Performance Of Sows Research Articles

224 Average Daily Feed Intake in Previous Lactations is Associated with Subsequent Reproductive Performance in Sows

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of average daily feed intake (ADFI) in previous lactations on subsequent reproductive performance in multiparous sows. Data for this study were collected from 2017 to 2022 at Grangenia, a 2,800 L03 PIC sows farrow-to-wean commercial multiplier from Grupo Kerbest and integrated with Grupo UVESA. The farm is located in Ávila, Spain. In total, data on ADFI during lactation and litter size traits were available for 10,425 sows. Born alive (BA), stillborn (SB) and mummified (MM) piglets were expressed both as total numbers and as percentage from total born (TB) piglets. Sow parity was classified as parity 2, 3, 4 and 5+. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models in R v4.1.2. For all traits, initial models included ADFI for the immediate previous parity as a linear and quadratic predictor. ADFI ranged from 1.3 to 9.6 kg/day. Linear mixed models revealed that ADFI in the previous lactation had a positive linear association (P < 0.001, Table 1) with all studied traits except with BA % and SB % where a quadratic association (P < 0.001) was also observed (quadratic slope = 0.018 ± 0.0044 and - 0.016 ± 0.0051, respectively). Results indicate that on average, sows in the lower ADFI limit would have 2.1 TB, 1.6 BA, 0.13 SB and 0.16 MM less when compared with sows in the upper ADFI limit across all parities. The BA % decreased and SB% increased when ADFI in the previous parity was between 4.5 and 6 kg across all parities. Under the conditions of this study, increasing ADFI in the previous lactation improved subsequent reproductive performance across all parities. It is likely that this effect was at least partly mediated through the greater number of follicles with optimal preovulatory size, luteinizing hormone secretion, ovulation rates, and embryo mortality, although this requires further investigation. A limitation of this study was that it was not possible to elucidate if the observed effect of ADFI in the previous parity was mediated through greater amino acid and/or energy intake due to the observational nature of this study. Nonetheless, our results highlight the importance of optimal sow nutritional management during the lactation period for improved lifetime reproductive performance.

220 Impact of Bump Feeding During Late Gestation on Reproductive Performance of Over-Conditioned Sows

Abstract Our objective was to evaluate the effect of bump-feeding during late gestation on reproductive performance of multiparous over-conditioned sows. A total of 220 PIC Camborough sows were assigned to one of three feeding levels in a completely randomized design. Caliper was individually collected at d 90 of gestation from a larger group of sows to assess body condition, and only sows from parity 1+ and considered over-conditioned by the sow caliper were selected for the study. Sows were equally balanced by parity (P1 and P2 as young, and P3+ as mature) when allocated to treatments. All sows were fed a common gestation diet containing 3.20 Mcal of metabolizable energy (ME) per kg and 0.56% standardized ileal digestible lysine, but feed drop-boxes were adjusted to different feeding levels according to treatment. Treatments consisted of 5.09 Mcal of ME/d (1.59 kg/d; CONTROL), 6.54 Mcal of ME/d (2.04 kg/d; 0.45kg-BUMP), or 8.00 Mcal of ME/d (2.49 kg/d; 0.90kg-BUMP); and fed to sows from d 90 of gestation until they were moved to the farrowing room. Sows were housed in crates during gestation. Sow body weight (BW) and caliper measurements were collected at pre-farrowing and weaning, and their difference was calculated. Additionally, post-farrowing 48h BW was predicted using the following equation: 48h post-farrow BW = -20.81 + (0.98 × pre-farrow BW). Total born, born alive (BA), stillborn (SB), and mummified were collected for each sow at farrowing. Individual piglet BW were recorded at birth, at cross-foster, and at weaning. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear model considering sow as the experimental unit. Models included treatment, parity group, and their interaction as fixed effects. Covariates were included if they were statistically significant and improved model fit. There was no treatment by parity group interaction for any response criteria. There was no evidence for differences between treatments for caliper at d 90 of gestation, caliper pre-farrow, caliper at weaning, or caliper change between d 90 to pre-farrow and pre-farrow to weaning (P >0.10; Table 1). Sows that received 0.90 kg-BUMP were marginally heavier at farrow than CONTROL sows (P < 0.10), with those receiving 0.45 kg-BUMP intermediate. CONTROL sows lost less BW during lactation compared with 0.45kg-BUMP sows (P < 0.05), with 0.90 kg-BUMP sows intermediate. Sows receiving 0.45kg-BUMP from d90 of gestation to farrowing had greater percentage BA piglets and decreased percentage SB compared with sows receiving 0.90 kg-BUMP (P < 0.05), with CONTROL sows intermediate. There was no evidence (P >0.10) for treatment differences for piglet birth weight, litter and piglet BW gain, or percentage weaned piglets. In summary, increasing the feeding level for over-conditioned sows during late gestation did not impact sow reproductive or litter performances.

