In addition to the direct protection from pathogens, it
has been suggested that colostrum is also important for
the development of piglet immune systems. Rooke
et al. (2003) suggested that the volume of colostrum
ingested during the first 24 h of life affects the development
of the ability to produce IgG in piglets around
weaning. They showed a clear correlation of plasma
IgG concentration at weaning with the volume of colostrum
ingested during the first 24 h of life. However, the
role of colostrum on the development of immune systems
in piglets is still not fully elucidated. For example,
the effect of colostrum on mucosal immunity and immune
cell expansion of piglets has not been evaluated
in pigs.
In this study, we examined the effect of colostrum ingestion
during the first 24 h on early postnatal development
of immune systems in piglets. Thirty-six piglets
from five litters were divided into colostrum-fed (CoF)
Correspondence: Ryo Inoue, Laboratory of Animal Science,
Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto
Prefectural University, Shimogamo-Hangi, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-
8522, Japan. (Email: r-inoue@kpu.ac.jp)
Received 11 August 2015; accepted for publication 19 October
2015.
© 2016