Investigation of the Defatted Colostrum <sup>1</sup>H-NMR Metabolomics Profile of Gilts and Multiparous Sows and Its Relationship with Litter Performance
Diana Luise,
Gianfranco Picone,
Agnese Balzani,
Francesco Capozzi,
Micol Bertocchi,
Chiara Salvarani,
Paolo Bosi,
Sandra Edwards,
Paolo Trevisi
Affiliations
Diana Luise
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Gianfranco Picone
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Agnese Balzani
Agriculture-School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Francesco Capozzi
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Micol Bertocchi
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Chiara Salvarani
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Paolo Bosi
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Sandra Edwards
Agriculture-School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Paolo Trevisi
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
The aim of the study was to characterize the soluble metabolomics profile of defatted colostrum of sows at different parity number (PA) and to correlate the metabolomics profile with the Brix percentage estimate of colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and sow productive traits. A total of 96 Meidam (crossbreed Large White × Meishan) sows of PA from 1−4 (PA1: 28; PA2:26; PA3:12; PA4:26) were included, and their productive traits were recorded at 10 days post-farrowing. Colostrum IgG was quantified using a Brix refractometer, and metabolomics profile was assessed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Sows’ PA slightly influenced the metabolomics profile of colostrum. lactose and glycine were higher in PA1 compared with PA4 (p 0.05) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) tended to be higher in PA2 than PA3 and PA4 (p < 0.10). The Brix percentage of IgG was negatively associated with lactose and positively with creatine, myo-inositol, and O-phosphocholine (p < 0.05). Taurine was positively related to litter weight at birth. GlcNAc and myo-inositol were linked to piglet mortality at day 10 with a negative and positive trend, respectively. In conclusion, colostrum of gilts and multiparous sows had a similar metabolomics profile. Specific metabolites contributed to explanation of the variability in colostrum Brix percentage estimate of IgG concentration and the sows’ productive performance.
