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Page count: 48

A significant contribution to microbial colonization of piglets comes from the sow: via vertical transmission of vaginal flora during birth and transmission of mucosal immune memory and flora by feaces, colostrum and milk. In this study we determine the effect of an maternal nutritional intervention with an antibiotic on early microbial colonization of piglets. We used antibiotic treatment as a harsh intervention to investigate the hypothesis that the microbial composition in sows, may have an effect on the early microbial colonization of piglets.