PSV-19 Effect of yeast bioactive compounds on the reproductive performance of sows

Abstract

Abstract Prebiotics has been used in sow diets as an alternative to minimize the impacts of hyperprolificity, such as variability coefficient and poor litter performance. However, the additive inclusion is generally high and costly. The objective of this study was to verify the effect of the low inclusion of yeast bioactive compounds (YBC), in gestation and lactation diets, on sows reproductive performance. Five hundred sows were assigned in two treatments in a block design considering parity as a random factor, using each sow as an experimental unit with for gestation (n = 500) and lactation period (n = 80). The treatments were control diet (CON) and diet with 0.036% of YBC inclusion (YBC). Back fat thickness was measured at 30 and 70 days of gestation, at farrowing day, at 14 days of lactation and weaning day. Sows were weighted at the farrowing barn entry day and at weaning. The corporal mobilization was accessed following the equation: Body change = Weight at weaning - [Weight at lactation entry - (Litter weight at birth + Placenta weight)]. After cross-fostering and at weaning the litters were weighed to calculate the daily weight gain. Differences were considered significant when p ≤ 0.05 and tendencies were considered when p > 0.05 and p < 0.10. No difference was found regarding the reproductive performance (total born, born alive, mummified and stillborns) (P > 0.05). YBC tended to have greater litter final weight than CON group, 59.08 kg versus 56.70 kg (P = 0.057). Backfat thickness tended to be lower (5.20%) in YBC (16.03 mm) than CON group (16.91 mm) during gestation period (P = 0.075). However, at weaning day no difference for backfat thickness was found between treatments (P > 0.05). YBC had lower loss weight during lactation than CON group, 0.0 kg versus 4.99 kg, respectively (P = 0.011). Low inclusion of YBC enhances litter performance and improves body condition of lactating sows.