Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) during late pregnancy and lactation on sow productivity, colostrum and milk composition, and antioxidant status of sows in a subtropical climate. The study was a 2 × 2 factorial treatment design where the first factor was environmental THI level [Low THI (08:00–19:00: 70.76 ± 0.45, 19:00–08:00: 67.91 ± 0.18, L-THI) or High THI (08:00–19:00: 75.14 ± 0.98, 19:00–08:00: 68.35 ± 0.18, H-THI], and the second factor was dietary treatment (supplemented with or without 3 kg/t SCFP). A total of 120 sows were randomly allotted to the four treatments (n = 30). The feeding trial was conducted from 85-days post-breeding until 21-days post-partum. Compared with L-THI group, sows from H-THI group had lesser individual piglet birth weight, individual piglet weight at weaning, preweaning average daily gain of piglets, average daily feed intake of sows during lactation, and protein percentage in 14-days milk. Additionally, sows from H-THI group had lesser antioxidant status, indicated by lesser serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity at parturition; lesser serum T-AOC and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity at 14-days post-partum, as well as lesser SOD activity in colostrum. Compared with sows fed the control diet, sows fed the SCFP diet had greater number of piglets weaned, litter weight at weaning, and preweaning average daily gain of piglets. Moreover, sows fed the SCFP diet had improved antioxidant status as indicated by higher serum T-AOC at parturition, and lesser malondialdehyde (MDA) content in colostrum and 21-days milk. In conclusion, H-THI negatively affected the productivity, milk composition, antioxidant status, and lactation feed intake of sows. Dietary supplementation of SCFP partially alleviated the adverse effects of H-THI, by improving lactation performance and antioxidant status of sows without influencing reproductive performance and colostrum and milk composition in a subtropical climate.
Highlights
Over fifty percent of total world meat and 60% of total world milk production are produced in tropical and subtropical areas, and livestock production in these regions will continue to provide significant meat production in the future [1]
Dietary supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) did not affect the reproductive performance of sows (P > 0.10), averaged over temperature-humidity index treatment
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) during late pregnancy and lactation on sow productivity, colostrum and milk composition, and antioxidant status of sows in a subtropical climate
Summary
Over fifty percent of total world meat and 60% of total world milk production are produced in tropical and subtropical areas, and livestock production in these regions will continue to provide significant meat production in the future [1]. Kim et al reported feeding SCFP (12 and 15 g/d during gestation and lactation, respectively) to sows during middle and late pregnancy and lactation increased litter weight gain by 6.9% (P < 0.01) [23]. Kim et al conducted another study involving 491 mixed-parity sows to explore the effects of feeding SCFP to sows during middle, late gestation and lactation on sow productivity, and they reported that SCFP supplementation increased litter weight gain for the multiparous sow [22]. Less is known about the effects of feeding SCFP to sows during late gestation and lactation on sow productivity, colostrum and milk composition, and antioxidant status under heat stress conditions
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