Dietary supplementation with different types of fiber in gestation and lactation: effects on sow serum biochemical values and performance

Bamboo fiber improves piglet growth performance by regulating the microbial composition of lactating sows and their offspring piglets

Introduction

Feeding bamboo powder is a kind of fiber raw material mainly composed of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). In this study, IDF-based rice husk meal and feeding bamboo powder were used to compare the effects of bamboo fiber on fecal microflora and the performance of lactating sows and their offspring piglets.

Methods

Thirty healthy crossbred gilts (Yorkshire × Landrace) at day 105 of gestation were randomly allocated into three groups: CON, TRE1 supplemented with 2% BBF1 (feeding bamboo powder), and TRE2 supplemented with 2% BBF2 (99% feeding bamboo powder +1% bamboo fiber polymer material). The reproductive performance, serum indexes, and fecal microbiota of sows and piglets were analyzed. The results showed that, compared with CON, the average feed intake of sows in TRE1 during the second week of lactation was significantly increased by 21.96% (p < 0.05), the average daily gain (ADG) per litter in TRE1 on 11-21 days and 3-21 days of lactation was significantly increased by 50.68 and 31.61%, respectively (p < 0.05), and the serum triglyceride content of sows in TRE1 on the 21st day of lactation was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The 16S rRNA analysis showed that dietary bamboo fiber significantly increased the fecal microbial richness index Ace, Chao, and Sobs of sows (p < 0.05) and tended to increase the Sobs index of suckling piglets on day 21 (p < 0.10). Compared with CON, BBF1 supplementation significantly decreased the abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group in feces of sows on days 7 and 21 after delivery (p < 0.05), while BBF2 decreased the genera Christensenellaceae_R-7_group on days 7 (p < 0.10) and 21 (p < 0.05) after delivery. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the abundance of Phascolarctobacterium in the feces of piglets on the 21st day after delivery was significantly positively correlated with diarrhea rate and significantly negatively correlated with ADG per litter, day 21 litter weight, and 3- to 21-day survival rate. In contrast, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group was significantly negatively correlated with diarrhea rate and positively correlated with ADG per litter.

Discussion

These results indicated that maternal BBF1 supplementation improved the litter weight gain of suckling piglets, which was associated with the improvement of diversity and structure of the fecal microbiota in the piglets.

Rye Bran as a Component in the Diets of Lactating Sows-Effects on Sow and Piglet Performance

From a cost and sustainability perspective, the use of by-products such as rye bran in sow diets is of particular interest. Rye bran has valuable ingredients that have potential benefits for the gut health of sows. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of including 15% rye bran in the sows' feed on the performance of sows and piglets. The feeding started one week before the farrowing date and ended at weaning. Performance was evaluated by measuring sow (n = 175) and piglet body weight (n = 1372) and sows' backfat thickness (n = 80). These data were additionally used to calculate the colostrum intake of the suckling piglets and the sows' milk production. It was found that there were no differences in the performance parameters between the experimental and control groups. However, this study showed that the piglets with light birth weight (LBW (<1000 g)) and medium birth weight (MBW (1000-1500 g) consumed more colostrum when the sows were fed rye bran (LBW: C/R 203.0 ± 39.2 g/214.3 ± 35.9 g; MBW: 291.3 ± 39.0 g/298.5 ± 36.4 g). It can be concluded that including 15% rye bran in the feed of lactating sows has no obvious negative effects on the performance of sows and piglets. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible positive effects of rye bran.

Impact of body condition on sow and litter performance, postpartum physiological, hematological, and biochemical parameters in Landlly crossbred pigs

