Comparing the intestinal transcriptome of Meishan and Large White piglets during late fetal development reveals genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism and immunity as valuable clues of intestinal maturity.

Collectively, our findings indicate that the neonatal maturity of pig intestine may rely on functional development of glucose and lipid metabolisms, immune phagocyte differentiation and inflammatory pathways. This process may partially be governed by PPARGC1A.