116 Effect of Crude Protein Level and a Fermentation Product on Sow Reproductive and Piglet Performance

Abstract High crude protein (CP, greater than 16%) has traditionally been used in lactating sow diet for milk production. However, excess protein can lead to increased gut permeability and inflammation, resulting in compromised reproductive performance. It was hypothesized that decreased dietary CP, using a fermentation product (FER) or addition of Zinc in the lactation diet would promote better gut health and improve sow reproductive performance. The present study was a randomized block design with 5 treatments, 4 of which formed a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Gestating sows (n = 550) were enrolled with entry body weight of 209.1 ± 11.4 kg and allotted to one of the following five diets: high CP, no FER; high CP, FER; low CP, no FER; low CP, FER; high CP, ZnSO4 diet. Corn-soy based lactation diet was formulated with high (17.5%) and low (14.5%) CP and with or without FER. High CP with ZnSO4 (360 ppm) was used as a positive control and the added Zn level in the other diets was kept at 120 ppm. All diets were formulated to be at similar net energy and standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lysine (Lys) level with balanced essential amino acid to Lys ratio, except SID isoleucine/Lys was greater in high CP diets. Experimental diets were fed beginning approximately 4 days before farrowing and throughout the entire lactation phase (21 days). Using R, performance data were analyzed using a general linear model and a generalized linear model specifying a binomial distribution was deployed for count data. In summary, dietary treatment did not impact average daily feed intake. Low CP diet resulted in lighter sow weaning weight compared with high CP diet (P < 0.01) and tended to increase piglet average weaning weight (P < 0.10) regardless of FER inclusion. Dietary treatment did not affect the probability of still born or number of weaned pigs. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) between CP and FER on probability of born alive, with low CP, FER diet numerically having greatest probability of born alive. Both low CP (P < 0.10) and high CP with ZnSO4 (P < 0.10) tended to increase livability compared with high CP diet treatment, respectively. High CP with ZnSO4 treatment decreased pre-weaning mortality as compared with high CP treatments (P < 0.05). Conclusively, lower dietary CP led to better reproductive performance in sows and greater piglet weaning weight. The fermentation product did not impact sow or piglet performance as hypothesized, and ZnSO4 used at moderate level in high CP diet reduced pre-weaning mortality.

PSIV-18 Live Yeast (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) Improves Body Condition Score and Reduces Rectal Temperature in Sows at Weaning

Abstract Achieving optimal health of the sow during gestation and lactation is important to ensure sow longevity and piglet performance. As an oxygen scavenger, live yeast suppresses the growth of undesirable bacteria and promotes fiber-degrading microbes. Consequently, yeast has the potential to promote a healthy gut microbiome and support immune status. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of live yeast supplementation on sow performance during gestation and lactation. A total of 40 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were assigned to two dietary treatments based on parity and expected farrowing date. The two dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet without (control) or with supplementation of live yeast (Vistacell, AB Vista, UK). Gestation diets were fed for 4-weeks pre-farrowing with the live yeast treatment included at 0.5 kg/t. Lactation diets were fed from farrow until weaning at approximately 24 days with live yeast treatment included at 1.0 kg/t. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the standard least squares option of the fit model platform in JMP 16.0 Pro. Treatment differences were deemed significant at P < 0.05. At farrowing, sows had comparable body weights, backfat thickness, muscle depth, rectal temperature (rTEMP) and body condition score (BCS), irrespective of treatment. At weaning, sows supplemented with live yeast had a greater BCS (3.4 vs. 3.0) than non-supplemented sows (P < 0.01). As average daily feed intakes were comparable across treatments, this suggests that live yeast fed sows were better able to retain condition during the lactation period. In addition, rTEMP was lower (38.6°C vs 39.1°C) in sows fed live yeast at the end of lactation compared with non-supplemented sows (P < 0.05). Although rTEMP was considered within the safe range for sows post-farrow, lowering rTEMP with live yeast may indicate health benefits to the sow. These findings demonstrate the potential of live yeast to improve body condition and reduce the risk of vulnerable sows at weaning.