A total of 32 Landlly crossbred sows were categorized into three groups based on their body condition score (BCS) on the 90th day of gestation viz. low, moderate, and high body condition groups. BCS assessments were subsequently conducted on the 102nd day, at farrowing, and on the 7th, 17th, 27th, and 42nd day postpartum, along with measurements of ultrasonic backfat thickness and body weight. Key reproductive performance traits, including total number born (TNB) and alive (TLA), stillbirths, mummification, and litter weight at birth and weaning, were recorded. Several physiological, health, biochemical, and hematological parameters were also estimated at different lactation stages. Analysis of the data revealed that TNB, TLA (P<0.04), and weaned piglets (P<0.01), as well as litter weight at birth (P<0.08) and weaning (P<0.08), were significantly higher in the low BCS group. Meanwhile, the weaning to estrous interval (P<0.04) was optimized in the high and moderate BCS groups. However, sows with high body condition exhibited higher stillbirths and pre-weaning mortality. Additionally, the order of increasing body condition correlated with superior colostrum quality, characterized by higher IgG levels (P<0.02), and increased average milk yield during early and mid-lactation (P<0.03). A high occurrence of postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) was evident in obese sows (P<0.001). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the body condition of sows at late gestation and cortisol concentration throughout lactation across the three BCS groups (P<0.0001). Furthermore, a strong positive correlation was observed between the postpartum serum concentration of T3 (thyroid hormone) (P<0.002) and the prepartum body condition of sows. Based on these findings, maintaining sows with a moderate body condition (BCS of 3) and a backfat thickness of 21 mm in the breeding herd is recommended for enhancing profitability and productivity at the farm level.

Effects of dietary fiber in gestating sow diets - A review

The objective of this review was to provide an overview of the effects of dietary fiber (DF) on reproductive performance in gestating sows. Dietary fibers have been suggested to modulate microbiota in the intestine and the immune system of gestating sows and to improve gut health. Thus, DF may help alleviate the adverse effects of the stressful production cycle of gestating sows. These benefits may subsequently result in improved reproductive performance of sows. Previous studies have reported changes in microbiota by providing gestating sows with DF, and the responses of microbiota varied depending on the source of DF. The responses by providing DF to gestating sows were inconsistent for antioxidative capacity, hormonal response, and inflammatory response among the studies. The effects of DF on reproductive performance were also inconsistent among the previous studies. Potential reasons contributing to these inconsistent results would include variability in reproductive performance data, insufficient replication, influence of other nutrients contained in the DF diets, characteristics of DF, and experimental periods. The present meta-analysis suggests that increasing the total DF concentration by 10 percentage units (e.g., 12% to 22% as-fed basis) in gestating sow diets compared to the control group improves the litter born alive by 0.49 pigs per litter. However, based on the present review, questions remain regarding the benefits of fibers in gestating sow diets. Further research is warranted to clarify the mode of action of fibers and the association with subsequent reproductive performance in gestating sows.

Effects from supplementary feeding of bamboo powder in perinatal period on farrowing process, serum biochemical indexes, and fecal microbes of sows and offspring piglets

Introduction

This study was conducted to explore the effects of supplementary feeding of bamboo powder on the physical parameters of sows during the perinatal period of 7 days ± in parturition, including farrow duration, serum biochemical indexes, fecal physicochemical indexes, and microbial flora.

Methods

Thirty pregnant sows were randomly divided into three groups: the control group was fed a basal diet, TRE1 group and TRE2 group were fed a basal diet supplemented with 30 g d^-1 and 60 g d^-1 bamboo powder, respectively. Multiple parameters of sows and offspring piglets were determined.

Results

The contents of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride of sows in TRE2 group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The contents of serum malondialdehyde of sows in TRE2 and TRE1 groups were significantly lower than that in control group. The water content of sow feces in TRE2 group was significantly higher than that in control group, and the pH values of sows in TRE2 and TRE1 groups were significantly higher than that in control group. The richness index (Chao) of sow fecal bacterial community in TRE2 group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the Ace and Sobs indexes tended to be lower than those of the control group. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota in the feces of sows in TRE2 group was significantly lower than that of the control group, while that of Fusobacteriota in the feces of suckling piglets in TRE2 group tended to be lower than that of the control group. At the genus level, among the Top10 dominant bacteria, the relative abundance of Tissierella in the feces of sows in TRE2 group was significantly lower than that of the control group while that of Fusobacterium in the feces of suckling piglets in TRE2 group tended to be lower than that of the control group. The relative abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Terrisporobacter, Turicibacter, and Tissierella in the feces of sows in TRE2 group was significantly lower than that of TRE1 group (p < 0.05), while Lactobacillus tended to be higher than that of TRE1 group (p < 0.10).

