Mammary gland biopsy does not affect lactation performance in sows

To determine morphological and molecular characteristics of porcine mammary tissue in vivo, mammary tissue was collected from 18 sows at 3 to 6 d of lactation and 17 to 19 d of lactation using a biopsy technique. The success of the technique was determined by monitoring lactation performance, as evidenced by sow rectal temperature, voluntary feed intake, milk somatic cell count, and piglet average daily gain. Up to 1.7 g of mammary tissue was collected at each biopsy without decreasing sow feed intake or piglet growth.