Appearance of immunoglobulin G in the plasma of piglets following intake of colostrum, with or without a delay in sucking

Abstract

The intake of immunoglobulin G (IgG) by sucking piglets from colostrum was estimated over the first 24 h of sucking by the weigh-suck-weigh technique using experimentally determined correction factors for metabolic and urinary losses and was related to appearance of IgG in piglet plasma. Colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations declined rapidly from 61 mg/ml at the start of sucking to 9.0 mg/ml after 24 h sucking. IgG was first detected in piglet plasma after 4 h sucking, increased to a maximum after 12 to 16 h sucking and thereafter declined. In piglets allowed to suck from birth, there was no significant relationship between estimated IgG intake and plasma IgG concentration suggesti..