Responses in colostrum production and immunoglobulin concentrations to conjugated linoleic acid fed to multiparous sows during late gestation

a b s t r a c t This study was conducted to determine whether supplemental conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) fed during late gestation affects reproductive performance, colostrum production and colostral immunoglobulin (Ig) levels of multiparous sows. Forty-eight, pregnant, Lan- drace × Large White, multiparous sows were allotted to four dietary treatments (n = 12), control (CTR, no CLA addition) and 7.5, 15.0, or 22.5 g/kg CLA supplementation from d 85 of gestation until farrowing. The CLA was added at the expense of soybean oil. All sows were fed the same commercial lactation diet postpartum. Blood samples were collected from sows on d 85, 100 and 112 of gestation while blood samples were obtained from neonatal piglets 24 h postpartum. Colostrum was collected immediately after farrowing and its production was estimated for 24 h starting with the birth of the first piglet. Neither the body weight nor backfat thickness of sows were altered by dietary CLA. Reproduc- tive performance, piglet growth and calculated colostrum production were also unaffected. Compared with the CTR diet, dietary CLA supplementation during late gestation decreased (P < 0.01) the colostral fat, and increased (P < 0.01) the concentrations of IgG, IgA, and IgM in colostrum (P < 0.01). The concentrations of serum Ig and interleukin-2 on d 112 of gestation were increased (P < 0.01) in sows receiving CLA, although those factors did not differ among different levels of CLA supplementation. Serum IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations in piglets from sows fed diets containing CLA were increased (P < 0.05) 24 h postpartum. This study indicates that dietary CLA has potential immunomodulatory effects in gestating sows and neonatal piglets, whereas there were no differences within the CLA treatments.