Abstract
The effect of spineless cactus intake (Opuntia ficus-indica) on blood glucose (BG) levels in lactating sows and its impact on daily and total feed intake (dFI−1 and TFI, respectively), body weight loss (BWL), and weaning-estrus interval length (WEI) were evaluated. Thirty-four hybrid (Yorkshire × Landrace × Pietrain) sows in lactation phase were used. Sows were divided into two groups: G1 (n = 17) where they received commercial feed and G2 (n = 17) provided with commercial feed plus an average of 2.0 ± 0.5 kg spineless cactus, based on a sow’s body weight. The variables evaluated were BG, dFI−1, TFI, BWL, and WEI. Statistical analysis was performed by using a fixed and mixed model methodology, under a repeated measurements experiment. Group effects were found on all analyzed variables (P < 0.05). The BG was lower in G2 (55.2 and 64.5 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively), compared to that in G1 (70.9 and 80.1 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively) (P < 0.05). G2 showed better performance than G1 for dFI−1, BWL, and WEI (P < 0.05) whose averages were 5.5 ± 1.8 kg, 7.4 ± 4.5%, and 5.3 ± 1.2 days, respectively. Averages for these variables in G1 were 4.7 ± 1.5 kg, 16.8 ± 4.6%, and 6.1 ± 1.6 days, respectively. Intake of spineless cactus reduced BG levels in lactating sows, generating greater dFI−1, lower BWL at the end of lactation, and a lower WEI.
Highlights
The feeding of the sow during lactation is among the most important indicators to maintain the productivity of the swine production systems (Segura et al, 2013; Xie et al, 2015)
During this stage of production, the sows experience lactational physiologic hypophagia, which is associated with a gradual development of insulin resistance (Koketzu et al, 1998; Schenkel et al, 2010), and to an increase in blood glucose (Pére and Etienne, 2007; Klosterbuer et al, 2012)
The increase of blood glucose in lactating sows causes alterations in appetite, reflected in a decrease in voluntary feed intake during the first week post-farrowing (Rigón et al, 2008), which is manifested in body weight loss of the sows and in the decrease of reproductive and productive postlactation indicators (Schenkel et al, 2010)
Summary
The feeding of the sow during lactation is among the most important indicators to maintain the productivity of the swine production systems (Segura et al, 2013; Xie et al, 2015) During this stage of production, the sows experience lactational physiologic hypophagia, which is associated with a gradual development of insulin resistance (Koketzu et al, 1998; Schenkel et al, 2010), and to an increase in blood glucose (Pére and Etienne, 2007; Klosterbuer et al, 2012). The increase of blood glucose in lactating sows causes alterations in appetite, reflected in a decrease in voluntary feed intake during the first week post-farrowing (Rigón et al, 2008), which is manifested in body weight loss of the sows and in the decrease of reproductive and productive postlactation indicators (weaning) (Schenkel et al, 2010). The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of spineless cactus intake (Opuntia ficus-indica) on blood glucose levels in lactating sows and its impact on daily and total feed intake, body weight loss, and weaning-estrus interval
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