Dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate for mixed-parity sows during lactation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate for mixed-parity sows during lactation on reproductive performance, milk composition, blood parameters and litter performance. A total of 192 sows were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement, considering 4 experimental diets (diet without sodium butyrate, diet with 0.1% and 0.2% coated sodium butyrate, and diet with 0.066% uncoated sodium butyrate) and 4 parity order groups (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 5th to 7th), totaling 16 treatments with 12 replicates each, considering each sow and their litter as experimental unit. Dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate did not influence the reproductive performance of sows and productive performance of piglets during lactation (P > 0.05). There was an effect of parity orders on body weight at farrowing and weaning, average daily feed intake and estimated daily milk production of the sows (P < 0.05). There was influence of the different parity orders on litter weight at 48 h post-farrowing and at weaning, and also on the daily weight gain of the litter (P < 0.05). There was no interaction between the sodium butyrate supplementation and the different parity orders on blood parameters of sows (P > 0.05). There was interaction between the supplementation of sodium butyrate and the parity orders in caprylic, myristic and arachidonic acids in the milk of sows (P < 0.05). The butyric acid (C4:0) in the milk was influenced by dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate and parity orders (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of coated and uncoated sodium butyrate for lactating sows modifies the milk fatty acid profile, but does not affect the performance and blood parameters of sows, nor the performance of their progenies during lactation. Sows of 5th to 7th parity have better productive performance and heavier litter at 48 h post-farrowing and at weaning when compared to primiparous sows.