Factors Affecting the Ig Content of Sow’s Colostrum: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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 and Márta Horváth
Additional contact information
Csaba Szabó: Department of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Arth David Sol Valmoria Ortega: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon 8714, Philippines
James Kachungwa Lugata: Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 35091, Tanzania
Levente Czeglédi: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Brigitta Csernus: Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Gabriella Gulyás: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Béla Kovács: Institute of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Károly Pál: Institute of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Tünde Pusztahelyi: Central Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Products, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Rozália Kasza: CLA-Pig Ltd., 7563 Somogyszob, Hungary
Gábor Czakó: CLA-Pig Ltd., 7563 Somogyszob, Hungary
Márta Horváth: Department of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-36

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: sow; colostrum; milk; immunoglobulins; feed supplementation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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