2008 Univ of NE Swine Report- Does Dam Parity Affect Progeny Health Status?

A preliminary experiment was conducted to investigate the health status of progeny derived from different parities; health status was characterized by evaluating the ability of P1 and P3 dams to produce and passively transfer immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) to their progeny. At parturition, circulating concentrations of IgA and IgG were greater (P < 0.01) in P3 dams compared to P1 dams. As expected, during lactation, concentrations of IgA and IgG were greater (P < 0.002) in colostrum compared to milk (mid- and late-lactation ). No parity differences were observed in immunoglobulin concentrations in colostrum or milk obtained from P1 and P3 dams. However, when immunoglobulins were quantified in the progeny of P1 and P3 dams a parity time interaction was observed for circulating IgG (P < 0.03) and a trend for a parity time interaction was observed for IgA (P = 0.06). Within a time point (d), serum IgG was greater (P < 0.001) in P3 progeny compared to P1 progeny for each time point measured. These results suggest that health status, as indicated by circulating immunoglobulin concentration, in neonatal pigs, may be affected by dam parity.