Piglet performance and immunity is determined by the parity of both the birth dam and the rearing dam

Gilt progeny have lower weaning weights and higher post-weaning medication and mortality rates, indicating greater disease susceptibility, than do sow progeny. The present study aimed to identify explanatory innate or adaptive immunity differences between gilt and sow progeny and potential pre- or post-natal influences. Sixty-four dams were vaccinated twice pre-farrowing with tetanus toxoid (TT). Serum (pre-vaccination) and colostrum and/or milk samples were collected to determine concentrations of TT-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Piglets were removed from their birth dam before suckling and fostered (not to their birth dam) to form 16 gilt and 16 sow litters, with five gilt-born and five sow-born piglets per litter. Piglets were vaccinated at weaning (4 weeks old) with either TT or saline (control). Sera and whole blood were collected from three gilt-born and three sow-born piglets per litter at 2, 4 and 7 weeks of age. Innate immunity was assessed indirectly on whole blood using an interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) immune cell stimulation assay and a phagocytic assay. Piglets were weighed at birth, 4, 10, 17 and 22 weeks of age. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in the concentration of TT-specific IgG in colostrum and milk from gilts and older-parity sows, suggesting a similar ability to transfer IgG antibodies to a novel antigen. Birth dam parity did not affect piglets' TT-specific IgG concentrations pre-weaning (P > 0.05) suggesting similar ability to absorb passively acquired IgG. Sow-reared piglets, however, had lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of TT-specific IgG than did gilt-reared piglets, possibly due to haemodilution in the faster-growing sow progeny. Gilt-born progeny had a reduced IgG response post-weaning to TT vaccination relative to sow-born progeny (P < 0.05), indicating adaptive immunity differences. Birth dam parity did not affect (P > 0.05) innate immunity (number/responsiveness of cells). Rearing dam parity influenced phagocytic activity pre- and post-weaning (gilt-reared > sow-reared; P < 0.05), possibly due to increased pathogen challenge. Birthweight was affected by birth dam parity (sow-born > gilt-born; P < 0.05) while rearing dam parity determined weaning weight (sow-reared > gilt-reared; P < 0.05), with no difference evident at 22 weeks. The results of the present study suggest that gilt-born progeny may be more susceptible to disease post-weaning than sow-born progeny due to their lower birthweight and reduced humoral immune responsiveness. The rearing dam may also affect disease susceptibility in progeny due to slower pre-weaning growth, lower weaning weights and increased pathogen challenge, both pre- and post-weaning.