Management is the key to neonatal immunity—housing environment, diet, pre-conditioning/acclamation of the dam, and subsequent environment microbiota colonization of the piglet have dramatic effects on the successful development of a fully functionalneonatal immune system. Standard management practices and useful information fot the sow hetd manager are provided by Chiba' and Reese.2 Hurley3 summarized and discussed general management concepts regarding the development of the piglet immune system. Mixed beneficial results of sow dietary supplementation4,5 with various oils or extracts have been obsetved in colosttum and milk composition and also on passively acquired immunity of the piglet; however, further research is needed to determine the overall effectiveness of this, and othei, supplementation practices. Control and potential management of mictobiota colonization of neonateshas dtamatic effects on colonization resistance as well as development of the mucosal immunity; however, once again further research is needed to determine the best strategies to use this potential management tool.
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