Abstract
Simple SummaryThe reproductive performance of sows plays an important role in the development of the pig industry. The health status during gestation and lactation capacity of sows determines the healthy development and later growth status of piglets. This study aimed to investigate the effects of soybean isoflavone and astragalus polysaccharide mixture on the colostrum components, and serum antioxidant activities, immune function, and hormone levels of lactating sows. Results showed that the soybean isoflavone and astragalus polysaccharide mixture increased the total lactation yield in the lactating phase, and improved the antioxidant, immune and hormone levels in the serum of lactating sows. In conclusion, the soybean isoflavone and astragalus polysaccharide mixture can improve the average daily feed intake, lactation yield, serum antioxidant activity, immune function, and the hormone levels of lactating sows, and the optimum dosage in this study was 200 mg/kg. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of the soybean isoflavone and astragalus polysaccharide mixture application in the production of lactating sows and a reference basis for the development of green feed additives.The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of soybean isoflavone (SI) and astragalus polysaccharide (APS) mixture on the colostrum components, serum antioxidant, immune and hormone levels of lactating sows. A total of 72 healthy Yorkshire × Landrace lactating sows, were randomly divided into four treatments with six replicates and three lactating sows for each replicate. The control group was fed the basal diet, while the experimental groups were fed the basal diet with 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg SI and APS mixture in the form of powder, respectively. Compared with the control group, (a) the total lactation yield of the 200 mg/kg group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at 21 days, (b) there was no significant difference in colostrum composition, (c) TG, CHO and MDA content in each treatment group were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), (d) IgA, GH, IGF-1, TNF-α and SOD contents in the 200 mg/kg group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The SI and APS mixture could improve the average daily feed intake, lactation yield, serum antioxidant activities, immune function, and hormone levels of lactating sows, and the optimum dosage in this study was 200 mg/kg.
Highlights
During late gestation and the entire lactation period, the nutrition metabolism and physiological state of sows will change to satisfy the normal growth of the fetus in the womb and piglets, which will reinforce maternal oxidative stress, leading to insufficient lactation, anorexia, frail and declining immunity of sows, causing hidden troubles for the late reproduction of sows [1,2,3,4]
Porcine milk is the main source of nutrition for piglets during lactation, especially the colostrum, which is a crucial material for piglets to gain passive immunoglobulins and improve immune function after piglets are exposed to environmental cold and pathogens [5,6,7,8]
Can improve the growth performance of large yellow croaker [17], and Wang [18] found that the Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) together with ginseng polysaccharide increased the average daily gain and decrease the feed conversation ratio of piglets
Summary
During late gestation and the entire lactation period, the nutrition metabolism and physiological state of sows will change to satisfy the normal growth of the fetus in the womb and piglets, which will reinforce maternal oxidative stress, leading to insufficient lactation, anorexia, frail and declining immunity of sows, causing hidden troubles for the late reproduction of sows [1,2,3,4]. Increasing porcine milk yield and quality is important to keep the best production performance of sows. This study intends to (1) study the effects of SI and APS mixture on the serum physiological indicators, and colostrum composition, of lactating sows by adding SI and APS mixture to lactating sow diets, (2) discuss the feasibility and appropriate contents of SI and APS mixture in the production of lactating sows, and (3) preliminarily explore the impact mechanism of the SI and APS mixture on production performance of lactating sows, to further develop and use the SI and APS mixture, and accumulate experience and theoretical basis for safe and reliable additives
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