INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE DURING LATE GESTATION AND SOON AFTER BIRTH ON IgG ABSORPTION BY NEWBORN PIGLETS

Abstract

The possibility that environmental temperature, in late gestation or soon after birth, can modify the ability of the newborn piglet to absorb immunoglobulin G (IgG) was studied. Fifteen pregnant Yorkshire sows were exposed to either 5 or 18 °C from day 104 postbreeding until 6 h postpartum, at which time they were moved to a normal 18 °C farrowing room. All sows were bled to determine serum concentration of cortisol. At birth, the piglets were assigned to either a 14 or 35 °C environment for 6 h. The piglets were force-fed bovine colostrum four times during the first 6 h of life and bled nine times between birth and day 21 to determine the concentrations of serum porcine and bovine IgG. The concentration of serum cortisol, in the sows subjected to the 5 °C environment, increased in response to treatment. Cortisol concentrations remained elevated until the sows returned to the 18 °C environment. Piglets from sows maintained at 5 °C had marginally higher concentrations of serum bovine IgG than piglets from control sows. Exposure of piglets to 14 °C at birth reduced absorption of IgG; however, they continued to absorb IgG after they were moved to a thermoneutral environment. By 21 days, only those piglets from sows exposed to 5 °C showed a significant productionof IgG. Piglets from sows exposed to 5 °C and maintained at 35 °C after birth had the highest serum concentration of IgG. These results indicate that environmental temperature during late pregnancy can modify IgG absorption by newborn piglets. Key words: Immunoglobulins, colostrum, absorption, Cortisol, piglet