112 Effect of Selenium Sources on Sow Productive and Reproductive Performance and Their Progeny

Abstract Dietary selenium (Se) supplementation is a standard practice, using either an inorganic form, such as sodium selenite (SS) or organic forms, like SeYeasts (SY) or pure forms of selenomethionine (SeMet). Hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet) is a chemically synthesized organic Se form and has been proven to be efficient in transferring Se from the diet to muscle compared with SS or SY products. The transfer of Se in tissues, in fact, leads to the buildup of a Se reserve as SeMet in the body that participates in maintaining effective antioxidant defenses and supports animal performance, particularly under challenging conditions. This trial aimed to determine the effects of different Se sources on the productive and reproductive performance of sows and on their progeny. Sows (n = 120) were allocated in individual cages in one of the three treatments according to the number of parities, number of piglets in previous parturition, body condition score and initial body weight. The experiment lasted 141 days (from the insemination of sows up to the weaning of the piglets at 21 days). A corn-soybean-based basal diet was formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of the sows during gestation and lactation. The Se supplementation was 0.35 ppm of Se either from SS, SY or OH-SeMet. The number of total piglets born showed a tendency (P = 0.06) for treatments fed organic Se sources (15.6 OH-SeMet; 15.4 SY vs 14 SS) with no differences on the litter weight at birth. However, sows fed OH-SeMet weaned more piglets (13.4) than the other treatments (12.5 SY and 12.2 SS, respectively, P < 0.01). The litter weight at weaning showed no differences among treatments (73.4, 70.4 and 75.9kg for SS, SY and OH-SeMet, respectively). The feed conversion of the sows during lactation was also affected by the Se source, in which OH-SeMet showed a significantly reduced FCR of 2.6 vs 3.0 and 3.1 for SS and SY, respectively (P < 0.01). Piglets fed organic sources showed a decreased diarrhea incidence (scores 2 and 3) compared with SS (P < 0.001), respectively, 5.68 vs 3.28 and 3.27%. The Se concentration of sows’ colostrum and milk of sows were numerically improved from SS to SY, but only significantly greater on OH-SeMet treatment. The same pattern of Se concentration in the milk was observed in the serum of piglets 48 h after birth (142, 122 and 228 μg/kg for SS, SY and OH-SeMet, respectively) and at weaning (85, 85 and 117 μg/kg for SS, SY and OH-SeMet, respectively). Feeding pure forms of organic Se, such as OH-SeMet supports the productive and reproductive performance of sows and improve the Se status of the progeny. Organic Se also reduces the diarrhea of piglets, compared with SS.

PSVI-19 Impact of Sow Body Condition on Macro Reproductive Performance

Abstract Sow body condition is important for maximizing life-time productivity, milk production and progeny performance. Data from a total of 4,367 sows (76PIC, 4291Genesus) were used to investigate relationships between sow body condition at entry to farrowing house (body weight, back fat, body condition score) versus reproductive performance and milk production. Data were from a commercial farm from 2018-2020. Sow data were stratified by parity: Class 1 (parity 1), 2 (parity 2-4) and 3+ (parity 4 and above). Sow entry weight (with fetuses), backfat, and body condition score (scale 1-5) were measured at entry to farrowing house and at weaning. Milk production was calculated using the method of Hansen et al. (2012). Standard sow performance was collected via data software (Agriness). Data were plotted and assessed for commercially relevant relationships among dependent and independent variables. Single factor linear regression was used to calculate linear slope and slope standard error between variables of interest within parity. The farm represents typical north American performance with average piglets born alive13.9, total piglets born 15.6, number of piglets weaned 10.5. Regardless of parity, sow body weight at entry had the greatest positive linear relationship to reproductive productivity. Heavier weight at entry was positively related to number of total piglets born, born piglets alive, litter birth weight and milk production. Heavier primiparous sows at entry had greater piglet weight gain and weaning weight. A positive linear relationship (evidenced by non-zero linear slope) was observed between sow back fat loss and milk production in primiparous sows. Relationships among sow back fat, body condition score and productivity were weak (confidence interval of slope included zero). Sow backfat at entry did not impact lactation feed intake. This might be due to high average lactation feed intake (average 8 kg/d) in this farm. Slightly positive regression was observed between sow weight and lactation intake in primiparous sows but not in older sows. Most commercial farms do not have weighing equipment. Sow body condition score is often used as an economic method but highly variable depending on farm personnel. Our investigation suggests that sow body weight is important for sow reproductive performance. Gilt body weight at entry is positively related to litter birth weight and weaning weight. Future research is needed to better understand sow body composition (fat and lean percentage) on productivity and find economic ways to collect these parameters at commercial farms.

