The effect of colostrum lactose content on growth performance of piglets from Polish Large White and Polish Landrace sows

Abstract Lactose is one of the factors that influence the yield of sow's colostrum, which is essential for normal piglet development. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of lactose content in colostrum of sows of maternal breeds on rearing performance of their piglets. The study involved a total of 255 litters of Polish Large White (PLW) and Polish Landrace (PL) sows in their first to third lactation.. In each lactation, colostrum was collected 1 h postpartum, and milk was sampled 2 h after morning feeding on day 7 of lactation. Colostrum and milk were analyzed for solids, protein, fat, and lactose. Data on piglet growth were collected for every litter born. Analysis of data for lactations 1-3 showed that the lower the colostrum lactose content, the higher was the fat, protein and solids content. In the case of milk on day 7, it was observed that sows with the lowest colostrum lactose content (LLAC), compared to the sows with the higher lactose content (HLAC), produced milk with a higher fat (P≤0.05), protein and solids content (P≤0.01). These sows (LLAC) reared 100 g heavier piglets on day 7 (P≤0.05) and 130 g heavier piglets on day 21 of age (P≤0.05) compared to HLAC.