Secretory IgA and antibodies to Escherichia coli in porcine colostrum and milk and their significance in the alimentary tract of the young pig.

Abstract

Specific antisera prepared in rabbits against porcine immunoglobulins have been used in the measurement of IgG, IgA and IgM in porcine colostrum and milk throughout the first weeks of lactation. The immunoglobulins account for more than 60 per cent of the colostral whey protein and approximately 80 per cent of the immunoglobulin is IgG. During the first 2–3 days of lactation IgG and IgM fall to approximately one-tenth of the original level but IgA shows only a two- to three-fold decrease and becomes the predominant immunoglobulin in sow milk.