279 Maternal Programming of the Piglet Microbiome Through Supplementation with a Yeast Feed Additive

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate effects of live yeast supplementation of sow diets during late gestation and lactation on sow reproductive performance and piglet microbiome development. Three dietary treatments were imposed on mixed-parity sows (n = 92) from three contemporary farrowing groups during late gestation and lactation. Dietary treatments were based upon the inclusion level (%) of Actisaf Sc47 in corn/soybean meal-based diets: Control (C, 0%), Low (L, 0.1%), and High (H, 0.5%). Sows were fed their assigned gestation diet (1.8 kg ∙animal-1∙day-1/) from days 85 to 110 of gestation. On day 111 of gestation, sows were fed their assigned lactation diet (3.6 kg/head/day) until parturition. Sows were allowed ad libitum access to their assigned lactation diet beginning day one postpartum until piglets were weaned. Fecal and vaginal swabs were collected from all sows on day 85 of gestation (T1-S) and the day before parturition (T2-S). Colostrum and milk samples were collected from 30 focal sows (10/treatment group), and fecal swabs were collected from 6 piglets per focal sow (n = 180) at 24 to 36 hours after birth (T1-P) and weaning (T2-P, ~19 days old). Extracted DNA from swab samples was sequenced on the MiSeq platform targeting the V4 variable region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene, and sequence data were analyzed using DADA2 plus various packages within the R statistical software. Generalized linear mixed models were built for sow performance data using the R lme4 package, with treatment as a fixed effect, and farrowing group, parity, and sire as random effects. Piglet performance models also included sex as a fixed effect and maternal origin instead of sire as a random effect. No significant differences were observed among dietary treatment groups for gestation or lactation length, lactation feed intake, sow body weights, sow backfat depth, litter size at birth or weaning, pre-weaning piglet mortalities, or piglet growth performance. Although alpha and beta diversity did not differ among maternal dietary treatment groups in sow colostrum, milk, fecal, or vaginal samples (T1-S or T2-S), several taxa were significantly enriched or less abundant in sow samples based upon dietary yeast inclusion levels. Diversity of piglet fecal microbiomes was not different across maternal dietary treatment groups, but community composition was different at both time-points (T1-P: PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.13, P=0.02; T2-P: PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.01, P=0.048). These results indicate that yeast supplementation in sow diets in late gestation and lactation may influence development and composition of piglet gut microbiomes in early life.

271 Impact of Amount and Solubility of Dietary Fiber Fed During Late Gestation and During the Pre-Farrowing Period on Sow and Litter Performance in Lactation

Abstract This study evaluated the impact of level and solubility of total dietary fiber (TDF) on sow and litter performance when fed during late gestation and early pre-farrowing. Sows (n = 241) were assigned by body condition to a 2×2 factorial arrangement plus a control treatment (with no supplement) with the following factors: 1) Amount of a fiber supplement (0.45 or 0.90 kg), and 2) Fiber solubility (high soluble dietary fiber (SDF) of 9.63% with 25.25% insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) or high IDF of 30.73% with 4.18% SDF). Fiber supplements were formulated using sugar beet pulp and soybean hulls and were provided in addition to a common gestation (12.0% TDF) and lactation diet (11.3% TDF) from day 99 (± 1 d) of gestation until parturition. Total number of pigs born, and piglet birth weight were not impacted by treatment. Number of stillborn pigs was reduced by 0.45 kg IDF supplement (P = 0.03), but it increased ( P= 0.008) the number of low-birth weight pigs (< 1 kg) compared with control, 0.90 kg IDF, and 0.45 and 0.90 kg SDF supplement (1.31a vs. 0.50b, 0.33b, 0.47b, and 0.40b, respectively). Treatment did not affect number of pigs weaned and pig weaning weight. Number of small-weaned pigs (< 3.6 kg) was least (P < 0.001) with 0.90 kg IDF, and 0.45 kg SDF compared with control, 0.45 kg IDF and 0.90 kg SDF (0.53c and 1.00bc vs 3.31a, 3.27a, and 2.00ab, respectively). Weaning to estrus interval was reduced (P = 0.003) by 0.90 kg IDF and 0.45 and 0.90 kg SDF compared with control and 0.45 kg IDF (5.00b, 4.77b, and 5.22ab vs. 6.51a, and 6.59a days, respectively). Results suggest that composition of fiber is important, and that fiber provided as a supplement to the standard feed may be a practical strategy to improve sow performance during the late gestation and the pre-farrowing period.

