PSXIII-10 Dietary Forsythia suspensa extract supplementation improves reproductive performance, antioxidant status and immune function in lactating sows and suckling piglets

Abstract

Abstract Lactating sows face various stresses, leading to poor reproductive performance and high mortality in piglets. Previous studies have demonstrated Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) has antioxidant and antibacterial functions in broilers and piglets. However, rare researches focus on the effect of FSE in lactating sows. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to investigate dietary FSE supplementation on performance, antioxidant status and immunity in sows and piglets. 24 healthy Yorkshire × Landrace sows (average body weight of 234 ± 6.81 kg; average parity of 3.38 ± 0.61) were allotted into 2 dietary treatments with 12 sows per treatment based on parity, back fat thickness and body weight. Sows were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON), or a FSE diet (basal diet+100 mg/kg FSE) from d 107 of gestation until d 21 of lactation. Compared with CON, sows fed FSE showed decreased (P < 0.05) estrus interval, body weight loss from farrowing to weaning, and increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain from d 7 to 21 in piglet, as well as enhanced (P < 0.05) lactose, fat and protein contents on d 14, and IgA level on d 7 in milk. These sows also had increased (P < 0.05) T-AOC content, reduced (P < 0.05) MDA content in placenta, and improved (P < 0.05) serum T-AOC, GSH-Px and CAT contents at farrowing and weaning. Their piglets behaved higher (P < 0.05) SOD content and lower (P < 0.05) MDA content in serum on d 0, 7, 14, as well as increased (P < 0.05) serum T-AOC and GSH-Px contents on d 21. These piglets also had higher villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in jejunum on d 21 compared with CON. In conclusion, dietary FSE supplementation improved performance, antioxidant status and immune function in lactating sows and suckling piglets.