Bovine Colostrum as a Natural Growth Factor (original) (raw)

The aim of this review is to present the potential of bovine colostrum as growth promoter in piglet-weaner diet. The main consequence of weaning the piglet is a critical period of underfeeding of which results in the so-called "weaning growth check". Near this reduction in feed intake and growth performance, the gastro-intestinal tract and the immune system of the animal are also affected. Bovine colostrum can be used to reduce the impact of weaning by the action of its bioactive components which may be classified in two classes: the growth factors, which promote the growth and development of the newborn, and the antimicrobial factors, which provide passive immunity and protect against infection. Studies using bovine colostrum in the weaning diet showed increased growth performance and feed intake the first week post-weaning, moreover, a better feed efficiency was also reported, suggesting that the growth benefits attributed to the bovine colostrum supplementation is not due solely to the increased feed consumption. Effects were also observed on the intestinal tract (gastric pH, mucosa restoration, intestinal microflora, local immunisation) but the systemic immune responses were not altered.