Methods for artificially rearing colostrum-deprived and early weaned pigs with subsequent survival, performance and serum profile

A preliminary study (Study 1) utilizing 145 orphaned pigs was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of artificially rearing pigs which were colostrum deprived or allowed to nurse 4, 48 or 72 hours. Pigs were derived by cesarean section (118) or natural birth (27) on days 112 (36), 113 (57) or 114 (52) of gestation. Survival of colostrum-deprived pigs and pigs which were allowed to nurse for 4, 48 or 72 hours was 16 and 83.3, 94 and 94%, respectively. Pigs consumed approximately 9.8 lbs. of dry milk replacer between birth and 21 days of age. Daily gains of all pigs averaged .31 lb to 21 days and .55 lb to 42 days.

Two additional studies were conducted to assess the value of feeding lyophilized porcine serum and bovine colostrum to orphaned pigs reared in a "practical" environment. Each study included 5 treatments, among which were positive (sow-reared) and negative (milk replacer only) controls. Study 2 pigs were fed lyophilized serum combined with milk replacer for 36 hours, 5 days or allowed to nurse for 3 6 hours (treatments 1,2 and 3, respectively). Study 3 pigs were intermittently dosed with a total of 160 ml of reconstituted lyophilized serum, colostrum or previously frozen colostrum (treatments 1,2 and 3, respectively). Eight (Study 2) and 5 (Study 3) newborn pigs averaging 3.1 lbs. were assigned to each treatment. Blood samples were obtained at birth, 36 hours postpartum and weekly thereafter to obtain hematological data. In Study 2, survival of nursed pigs (36h vs. sow-reared) did not differ (87.5%). Both nursed groups had improved (P < .05) survival as compared to pigs on treatments 1 and 2 (37.5 and 37.5%), which was better (P < .05) than that of negative control pigs (12.5%). In Study 3, survival of sow-reared pigs (100%) also was greater than that of pigs in other groups. Survival rates of pigs on treatments 1,2 and 3 were (40, 60 and 40%, respectively) and was an advantage over survival of negative control pigs (20%). In Study 3 total globulin and serum protein levels were higher (P < .001) at 36 hours in nursed pigs (4.5 and 7.2 g/dl, respectively) than in treated pigs (1.9 and 3.6 g/dl, respectively). Treated pigs had higher (p < .001) globulin and protein levels than did negative control pigs (0.83 and 3.0 g/dl, respectively). There were no significant differences in weight gains for pigs on any of the treatments. Feed:gain ratios varied among treatments but were not significantly different and averaged 1.1 lb. of dry milk replacer per lb. of gain.