The effect of dam parity on growth, white blood cell count, haemoglobin and immunoglobulin levels of weaner pigs

Dam parity affects the growth rate of finisher pigs and gilt progeny have lower growth rates than progeny from multiparous sows, although the magnitude of this effect varies between herds (Hermesch and Li 2013). Gilt progeny had lower levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA at birth (Klobasa et al. 1986). However, differences in IgG and IgA were the reverse between piglets from gilts v. multiparous sows at 2 (IgA) and 3 (IgG) weeks of age, due to higher de-novo synthetisation of Ig in piglets from gilt litters (Klobasa et al. 1986). Similarly, Miller et al. (2013) found no dam-parity effect on multiple immune parameters measured in piglets. This study hypothesised that gilt progeny have reduced growth and similar haematological and immunoglobulin levels in weaner pigs in comparison to progeny from multiparous sows.