Performance Optimization of a Spoon Precision Seed Metering Device Based on a Maize Seed Assembly Model and Discrete Element Method

To improve the sowing performance of the spoon wheel maize seeding machinery, in this paper, two varieties of maize seed are selected as examples. The maize spoon precision seed metering device, a core component of the spoon wheel seeding machinery, is used as the research object. The maize seed assembly model is first established based on the maize seed assembly modeling method. Its validity is verified by the sowing experiment and corresponding DEM simulation under the different revolving speeds of the seed metering wheel. Secondly, the performance of the spoon precision seed metering device is optimized by integrating the maize seed assembly model and multivariate nonlinear regression method. Therefore, the number of sub-spheres of the horse tooth, spherical cone, and spheroid maize seed model are 10–14, 18, and 6, respectively. The results show that the performance of the seed metering device improved when the revolving speed of the seed metering wheel, handing angle, and seed spoon radius are 25 r/min, 40°, and 7 mm, respectively. There is good agreement between the expected results and experimental ones with relative errors of less than 5%, and the optimized seed metering device facilitates the process of seed guiding and seed delivery during the sowing process.

The Effect of a Bacillus-Based Probiotic on Sow and Piglet Performance in Two Production Cycles.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of Bacillus-based probiotic diets on reproduction performance, fecal scores, microflora, and economic factors in lactating sows and suckling piglets across two productive cycles. A total of 96 sows, reared in a continuous farrowing system for two full cycles, were divided into two groups: a control group and an experimental group. Sows were fed a basal diet without the probiotic or a diet supplemented with viable bacterial spores. At seven days of age, control group piglets were offered standard creep feed, whereas piglets in the experimental (probiotic) group received a diet containing the probiotic fed to their dams. Sows receiving probiotic-supplemented diets were characterized by significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) average daily feed intake in lactation, lower (p ≤ 0.01) body weight (BW) loss during lactation, and reduced loss of backfat thickness as well as higher body condition score after lactation. Dietary probiotic supplementation increased (p ≤ 0.01) birth weight, total creep feed consumption, litter weight gain, and piglet weaning weight. The probiotic also improved (p ≤ 0.01) overall fecal scores, decreased total E. coli count on day seven and Clostridium perfringens count (trend) in sucking piglets. The total feed cost per weaned piglet was lower in the experimental (probiotic) group. Supplementing the diet with a probiotic containing Bacillus strains improved the reproductive performance of sows and the performance and health of piglets.

Bump Feeding Improves Sow Reproductive Performance, Milk Yield, Piglet Birth Weight, and Farrowing Behavior.

The late gestation period is crucial for fetal growth and development, impacting swine enterprises' profitability. Various nutritional strategies have been explored to enhance reproductive performance in sows, but findings regarding birth weight and litter size have been inconsistent. This study investigated the effects of increased feeding allowance during the late gestation period on the reproductive performance and farrowing behavior of primiparous and multiparous sows. A total of 28 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were used in this experiment, and fed 2.50 kg/d or 3.50 kg/d from 84 days of gestation until farrowing. Farrowing behavior was monitored using a DeepEyesTM M3SEN camera. The data were analyzed using the 2 × 2 factorial within Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2011, Version 9.3) software. The results indicated that regardless of the parity number, sows fed a high diet exhibited a numerical increase in the total number of born piglets and a significant increase in milk yield (p = 0.014) and piglet birthweight (p = 0.023). Backfat thickness loss was significantly higher in sows with a 2.50 kg feeding allowance (p = 0.022), and the total number of piglets born, live births, and litter size were numerically higher in sows fed 3.50 kg per day. Moreover, stillborn piglets, mortality rate, and re-estrus days were numerically lower in sows with a high feeding allowance. The diet and parity did not individually affect the average duration of farrowing and farrowing intervals. However, the duration of postural changes in sows after farrowing was significantly reduced (p = 0.012). The principal component analysis revealed 81.40% and 80.70% differences upon partial least-squares discriminant analysis. Therefore, increasing feeding allowance during the late gestation period, regardless of parity, could positively influence sows' reproductive performance and piglets' growth performance during the lactation phase.

