The effect of late pregnancy feed allowance on the milk composition of the sow's colostrum and milk.

The composition of colostrum and milk and of sows fed either 3.4 kg or 1.0 kg daily of a conventional sow diet during the last 14 days of gestation was investigated. The fat content of colostrum of the very restrictedly fed sows was higher compared with the standard fed sows. There was a significantly decrease in the crude protein and immunoglobulin contents of colostrum during the first 4 h post farrowing. The milk composition 14 days after farrowing was not affected by the late pregnancy feeding level. The composition of milk was significantly correlated with the 3 week litter weight. The colostrum IgG content was not correlated to the mortality of piglets during the first week post favouring. The content of crude protein and immunoglobulins in the milk was not correlated with the frequency of post weaning diarrhoea.