of farrowing and in the piglets before cross-fostering (24 h after farrowing), at 10 and 20 days of age. For high birth weight piglets (HBW – >1.3–1.7 kg) the probability of death was low regardless of their colostrum intake. Intermediate birth weight (IBW – >1.2–1.3 kg) and low birth weight (LBW – 1.1–1.2 kg) piglets had the same probability of death compared to HBW piglets, when colostrum intake reached 200 and 250 g, respectively. The probability of low performance (<9.5 kg) was lower in HBW than in LBW and IBW piglets, regardless of colostrum intake. HBW piglets had higher weight at 14, 20, 28 and 42 days of age (P < 0.05) than LBW piglets, and higher weight than IBW piglets at 28 and 42 days. Colostrum intake >250 g increased (P < 0.05) the weight of piglets at 28 and 42 days of age, regardless of their birth weight. Piglets from primiparous biological dams consumed less colostrum (P < 0.003) than piglets from multiparous dams, but their serum IgG concentrations at 24 h after birth and their performance were similar (P > 0.05). Piglets suckled by primiparous foster sows showed lower weight (P < 0.05) at 20, 28 and 42 days than piglets suckled by multiparous sows. Piglets that died before 42 days of age had lower (P < 0.05) birth weight, colostrum intake and serum IgG at 24 h after birth compared to surviving piglets, and lower values were also observed in piglets with low performance compared to high (>9.5 kg) performance piglets. There were no differences in serum IgG concentrations at 10 and 20 days of age (P > 0.05) between high and low performance piglets. In conclusion, both colostrum intake and birth weight are important for survival and growth of suckling piglets. LBW and IBW piglets are more dependent on colostrum intake than HBW piglets to assure higher survival and better development up to 42 days of age. Piglets suckled by multiparous sows have better development than those suckled by primiparous sows.