Determination of the digestibility of amino acids in colostrum will provide information about the amount of each
amino acid available from colostrum to the neonate. Requirement of individual amino acids can be accurately estimated
considering digestible amino acid contents rather than total amino acid contents. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the digestibility of proteins in porcine colostrum when fed to neonatal pigs. Considering limited fermentation in neonatal hind gut and infeasibility of ileal cannulation of neonatal pigs within a short recovery period, total track digestibility was measured to provide meaningful values. It was found that nearly all of the proteins and amino acids in porcine colostrum were absorbed by the small intestine of neonatal pigs. The high digestibility of non-immunoglobulin proteins from colostrum is consistent with its enormous nutritional importance for the survival, growth and development of the gut, as well as whole body growth and development. Findings from this study with piglets provided new invaluable information about the bioavailability of proteins in colostrum for neonates.

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