The establishment of an initial gut microbiota is identified as a critical stage in neonatal development and is believed to influence health throughout life. Neonates are believed to receive their first bacterial colonizers while passing through the birth canal, from the environment as well as from milk during suckling; however, the relationship between maternal microbiota and development of neonatal gut microbiota is not clearly understood. To establish the contribution of maternal microbiota (gut and vaginal) to neonatal gut microbiota development, swab samples were taken from the posterior and anterior vagina 4 d before expected farrowing in pregnant sows housed on concrete slatted floors (CSF) (n = 12) and on straw (ASF) (n = 15). Fecal samples were obtained from sows at the same time as vaginal sampling, and from 5 piglets born to each sow (n = 135 piglets) on d 0, 1 and 3 after birth. DNA was extracted and subjected to V3-V4 bacterial 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing. Firmicutes (46.5%) and Bacteroidetes (24.8%) dominated the vaginal bacterial community of pregnant sows while Proteobacteria were in low numbers (14.5%). Among Firmicutes, Clostridia (34.6%) were found to predominate while Lactobacilli (3.8%) were few. No differences in β-diversity (P = 0.447) of bacterial communities were observed between the anterior and posterior vagina in sows from the 2 housing types. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated sows fecal microbiota (48.7% and 37.13% respectively) with relatively low numbers of Proteobacteria (0.9%). Fecal samples of piglets differed in percent composition during the first 3 d after birth. Proteobacteria were found to be predominant on d 0 (63.8%), Firmicutes on d 1 (55.2%), and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes on d 3 (60.1% and 15.15% respectively). Although piglet fecal microbiota was significantly different from both sow vaginal, and fecal microbiota (P = 0.001), the principal coordinate analysis showed a moving trend of piglet microbiota toward the sow vaginal microbiota as piglets grew from d 1 to d 3. Results indicate that maternal microbiota may contribute to piglet gut microbiota development.