{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T07:09:37Z","timestamp":1790924977387,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"22","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,10]],"date-time":"2022-11-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1668038400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Danish Pig Levy Foundation (Svineafgiftsfonden)"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The aim of this study was to investigate differences in growth, hematology, metabolism, small intestine (SI) morphology, and enzyme activity of sow-reared piglets (SOW) compared to artificially reared piglets (MILK) given milk replacers in two different environments. Thirty-six piglets were selected at birth based on their birth weight; eighteen were kept on a commercial farm, another eighteen transferred to an animal research facility for artificial rearing. Differences were observed in enzymatic activity, with a larger amount of sucrase in the SOW compared with MILK group across the SI. SOW piglets also had a body composition with a larger amount of fat, muscle, and bone mass content. Differences in hematology were observed, suggesting environmental influences, biochemistry differences reflective of the diets given, and finally, an increased dry matter (DM) intake in SOW piglets was estimated. No differences were observed in immune function and only small differences in the gut integrity were found between the two groups. It can be concluded that body composition and enzyme activity can be manipulated through dietary intervention and that an increase in DM during lactation is beneficial for gut function. The study warrants further investigation into what this means for the subsequent weaning period.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12223112","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,10]],"date-time":"2022-11-10T19:18:29Z","timestamp":1668107909000},"page":"3112","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Suckling Induces Differential Gut Enzyme Activity and Body Composition Compared to Feeding Milk Replacer in Piglets"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1107-4200","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Charlotte","family":"Amdi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Gr\u00f8nneg\u00e5rdsvej 2, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marie Louise M.","family":"Pedersen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pig Research Centre, Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Axeltorv 3, 1609 Copenhagen V, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christina","family":"Larsen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Gr\u00f8nneg\u00e5rdsvej 2, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joanna","family":"Klaaborg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Gr\u00f8nneg\u00e5rdsvej 2, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8231-282X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrew R.","family":"Williams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Gr\u00f8nneg\u00e5rdsvej 2, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7528-9521","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Johannes Gulmann","family":"Madsen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Gr\u00f8nneg\u00e5rdsvej 2, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"313","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0531.2012.02091.x","article-title":"Reproduction in Farm Animals in an Era of Rapid Genetic Change: Will Genetic Change Outpace Our Knowledge of Physiology?","volume":"47","author":"Foxcroft","year":"2012","journal-title":"Reprod. Domest. Anim."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1016\/S0301-6226(02)00012-X","article-title":"Within-litter birth weight variation in the domestic pig and its relation to pre-weaning survival, weight gain, and variation in weaning weights","volume":"76","author":"Milligan","year":"2002","journal-title":"Livest. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"981","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2016.03.023","article-title":"Reproductive performance of \u201cnurse sows\u201d in Danish piggeries","volume":"86","author":"Bruun","year":"2016","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Hansen, C. (2021, February 01). Landsgennemsnit for Produktivitet i Produktionen af Grise. Available online: www.landbrugsinfo.dk\/-\/media\/landbrugsinfo\/public\/4\/5\/4\/notat_2204_landsgennemsnit_produktion_grise_2021.pdf."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3399","DOI":"10.1093\/jas\/skz200","article-title":"Optimal crude protein in diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids fed to high-yielding lactating sows","volume":"97","author":"Hojgaard","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Harrell, R.J., Thomas, M.J., and Boyd, R.D. (1993, January 19\u201321). Limitations of Sow Milk-Yield on Baby Pig Growth. Proceedings of the 1993 Cornell Nutrition Conference for Feed Manufacturers, Rochester, NY, USA."