Porcine immunoglobulin transfer after prepartum treatment with selenium or vitamin E

Responses to prepartum injection of sows with Se and vitamin E (E) were evaluated by determining immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM, IgG) levels in the colostrum and serum of the sows and the serum of their offspring. Fifty-four sows (40 multiparous, 14 primiparous) receiving diets adequate in E and Se according to current NRC (1988) standards were randomly allotted to four treatment groups in which a single i.m. injection of saline (controls), 5 mg of Se, 1,000 IU of E, or both Se and E were given on d 100 of gestation. Sows were bled prior to and 7 d after injection, at farrowing and on d 14 and 28 of lactation. Colostral samples were collected at the initiation of farrowing. Pigs were bled 20 h postpartum and at 14 and 28 d of age. Major immunoglobulin changes in the serum of the sows due to treatment were not seen prior to parturition. Injections of Se and(or) E resulted in higher colostral IgM levels (8.4, 10.7, 9.8 and 9.6 mg/ml, respectively), but only the response from Se was significant (P less than .05). Concentrations of colostral IgA or IgG were not affected by treatment (P greater than .30). Compared with controls, all three treatments increased (P less than .10) IgM concentrations in serum from pigs at birth (28.3, 33.3, 36.0 and 33.5 mg/ml, respectively), whereas IgA and IgG concentrations were not affected (P greater than .30).