Porcine Neonatal Nutrition: Absorption of Unaltered Nonporcine Proteins and Polyvinylpyrrolidone from the Gut of Piglets and the Subsequent Effect on the Maturation of the Serum Protein Profile

Abstract

It has been demonstrated with agar and immunoelectrophoresis that the protein absorption mechanism operating within the first 36 hours of a piglet's life is qualitatively nonselective. Proteins from such phylogenentically different sources as chickens and cows, as well as different kinds of proteins (albumins and globulins), were absorbed by the neonatal pig. The nonselective nature of this absorption mechanism was emphasized further by the fact that a synthetic, high-molecular-weight, blood plasma extender (polyvinylpyrrolidone) also was absorbed by the piglet during this initial phase. Piglets fed cow's colostrum had an uninterrupted maturation of the serum protein profile, superior weight gain and viability. Pigs fed avian eggs in cow's milk initially had similar serum protein changes, resulting from the absorption of egg proteins. This was followed by a delayed maturation of the serum protein profile, inferior weight gain, and poor viability. In this respect, the pigs fed egg performed as poorly as the control piglets fed cow's milk.