Effects of Maternal Dietary Enteromorpha prolifera Polysaccharide Iron Supplement on Mineral Elements and Iron Level of Neonatal Piglets.

Iron plays a key role in maternal health during pregnancy and fetal growth. Enteromorpha polysaccharide-iron (EP-Fe) as an organic iron chelate may improve the iron transmission of mother and offspring, ameliorate the poor pregnancy outcomes of sows, and alleviate the growth restriction of piglets caused by iron deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal dietary supplementation with EP-Fe on reproductive performance and placental iron transmission of sows, as well as growth performance of piglets. Sixty pregnant sows at the 95th day of gestation were randomly divided into control group and EP-Fe group (EP-Fe, 139 mg kg-1). Blood samples of sows and neonatal piglets, colostrum, and tissue samples were collected on the day of delivery. The animal experiment ended at the 21st day of post-delivery. Results showed that maternal dietary EP-Fe increased colostrum iron (P < 0.05) of sows, as well as final litter weight (P < 0.05) and average daily weight of piglets (P < 0.05) during days 1-21 of lactation, as well as iron and manganese content in umbilical cord blood (P < 0.05) and hepatic iron of neonatal piglets (P < 0.01), and decreased fecal iron (P < 0.001), serum calcium (P < 0.05), phosphorus (P < 0.05), and zinc (P < 0.01) in the parturient sow. RT-qPCR results showed that Fpn1 and Zip14 in placenta, as well as TfR1 and Zip14 in duodenum of neonatal piglets, were activated by maternal EP-Fe supplement. These findings suggest that maternal dietary EP-Fe could increase iron storage of neonatal piglets via improving placental iron transport and iron secretion in colostrum, thus enhancing the growth performance of sucking piglets.

The effect of the proportion of Modern European ancestry on grower and sow performance of pigs in smallholder systems in Uganda.

Several factors, including breed, lead to divergent performance of pigs for production and reproduction traits in different environments. A recent genomics study showed that Modern European (ME) pig breeds contribute to the ancestry of smallholder pigs in the Hoima and Kamuli districts, Uganda. These pigs were also involved in a longitudinal study with several traits recorded, including 540 body weights (WT) of 374 growing pigs, 195 records of total number of piglets born alive (TBA) of 157 sows, and 110 total number weaned (TNW) records of 94 sows. Linear mixed-effects models were used to test for the significance of environmental effects, including housing system, geographic location, and the season when the events occurred as well as animal-specific effects like age, sex, parity, and farrow-to-weaning interval. Stepwise model reduction starting from models with all main effects and pairwise interactions was applied. The final models were then expanded to include proportions of Modern European (ME) ancestry for the subset of animals genotyped, following genomic ancestry analysis based on a Porcine 50K SNP Chip. ME ancestry proportions ranged from 0.02 to 0.50 and were categorized into three classes (low/medium/high ME) based on 33.3% quantiles. The effects of ME classes on WT and TBA were not significant. ME showed a significant effect on TNW. Sows with a high proportion of ME weaned 2.4 piglets more than the low group, the medium ME group being intermediate. This study used genomic data to investigate the effects of genetic ancestry on the performance of smallholder pigs in Uganda. The proportion of Modern European ancestry did not exceed 0.50, therefore not allowing for the comparison of local versus pure "exotic" types of pigs. For the range of ancestries observed, which is the relevant one for current smallholder systems in Uganda, differences were small for the body weight of growing pigs and the number of piglets born alive, while higher proportions of ME ancestry resulted in significantly more piglets weaned. The availability of genotypes of a higher number of growing pigs would have been beneficial for drawing conclusions on the effect of ME ancestry on the growth rates of smallholder pigs in Uganda.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveal the Mechanism of Corpus Luteum Cyst Formation in Pigs.

