Factors Affecting the Ig Content of Sow’s Colostrum: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
2025
Csaba Szabó | Arth David Sol Valmoria Ortega | James Kachungwa Lugata | Levente Czeglédi | Brigitta Csernus | Gabriella Gulyás | Béla Kovács | Károly Pál | Tünde Pusztahelyi | Rozália Kasza | Gábor Czakó | Márta Horváth
Over the last few decades, the productivity of sows has improved tremendously, especially in terms of litter size. Colostral immunoglobulins (Igs) are essential for the early protection of piglets against pathogens. We hypothesized that with the increase in sows’ productivity, the Ig content of colostrum has declined. The research results reviewed confirmed a negative trend in the case of IgG and IgA. The sows’ blood IgG and IgM concentrations decreased from late gestational levels, confirming the transfer from serum (with most of them not synthesized in the mammary gland). This connection was also confirmed by our correlation analyses. Colostrum Ig levels correlate well with the piglets’ blood Ig concentrations, proving the importance of colostral Ig intake. The most effective feed supplements are antioxidants and arginine to improve the Ig content of the blood (about 30 to 70%) and colostrum (about 10 to 70%). Pre- and probiotics and other feed supplements express only a modest (about +10 to 20%) but positive effect.
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