108 Effects of Yeast Carbohydrates Fed to Lactating Sows on Sow and Offspring Performance

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the optimal inclusion level of a yeast carbohydrate (YC) product in sow diets based on sow and suckling piglet performance. Forty-nine sows and gilts (Parity 0 to 5; 217 ± 30 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three YC supplementation levels (0%, 0.1%, and 0.2% of diet) in late gestation beginning at d 105 and lactation. Yeast carbohydrate was top-dressed using corn as a carrier to achieve daily active ingredient intake of 3 and 6 g/d in gestation (0.1 and 0.2% YC, respectively) and 7 and 15 g/d in lactation (0.1 and 0.2% YC, respectively) at the 0730 and 0800 h feed time in gestation and lactation, respectively. Variables measured included: sow body weight (BW), backfat (BF), feed intake (ADFI), litter characteristics at birth, piglet BW, piglet weight distribution at birth and weaning, and serum, colostrum, and milk immune status. Sows supplemented with 0.2% YC had 0.95 less stillborn pigs compared with control and 0.1% YC treatment groups (P = 0.04). Total born, born alive, and farrowing duration did not differ among treatment groups. The 0.2%YC treated sows weaned 1.04 more pigs (P = 0.09) than control and 0.1%YC groups. Colostral immunocrit ratio tended to be greater in 0.2%YC sows compared with control sows (P = 0.09; 0.66 vs 0.48 in 0.2%YC and control, respectively). Control litters had 14.9% greater proportion of light weight pigs at birth (< 1.20 kg) and both YC groups had 12.4% greater proportion of average weight pigs (1.20 to 1.65 kg; P < 0.01). Pig BW at weaning (5.96 vs 5.77 vs 5.61 kg in control, 0.1 and 0.2%, respectively) and overall ADG (0.24 vs 0.22 vs 0.22 kg/d in control, 0.1 and 0.2%, respectively) were greater in control group (P ≥ 0.05). The 0.2% YC group had a 3.7% and 10.4% greater frequency (χ2 < 0.01) of weaning light weight (< 5.00 kg) and average weight (5.00 to 6.40 kg) pigs, respectively. The YC groups both had greater frequency of pigs that fell into lighter BW categories between birth to weaning (2.9 vs 27.3 vs 25.9% in control, 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively; χ2 < 0.01). There was a 15.6% ldecreased pre-weaning mortality of light born pigs in 0.2% YC group compared with control and 0.1% YC groups (χ2 = 0.03). Suckling pigs from sows in the 0.2% YC group had a greater (P = 0.03) concentration of serum IgA at weaning (23.47 vs 23.83 vs 31.63 μg/mL in control, 0.1, and 0.2%, respectively). In conclusion, 0.2% YC supplementation in sow diet benefited both sow and litter performance with the capacity to wean more light born pigs as well as a greater colostral immunocrit ratio and offspring IgA concentrations at weaning.