Abstract
Simple SummaryPlant extracts containing isoquinoline alkaloids (IQ) have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties. In pigs, IQ supplementation has been shown to downregulate the stress response and improve the digestibility of nutrients. The present experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that supplementing sows’ diets with IQ during gestation would decrease stress at farrowing and improve colostrum quality, positively affecting the piglets’ health and performance.Isoquinoline alkaloids (IQ) exert beneficial antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects in livestock. Therefore, we hypothesized that supplementing sows’ diets with IQ during gestation would decrease farrowing stress, affecting the piglets’ development and performance. Sows were divided into: IQ1, supplemented with IQ from gestation day 80 (G80) to weaning; IQ2, supplemented from gestation day 110 (G110) to weaning, and a non-supplemented (NC) group. Sow body weight (BW), feed intake, back-fat thickness and back-muscle thickness were monitored. Cortisol, glucose and insulin were measured in sows’ blood collected 5 d before, during, and after 7 d farrowing. Protein, fat, IgA and IgG were analyzed in the colostrum and milk. Piglets were monitored for weight and diarrhea score, and for ileum histology and gene expression 5 d post-weaning. IQ-supplemented sows lost less BW during lactation. Glucose and insulin levels were lower in the IQ groups compared to NC-sows 5 d before farrowing and had higher levels of protein and IgG in their colostrum. No other differences were observed in sows, nor in the measured parameters in piglets. In conclusion, IQ supplementation affected sows’ metabolism, reducing body weight loss during lactation. Providing IQ to sows from their entrance into the maternity barn might be sufficient to induce these effects. IQ improved colostrum quality, increasing the protein and IgG content, improving passive immunity for piglets.
Highlights
Isoquinoline alkaloids (IQ) comprise sanguinarine, chelerythrine, protopine, and allocryptopine, among others, and can be obtained from the plant Macleaya cordata, or plume poppy
Isoquinoline alkaloids (IQ), e.g., sanguinarine, have low bioavailability due to poor water-solubility, it has been shown that they can be metabolized in the pig intestine into a more absorbable form, and both compounds were found in the plasma of orally supplemented pigs [2]
There has been a lack of studies on sow dietary supplementation with IQ by which to investigate the effects on sows and piglets
Summary
Isoquinoline alkaloids (IQ) comprise sanguinarine, chelerythrine, protopine, and allocryptopine, among others, and can be obtained from the plant Macleaya cordata, or plume poppy. Sangrovit® (3.5 mg/kg Macleaya cordata extract) for 28 days in growing/finishing pigs could not demonstrate sanguinarine or chelerythrine residues in organs or tissues, indicating no safety concern when consuming pig-derived meat products [3]. Previous studies have shown that IQ has antimicrobial [1,4], anti-inflammatory [5,6], antioxidant [7] and immunomodulatory effects [8]. Supplementation with IQ has been shown to increase growth performance in chickens, due to its anti-inflammatory effects [9,10]. Dietary supplementation with IQ improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility and health status, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial beneficial effects [11,12]. There has been a lack of studies on sow dietary supplementation with IQ by which to investigate the effects on sows and piglets
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 call