Corpus luteum cysts are a serious reproductive disorder that affects the reproductive performance of sows. In this study, transcriptome and metabolome datasets of porcine normal and cyst luteal granulosa cells were generated to explore the molecular mechanism of luteal cyst formation. We obtained 28.9 Gb of high-quality transcriptome data from luteum tissue samples and identified 1048 significantly differentially expressed genes between the cyst and normal corpus luteum samples. Most of the differentially expressed genes were involved in cancer and immune signaling pathways. Furthermore, 22,622 information-containing positive and negative ions were obtained through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 1106 metabolites were successfully annotated. Important differentially abundant metabolites and pathways were identified, among which abnormal lipid and choline metabolism were involved in the formation of luteal cysts. The relationships between granulosa cells of luteal cysts and cancer, immune-related signaling pathways, and abnormalities of lipid and choline metabolism were elaborated, providing new entry points for studying the pathogenesis of porcine luteal cysts.

Effects of a Multi-Component Mycotoxin-Detoxifying Agent on Oxidative Stress, Health and Performance of Sows.

This in vivo study aimed to investigate the effects of a multi-component mycotoxin-detoxifying agent, containing clays (bentonite, sepiolite), phytogenic feed additives (curcumin, silymarin) and postbiotics (yeast cell wall, hydrolyzed yeast) on the antioxidant capacity, health and reproductive performance of pregnant and lactating sows challenged by mycotoxins. Eighty (80) primiparous sows (mean age 366 ± 3 days) per each of the two trial farms were divided into two groups in each farm: a) T1 (control group): 40 sows received the contaminated feed and b) T2 group (experimental group): 40 sows received the contaminated feed plus the mycotoxin-detoxifying agent, one month before farrowing until the end of the lactation period. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls (CARBS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated as biomarkers of oxidative stress. Clinical and reproductive parameters were recorded. Our results indicate that the administration of a multi-component mycotoxin-detoxifying agent's administration in sow feed has beneficial effects on oxidative stress biomarkers and can improve sows' health and performance.

Effect of Yeast Culture on Reproductive Performance, Gut Microbiota, and Milk Composition in Primiparous Sows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of yeast culture (YC) on reproductive performance, gut microbiota, and milk composition in primiparous sows. A total of 60 primiparous sows were randomly assigned to the control group (CON) and YC group (0.5% YC during gestation and 0.8% YC during lactation) consisting of 30 replicates, with one sow in each. The results showed that dietary YC supplementation increased the piglet birth weight and backfat thickness at 28 d of lactation (p < 0.05). Dietary YC supplementation increased the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy and calcium during lactation, the content of acetic acid and propionic acid at 110 d of gestation, and the content of acetic acid and butyric acid at 28 d of lactation in feces (p < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary YC supplementation decreased the abundance of Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group, and Terrisporobacter (p < 0.05), and increased the abundance of Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group (p < 0.05). Compared to the control group, dietary YC supplementation increased the fat and lactose content of the colostrum (p < 0.05). Metabolomics analysis showed that YC increased 26 different metabolites in the colostrum. Among them were mainly pantothenic acid, proline, isoleucine, phenylalanine, acylcarnitine, and other metabolites. In conclusion, these results suggested that dietary YC supplementation improves reproductive performance and gut health and increases the nutrient content in the colostrum of primiparous sows.

Dietary supplementation of laminarin improves the reproductive performance of sows and the growth of suckling piglets

BackgroundMaternal nutrition is essential in keeping a highly efficient production system in the pig industry. Laminarin has been shown to improve antioxidant capacity, reduce the inflammatory response, and favor the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota. However, the effect of dietary supplementation of laminarin on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth of suckling offspring remains unknown.MethodsA total of 40 Landrace × Yorkshire multiparous sows on d 85 of gestation, similar in age, body weight (BW), parity and reproductive performance, were randomly divided into four dietary treatments with 10 sows per treatment, receiving a control diet (basal pregnancy or lactating diets) and a basal diet supplemented with 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.10% laminarin, respectively. The experiment lasted from d 85 of gestation to d 21 of lactation.ResultsLaminarin supplementation linearly increased number born alive per litter (P = 0.03), average daily feed intake (ADFI, P < 0.01), and total milk yield of sows during the lactation of 1–21 d (P = 0.02). Furthermore, maternal laminarin supplementation increased the average daily gain (ADG) of piglets while tending to reduce the culling and death rate before weaning. In addition, alterations to the composition of colostrum and milk, as well as to serum inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins of sows were observed. The fecal microbiota profile of sows supported the improvement of reproductive performance in sows and the growth performance in suckling offspring.ConclusionsDietary supplementation of laminarin during late pregnancy and lactation could significantly improve reproductive performance of sows and growth performance of piglets.Graphical

