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Effect of a bovine colostrum whey supplementation on growth performance, faecal Escherichia coli population and systemic immune response of piglets at weaning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2008

C. Boudry*
Affiliation:
Animal Husbandry Unit, Gembloux Agricultural University, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
J.-P. Dehoux
Affiliation:
Experimental Surgery Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 55/70, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
J. Wavreille
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production and Nutrition, Agricultural Research Centre, Ministry of Walloon Region, rue de Liroux 8, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
D. Portetelle
Affiliation:
Animal and Microbial Biology Unit, Gembloux Agricultural Unit, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
A. Théwis
Affiliation:
Animal Husbandry Unit, Gembloux Agricultural University, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
A. Buldgen
Affiliation:
Animal Husbandry Unit, Gembloux Agricultural University, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
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Abstract

This study examined the effect of a bovine colostrum whey supplementation on growth performance, feed intake, faecal Escherichiacoli population and systemic immune response of piglets at weaning. A total of 96 piglets weaned at 26 ± 2 days of age were assigned for 4 weeks to one of the two treatments: (1) the control (commercial diet with bovine milk whey powder) and (2) the colostrum (commercial diet with freeze-dried bovine colostrum whey) treatments. The two supplements were incorporated in the diet at a level of 20 g/kg during the first 2 weeks after weaning and lowered to a level of 10 g/kg for the next 2 weeks. BW and feed intake were measured weekly. Faecal E. coli counts were determined weekly on specific culture media. Blood samples were collected weekly and submitted to a cell counter analyser for their main components (red and white blood cells, platelets) and flow cytometry was used to determine the lymphocyte population (B, T, Th and Tc). Finally, total seric immunoglobulin (IgM, IgG and IgA) concentrations were determined by the ELISA method. During the first week of the trial, the piglets from the colostrum treatment had improved average daily gain (170 g/day v. 81 g/day, P < 0.001), average daily feed intake (346 g/day v. 256 g/day, P = 0.03) and feed efficiency (BW gain/feed intake) (0.48 v. 0.31, P = 0.04). The pigs fed the colostrum treatment had also a 25% increase in circulating IgA (P = 0.03) compared with the control treatment the first week. It is concluded that a distribution of bovine colostrum whey (20 g/kg diet) during the first week post-weaning induces a systemic IgA response and has a beneficial action on growth performances and feed efficiency.

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Full Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

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