Effects of Dietary Lysolecithin Supplementation during Late Gestation and Lactation on Sow Reproductive Performance, Sow Blood Metabolic Parameters and Piglet Performance.

Georgios A Papadopoulos,Alexandra L Wealleans,Paschalis Fortomaris,Georgios A Delis,Geert P J Janssens,Mauro Di Benedetto

doi:10.3390/ani12050623

Abstract

Simple SummaryLactation is metabolically very demanding, and sows struggle to eat enough to cover their requirements. Use of lysolecithin can improve energy digestibility and retention and may be able to help sows maintain condition and performance during lactation. In the present study supplementation with lysolecithin reduced backfat loss and increased litter growth. There were also impacts of lysolecithin supplementation on glucose and urea metabolism, indicating improved nutrient digestion and absorption, potentially via leptin-regulated mechanisms.The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of lysolecithin in sows’ diets during the last three weeks of the gestation period and throughout the lactation period on performance and metabolic parameters. In total 60 sows were allocated to two treatments: (a) CG (control group): the sows were fed commercially control diets; (b) LLG (lysolecithin group): the sows were fed the control diets supplemented with 750 g/t of feed supplemented with lysolecithin (Lysoforte Booster DryTM, Kemin Europa N.V., Herentals, Belgium). Backfat was lower in LLG than CG at end of gestation and at weaning (p = 0.030 and 0.044, respectively), while the CG sows mobilized more backfat between day 14 to weaning (p = 0.006). Litter weight at weaning was higher in the LLG (p = 0.027). Fasted glucose levels at day 14 of lactation tended to be lower in LLG compared to CG (p = 0.074). Urea concentrations were higher in LLG than CG at day 14 (p = 0.002). Lysolecithin supplemented sows compared to the control mobilized less tissue during lactation to support lactation demands. In conclusion, lysolecithin supplementation in sows resulted in improved litter weight at weaning without an excessive catabolism of backfat tissue, most probably due to an efficient nutrient utilization, which warrants further investigation.

Highlights

The modern, intensive pig industry requires high-performing sows that are very demanding
Sows of the CG group had a significantly (p = 0.030) thicker backfat layer than those of the LLG group at d108 and d14; the difference in backfat thickness between the groups gradually disappeared towards weaning
Between d14 and weaning, the backfat loss was smaller in LLG than in CG (p = 0.006)

Summary

Introduction

The modern, intensive pig industry requires high-performing sows that are very demanding. Over the years sows have become more prolific and produce large, heavy litters with increased daily gains and high requirements for energy consumption from milk [1–3] These fast-growing litters impose an energy deficit on the sow, especially when entering a catabolic state towards the end of the gestation and early lactation [4]. Increasing energy and nutrient retention from feed is crucial to maintain performance while keeping feed costs reasonable [2,6]; the addition of animal fats, such as tallow or lard, can help nutritionists achieve these aims [3] Despite their high energy density, animal fats can be highly variable in their composition and quality [7] and are associated with comparatively incomplete absorption, since they mainly contain saturated, long-chain fatty acids (FAs). These saturated long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) are known to be less readily incorporated in the micelles of the intestinal lumen [8,9], a prerequisite for exposure to the activity of pancreatic lipases [10,11]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion