Abstract
Sows undergo physiological stress during gestation and lactation, potentially leading to enteric dysbiosis and reduced reproductive potential. Phytogenic additives (PFs) may improve performance via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. This study determined whether the provision of a gestation/lactation diet containing PAs would alter the gastrointestinal microbiota of sows and their piglets, and improve performance. Sows received a commercial diet throughout gestation and lactation (CTR; n = 64), a commercial diet throughout gestation and a diet containing PAs in lactation (CTR-PA; n = 63) or a commercial diet containing PAs in gestation and lactation (PA; n = 90). Sows were weighed and backfat recorded after mating and at entry and exit from the farrowing house and piglets were weighed on days 1 and 21 of life. Faecal samples collected from sows at farrowing house entry and piglets at 21 and 35 d were subjected to 16 S rRNA gene amplicon analysis. The addition of PAs to sow diets resulted in more piglets born (P = 0.03), however, it did not improve the number of liveborn piglets (P = 0.14). There were no differences in sow weight, P2 backfat depth or lactation feed intake observed. PAs had no effect on piglet weight or survival to weaning but did alter the faecal microbiota of sows, and this change was observed in piglets at 21 and 35 d. PA supplementation to sows has the potential to increase litter size, while also potentially influencing gastrointestinal tract health of the sow and piglets reared.
Highlights
Gestation and lactation are both times of high physiological stress for sows
Litter size was increased by 0.8 pigs per litter in phytogenic additive (PA) sows compared with control sows (CTR) (P < 0.05; Table 1) this did not translate to a higher number of piglets born alive (P = 0.141) as stillbirths were higher in PA sows (P = 0.03)
Oxidative stress is a common by-product of these processes (Wang et al 2018)
Summary
Gestation and lactation are both times of high physiological stress for sows. Gestation involves the partitioning of nutrients for the development of multiple foetuses, while lactation has great demands on sows as they produce enough milk to feed their litter. Often due to this highly taxing process, sows lose from 5 to 20% of their body weight (Thaker and Bilkei 2005). Impaired nutrient intake and utilisation increases weight loss and can have a negative effect on their ability to rear their litter and to return to oestrus after their litter is weaned (Thaker and Bilkei 2005). Nutritional interventions may improve sow rearing ability and reduce negative effects on their health
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