Capsaicin and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Glycoside: Effects on the Reproductive Performance of Hyper-Prolific Sows.

This study evaluated the effect of a natural source of vitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] and capsaicin (CAP) in the dietary supplementation of sows in the final phase (85-114 days) of gestation (Gest) and lactation (Lact) on the reproductive performance of the sows and health of piglets through two experiments (Exp I and II). In Exp I, 120 sows were subjected to four treatments: T1-control (without [1,25-(OH)2D3] and supplemental CAP); T2-3.5 µg 1,25-(OH)2D3/Gest/day and 7.0 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3/Lact/day; T3-7.0 µg CAP/Gest/day and 14.0 µg CAP/Lact/day; T4-1.75 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 + 3.5 µg CAP/Gest/day and 3.5 µg 1,25-(OH)2D3 + 7.0 µg CAP/Lact/day. In Exp II, 200 sows were randomly blocked, factorial 2 × 2 (without or with Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 and without or with CAP): T1-control (without Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 and CAP); T2-3.5 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3/Gest/day and 7.0 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3/Lact/day; T3-7.0 µg CAP/Gest/day and 14.0 µg CAP/Lact/day; T4-3.5 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 + 7 µg CAP/Gest/day; and 7.0 µg Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 + 14.0 µg CAP/Lact/day. The duration of delivery (3:48 vs. 4:57 h) and the percentage of stillbirths (5.37% vs. 7.61%) were improved (p < 0.05) in the group that received Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 (Exp II) compared to the control group. Moreover, the dystocia rate decreased (p < 0.05) in Exp II, which received Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 (4.21 vs. 27.63%), and in Exp I, which received the combination of Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 + CAP (12 vs. 40%) compared to the respective control groups. Colostrum production was greater (p < 0.05) in sows that received Vit 1,25-(OH)2D3 supplementation compared to the control group, consequently resulting in higher colostrum intake (p < 0.05) of the piglets (330 vs. 258 g/piglet). The additives reduced the incidence of diarrhea (p < 0.05) in piglets (Exp I and II). Thus, the use of additives improved the reproductive performance of sows and contributed to litter growth.

30 (P2-11). Effect of a blend of essential oils on the performance of sows and their piglets

30 (P2-11). Effect of a blend of essential oils on the performance of sows and their piglets

Maternal sodium acetate supplementation promotes lactation performance of sows and their offspring growth performance.

Milk yield and composition are critical determining factors for the early growth and development of neonates. The objective of this experiment was to comprehensively evaluate the effects of dietary sodium acetate (SA) supplementation on the milk yield and composition of sows and the growth performance of their offspring. A total of 80 sows (Landrace×Yorkshire, 3 to 6 parity) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (with or without 0.1% SA) from d 85 of gestation to d 21 of lactation. The result shows that maternal 0.1% SA supplementation significantly increased sows milk yield, milk fat, immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG content in milk (P<0.05), with the up-regulation of short-chain fatty acids receptors (GPR41 and GPR43) expression and the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex C1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway. Consistently, in our invitro experiment, SA also activated mTORC1 signaling in porcine mammary epithelial cells (P<0.05). Furthermore, the improvement of milk quality and quantity caused by maternal SA supplementation led to the increase in body weight (BW) and average daily weight gain (ADG) of weaning piglets, with the improvement of gut health and colonization of the beneficial bacteria (P<0.05). In conclusion, maternal supplementation of 0.1% SA improved the lactation performance (milk yield and milk fat) of sows, possibly with the activation of GPR41/GPR43-mTORC1 signaling. Furthermore, enhanced milk quality improved growth performance, gut health and the colonization of beneficial microbial flora of their piglets.