Abstract
Simple SummaryWeaning is the most critical period of piglet rearing. During this time, pigs have not yet fully developed their intestinal tract and immune system; therefore, they are an easy target for pathogenic microorganisms that cause gastrointestinal diseases. In the last decade, several nutritional factors were studied to prevent gastrointestinal disorders in piglets. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of oils for sows during late pregnancy and lactation on offspring performance. In addition, the study determined the effect of caprylic acid or medium-chain triglyceride oil in piglets’ feed on their intestinal structure development, fatty acids content of chyme, productive performance, and health status. Summarizing, the study showed that coconut oil fed to pregnant and lactating sows can markedly reduce the mortality of piglets during the weaning period and that caprylic acid and medium-chain fatty acid oil can be a good feed supplement in weaned piglet feed. The nutritional factors tested in the present study could be used in the diet of sows and piglets to improve the health of piglets and thus the efficiency of pig production.The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of oils for sows during late pregnancy and lactation on offspring performance. In addition, the effect of caprylic acid (C8) or medium-chain triglyceride oil (MCT) in piglets’ feed on their gut development, performance, and health status was determined. The experiment was conducted on 24 sows allocated to two treatments: diet with rapeseed oil or with coconut oil. Newborn piglets were randomly allocated to three treatments: feed with no supplement or supplemented with 0.3% MCT or with 0.3% C8. The results showed that both oils had no effect on sow reproductive rates; however, fatty acid patterns of milk differed significantly and the number of lost piglets was lower in sow fed with coconut oil. Both caprylic and MCT oil significantly improved piglet performance and villus height. These additives did not change triacylglycerol content in blood, but C8 lowered total cholesterol and MCT increased IgG content. It can be concluded that coconut oil fed to pregnant and lactating sows can markedly reduce the mortality of piglets and that caprylic acid and medium-chain fatty acid oil can be a good supplement in weaned piglet feed.
Highlights
Supplementation of the diet of sows during late pregnancy and lactation is one of the less popular ways to positively affect the health status of offspring and/or the productive indices of sows.Our earlier experiment showed that the intensive feeding sows during early pregnancy can have a positive effect on the body weight of born piglets and increase the amount of IIB type muscle fibers as well as their diameter in longissimus m. [1]
The type of oil added to the sow diet during late pregnancy did not affected their reproductive indices, including the body weight of newborn piglets, but the piglet losses were lower in group fed with coconut oil (Table 3)
Supplementation with coconut oil increased the content of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), mainly lauric acid, in milk, but there was no significant difference in the number of piglets born or in their mean body weight
Summary
Supplementation of the diet of sows during late pregnancy and lactation is one of the less popular ways to positively affect the health status of offspring and/or the productive indices of sows.Our earlier experiment showed that the intensive feeding sows during early pregnancy (time period 25–55 days) can have a positive effect on the body weight of born piglets and increase the amount of IIB type muscle fibers as well as their diameter in longissimus m. [1]. Supplementation of the diet of sows during late pregnancy and lactation is one of the less popular ways to positively affect the health status of offspring and/or the productive indices of sows. Dietary supplementation of sows with polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 (PUFA n-3) affects the colostrum composition to the greatest extent by increasing the content of fat and protein, while medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) additive shortens the weaning-to-estrus interval of sows [3]. With regard to offspring, these authors observed more positive effect on intestinal health and lower mortality of suckling piglets when dietary sodium butyrate was used for pregnant sows compared to the results observed for dietary MCFA or PUFA n-3. The experiment of Vodolazska and Lauridsen [4] confirmed that the maternal dietary fatty acid profile of oil influence the fatty acid profile in sows’ colostrum and mature milk, blood plasma, and plasma of their progeny
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