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1090","DOI":"10.2527\/2002.8041090x","article-title":"Lactational performance of first-parity transgenic gilts expressing bovine alpha-lactalbumin in their milk","volume":"80","author":"Noble","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"989","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2015-9942","article-title":"Bovine milk-based formula leads to early maturation-like morphological, immunological, and functional changes in the jejunum of neonatal piglets","volume":"94","author":"Pieper","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1520","DOI":"10.1093\/jn\/131.5.1520","article-title":"Small intestine epithelial barrier function is compromised in pigs with low feed intake at weaning","volume":"131","author":"Spreeuwenberg","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"947","DOI":"10.1093\/jn\/128.6.947","article-title":"Weaning and the weanling diet influence the villous height and crypt depth in the small intestine of pigs and alter the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in the large intestine and blood","volume":"128","author":"Nabuurs","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1079\/BJN19910079","article-title":"Digestive development of the early-weaned pig: 2. Effect of level of food intake on digestive enzyme activity during the immediate post-weaning period","volume":"65","author":"Kelly","year":"1991","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"881","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731107000031","article-title":"Milk intake and carbon dioxide production of piglets determined with the doubly labelled water technique","volume":"1","author":"Theil","year":"2007","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114520004225","article-title":"Pre-weaning adaptation responses in piglets fed milk replacer with gradually increasing amounts of wheat","volume":"126","author":"Amdi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1776","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2006.02.026","article-title":"Diet- and colonization-dependent intestinal dysfunction predisposes to necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm pigs","volume":"130","author":"Sangild","year":"2006","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1186\/s40104-018-0280-y","article-title":"Fat deposition deficiency is critical for the high mortality of pre-weanling newborn piglets","volume":"9","author":"He","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1165","DOI":"10.1071\/AR98180","article-title":"Supplemental skim milk before and after weaning improves growth performance of pigs","volume":"50","author":"Dunshea","year":"1999","journal-title":"Aust. J. Agric. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2948","DOI":"10.2527\/1996.74122948x","article-title":"Effect of feeding a milk replacer to early-weaned pigs on growth, body composition, and small intestinal morphology, compared with suckled littermates","volume":"74","author":"Zijlstra","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.2527\/2006.84193x","article-title":"Low birth weight is associated with enlarged muscle fiber area and impaired meat tenderness of the longissimus muscle in pigs","volume":"84","author":"Gondret","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"867","DOI":"10.1093\/jn\/138.5.867","article-title":"Dietary arginine supplementation increases mTOR signaling activity in skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs","volume":"138","author":"Yao","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"440","DOI":"10.1111\/jpn.12765","article-title":"Influence of l-carnitine and l-arginine on protein synthesis and maturation of the semitendinosus muscle of lightweight piglets","volume":"102","author":"Madsen","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1016\/S0301-6226(97)00057-2","article-title":"Factors influencing the structure and function of the small intestine in the weaned pig: A review","volume":"51","author":"Pluske","year":"1997","journal-title":"Livest. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3491","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2013-6437","article-title":"Supplementing formula-fed piglets with a low molecular weight fraction of bovine colostrum whey results in an improved intestinal barrier","volume":"92","author":"Huygelen","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1679","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2014-8230","article-title":"Oral administration of putrescine and proline during the suckling period improves epithelial restitution after early weaning in piglets","volume":"93","author":"Wang","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1517","DOI":"10.1007\/s00726-015-1985-2","article-title":"Dietary L-leucine supplementation enhances intestinal development in suckling piglets","volume":"47","author":"Sun","year":"2015","journal-title":"Amino Acids"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1186\/s40104-017-0159-3","article-title":"Artificial rearing influences the morphology, permeability and redox state of the gastrointestinal tract of low and normal birth weight piglets","volume":"8","author":"Vergauwen","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"txab004","DOI":"10.1093\/tas\/txab004","article-title":"Peroral iron supplementation can be provided to piglets through a milk cup system with results comparable to parenteral iron administration","volume":"5","author":"Jakobsen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Transl. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.54846\/jshap\/871","article-title":"Early indicators of iron deficiency in large piglets at weaning","volume":"23","author":"Bhattarai","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Swine Health Prod."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/12\/22\/3112\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:14:17Z","timestamp":1760145257000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/12\/22\/3112"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,10]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"22","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11]]}},"alternative-id":["ani12223112"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani12223112","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,10]]}}}