The effect of supplemental grape seed extract on pig growth performance and body composition during heat stress

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to high ambient temperature without cooling causes heat stress resulting in altered growth, body composition and metabolic dysfunction. Grape seed extract (GSE) has been shown to reduce inflammation, and improve glucose transport and metabolism. Thus, GSE may be an effective supplement to combat the consequences of heat stress; however this possibility has not been evaluated in a large animal model. The objective of the current study was to examine the effect of GSE supplementation on pig performance and body composition during heat stress. Twenty‐four female pigs (62.3± 8 kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 2X2 factorial experiment; thermal neutral (TN; 21–22°C) or heat stress conditions (HS; 33–34°C) for 7 days and fed either a control or a GSE supplemented diet (12mg/kg body weight). Body temperature (TB), respiration rate (RR) and feed intake (FI) were measured daily. Body composition was measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Respiration rate and TB increased in the HS control group compared to the TN control group (p<0.05), however GSE did not alter these parameters compared to control for the duration of the 7 day period. Heat stress decreased FI (P < 0.05). Fasting blood glucose concentrations were approximately 1.5‐fold greater in the control diet compared to their GSE supplemented counterpart (p>0.05) on day 6 of the HS period, but did not differ between groups on day 7 of HS. Body composition analysis indicated bone mineral density, bone mineral content, percent change of fat, and percent change of weight over the study remained unchanged between treatment groups. Lean tissue accretion was 45% greater in TN compared to HS groups (p<0.05). Grape seed extract supplementation does not appear to alter pig growth performance or body composition during heat stress.Support or Funding InformationJohn Lee Pratt Endowment Animal Nutrition Program at Virginia Tech