Is colostrum always available for the neonatal pig?
Yes. Colostrum starts to be secreted about 10 hours prior to farrowing and is available on a continual basis post farrowing without the need for the suckling stimulus (up to 36 hours post farrowing). Q. Is there an advantage to stomach tubing the neonatal pig with a “sugar” solution? Nursing the sow and consuming colostrum shortly after birth is critical for pigs of any birth weight. Lightweight pigs have a minimal amount of energy stores at birth and can become hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) shortly after birth if they don’t receive adequate nourishment. Research has demonstrated that administering a carbohydrate (e.g., dextrose) directly into the stomach of lightweight pigs can improve their survivability. In contrast, heavier-weight pigs can survive for a longer time without nursing and should not need a supplemental sugar source. Table sugar (i.e., sucrose) is not an acceptable sugar source and may cause extreme diarrhea and possible death of the neonatal pig, whereas glucose (hydr
