Investigation of the Defatted Colostrum [sup.1]H-NMR Metabolomics Profile of Gilts and Multiparous Sows and Its Relationship with Litter Performance

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 1
• Main Authors: Luise, Diana, Picone, Gianfranco, Balzani, Agnese, Capozzi, Francesco, Bertocchi, Micol, Salvarani, Chiara, Bosi, Paolo, Edwards, Sandra, Trevisi, Paolo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Metabolomics; Methods; Physiological aspects; Swine; Ireland
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani10010154

Swine colostrum quality and quantity can influence the growth and survival of piglets and contribute to the differences in productive traits of gilts and multiparous sows. The aim of the study was to characterize the soluble metabolomics profile of defatted colostrum of sows at different parity number (PA) and to correlate the metabolomics profile with the colostrum Brix percentage as an estimate measure of immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration and sow productive traits. The metabolomics profile of colostrum reveals a slight influence of parity, which can influence the quantity of specific metabolites including glycine and lactose. Specific metabolites including lactose creatine, myo-inositol, and O-phosphocholine partially explain the colostrum IgG Brix percentage. Sows' productive traits performance, including the litter weight at birth and piglets' mortality, can be influenced by the metabolites related to a sow's metabolic condition. Increasing knowledge on the interplay between colostrum composition and litter performance can pave the way to define management strategies to provide piglets with good-quality colostrum, improving welfare and economic sustainability of pig rearing by reducing piglet mortality. The aim of the study was to characterize the soluble metabolomics profile of defatted colostrum of sows at different parity number (PA) and to correlate the metabolomics profile with the Brix percentage estimate of colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and sow productive traits. A total of 96 Meidam (crossbreed Large White X Meishan) sows of PA from 1-4 (PA1: 28; PA2:26; PA3:12; PA4:26) were included, and their productive traits were recorded at 10 days post-farrowing. Colostrum IgG was quantified using a Brix refractometer, and metabolomics profile was assessed using [sup.1]H-NMR spectroscopy. Sows' PA slightly influenced the metabolomics profile of colostrum. lactose and glycine were higher in PA1 compared with PA4 (p 0.05) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) tended to be higher in PA2 than PA3 and PA4 (p < 0.10). The Brix percentage of IgG was negatively associated with lactose and positively with creatine, myo-inositol, and O-phosphocholine (p < 0.05). Taurine was positively related to litter weight at birth. GlcNAc and myo-inositol were linked to piglet mortality at day 10 with a negative and positive trend, respectively. In conclusion, colostrum of gilts and multiparous sows had a similar metabolomics profile. Specific metabolites contributed to explanation of the variability in colostrum Brix percentage estimate of IgG concentration and the sows' productive performance. Keywords: colostrum; gilt; IgG; lactose; piglets' mortality