Colostrum increases DNA fractional synthetic rate, villi growth, and cellular proliferation of the jejunum in neonatal gilt piglets

Lay Summary Colostrum, the first milk available to neonates postnatally, functions in the immunologic and metabolic transition of neonates and affects their development in both the short- and long-term. If piglets do not receive an adequate level of colostrum, which is ∼20% of birth body weight, then their development and growth become impaired. These studies tested the effects of high and low intake of colostrum and milk replacer on intestinal development by assigning female piglets to receive colostrum bottle-fed at 20% of birth body weight (COL20) or 10% of birth body weight (COL10), milk replacer bottle-fed at 20% (MR20) or 10% of birth body weight (MR10), or stayed on the sow to suckle colostrum (SOS) for 24 h. Another group was immediately euthanized after birth (zero-hour [ZH]). After 24 h of feeding, the remaining piglets were euthanized and blood and small intestine collected. SOS and COL20 had greater deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthetic rate in the small intestine compared to the COL10 and MR10. SOS and COL20 had longer villi with greater total surface area and cellular proliferation of villi and deep lamina propria compared to COL10, MR10, and ZH. These responses indicate that the unique composition of colostrum along with an adequate dose support piglet small intestine development.