{"id":58725,"date":"2020-12-02T08:27:18","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T07:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/egg-antibody-technology-for-nursery-pig-application\/"},"modified":"2022-07-07T11:39:34","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T09:39:34","slug":"egg-antibody-technology-for-nursery-pig-application","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/us\/egg-antibody-technology-for-nursery-pig-application\/","title":{"rendered":"Egg antibody technology for nursery pig application"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pigs at birth having insufficient immunity are simply not able to cope with the stress situations they face early in life. They of course become susceptible to the many pathogens common in the farrowing house. The resulting negative effects are added medical costs for treating the pigs and often an increased mortality. Strengthening the immune system by applying egg antibodies (IgY) during the first days of piglet\u2019s life is a proven viable option.<\/p>\n

\"Egg<\/p>\n

Immunity in pigs<\/h1>\n

Humans and animals are protected against diseases by specific antibodies (AB). Newborns receive the antibodies maternally (passive immunity<\/strong>) and they produce them after contact with pathogens (active immunity<\/strong>). But unlike humans, who receive maternal AB within the womb, sows possess a multi-layered placenta which prevents the transfer of AB during gestation. Therefore, an early intake of AB from colostrum is essential. This intake should begin immediately after birth as absorption decreases with every hour. But, the maternal antibodies are only a \u201cstarter immune kit\u201d. The young pigs immediately must begin to develop their own \u201cactive immunity\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Immune
\nFigure 1: Immune status of the young pig (Sieverding, 2000<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Figure 1 shows gaps of low immunity shortly after birth and about six weeks after, as the level of passive immunity begins to drop and the active immunity starts to build up. The strength of the passive immune protection depends on quantity and quality of the colostrum consumed by the nursery pig. The quality is determined by the pathogens the sows have been confronted with during their life. Young gilts and sows with only short adaptation time into the herd often do not have the farm-specific antibodies needed to pass to their nursing pigs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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How can egg antibodies serve as a tool ?<\/h3>\n

Young pigs are challenged by different pathogens (see figure 2). From studies made by the German internist Felix Klemperer (Klemperer, 1893<\/em>)\u00a0we know that hens which\u00a0come in contact with pathogens (in his studies with tetanus bacillus) produce antibodies against these pathogens. The antibodies are transferred to the egg yolk and are intended for being a starter protection kit for the chicks.<\/p>\n

Technology allows us today to produce a highly valuable product based on egg powder. It contains significant amounts of natural egg immunoglobulins (IgY \u2013 i<\/strong>mmunog<\/strong>lobulins from the y<\/strong>olk). These egg antibodies mainly act in the gut. There they recognize and tie up pathogens and in this way render them ineffective.<\/p>\n

Figure 2: Commonly occurring pathogens causing diarrhea in pigs as they age<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\"Commonly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Not all egg powders are equal<\/h3>\n

\"Effects<\/p>\n

Early work done by Kellner et al. (1994) showed the effectiveness of egg powder containing relevant antibodies against diarrhea causing pathogens in nursery pigs. In the trial they evaluated three groups receiving egg powder with relevant antibodies, egg powder from regular eggs or no additive (negative control).<\/p>\n

Results:<\/strong>
\n(Figure 3: Effects of egg powder with relevant antibodies and egg powder from regular eggs in comparison to a negative control):<\/p>\n