Domestic pig (Sus domesticus) colostrum – Composition and Quality, Effect on Neonates, Genetic Markers, and Assessment Methods: A Narrative Review

<ns3:p>Colostrum is the initial milk produced by mammals after giving birth. It plays a vital role in the growth and development of piglets during the neonatal period. Colostrum is a vital source of warmth, passive immunity, prebiotics, probiotics, micro- and macronutrients, and nutraceuticals, offering crucial support to newborn piglets. This review paper aims to report on the effect of micro- and macronutrients, bioactive compounds, colostrum intake and hormones on growth, weight gain, passive immunity, and mortality rate. Various methods have been used on farms over the years to analyse the colostrum quality and composition, such as radial immunodiffusion (RID), enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA), and the use of a Brix refractometer. This review critically highlights the historical and current literature on the colostrum of the domestic pig, focusing on its constituents, the effect of colostrum intake on passive immunity, mortality and weight gain, factors influencing its quality, and genetic markers for colostrum production.</ns3:p>