Discussion

The results suggested that supplementary feeding 60 g d^-1 bamboo powder could increase the water content in the feces of sows, reduce the oxidative damage, and tend to reduce the relative abundance of opportunistic pathogenic Fusobacterium for suckling piglets, while it reduced the fecal microbial diversity of sows.

Effect of Mulberry Leaf powder on reproductive performance, serum indexes and milk amino acid composition in lactating sows

Experiment was conducted to study the effects of Mulberry Leaf (ML) powder on reproductive performance, serum and milk amino acid composition in sows. Fifty sows (D 85 at gestation) with parity 3 or 4 were randomly divided into 5 groups: C, M100, M200, M300 and M400, receiving 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 g ML powder per sow per day. Blood and milk of sows at Days 1 and 21 of lactation were collected. Results showed that average daily feed intake (ADFI) during lactation was higher in groups supplemented ML compared with control group (p < 0.01). Litter weight gain during lactation was higher in M400 than in groups M200 and C (p < 0.05), with no significant difference compared with M100 and M300. Serum glucose concentration in groups M400 and M300 was higher than those in the other groups (p < 0.01). Serum HDL-C concentration in group M400 was significantly greater than those in groups M100 and M200 (p < 0.05), with no significant difference between group M400 and groups M300, control. Milk amino acid concentrations such as isoleucine, leucine, lysine and valine were all lower in group M400 than in control (p < 0.01). Serum methionine (Met) concentration was higher in M300 than in other groups (p < 0.01). Milk Met concentration in group C was higher than those of the sows in the group M400, with no significant difference compared with groups M100, M200 and M300 (p < 0.05). Serum Lys and Met concentrations were lower in M400 than in control group (p < 0.05). In summary, our results have revealed the ML supplementation at a high dose such as 300 g/day during later gestation and lactation showed benefit in regulating lipid and amino acid metabolism in sows and then improved growth performance of their offspring.

Impact of four fiber-rich supplements on nutrient digestibility, colostrum production, and farrowing performance in sows

This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary fiber (DF) sources on sow and litter performance, and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy (GE) and nutrients. A total of 48 sows were stratified for body weight at mating and randomly assigned to one of four DF sources (mixed fiber [MF], palm kernel expellers [PKE], sugar beet pulp [SBP], or soy hulls [SH]) and fed the diet from mating until farrowing. Within DF treatments, sows were supplemented with one of two extra energy sources (glycerol or sugar dissolved in water), whereas a third group (control) received water from day 108 of gestation until farrowing. The number of total born, live-born, and stillborn pigs; birth time and birth weight of the pigs; farrowing duration; and farrowing assistance (FA) were recorded. Live-born pigs were weighed again at 12 and 24 h after birth to record weight gain, which was used to estimate intake and yield of colostrum. Blood samples were collected once daily from day -3 relative to farrowing until day 1 after farrowing in sows and once from selected pigs right after birth. Fecal samples were collected on day 114 of gestation and colostrum at 0, 12, 24, and 36 h after onset of farrowing. Intake of soluble and insoluble nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) was greater for SBP (P < 0.001) and PKE (P < 0.001) supplemented sows, respectively, when compared with other groups. Farrowing duration and stillbirth rate were not affected by DF sources, but PKE and SH supplemented sows had greater FA than SBP and MF supplemented sows (P < 0.001). Extra energy supplement did not improve the farrowing performance. Concentration (P = 0.02) and output (P = 0.04) of dry matter in colostrum, and ATTD of GE (P < 0.001) and crude protein (CP; P < 0.001) were lower for PKE supplemented sows than in sows from the remaining groups. Intake of insoluble NSP correlated negatively with ATTD of GE (P < 0.001) and CP (P < 0.001). Concentrations of glucose (P < 0.001), lactate (P < 0.001), CO2 (P < 0.001), and HCO3 (P < 0.001) in sows blood were increased with time progress relative to farrowing. Newborn pigs from PKE supplemented sows had greater concentration of lactate (P = 0.02) and lower blood pH (P = 0.02) than the remaining treatments. In conclusion, PKE supplement reduced ATTD of GE and CP, and concentration and output of dry matter in colostrum but increased FA. Results of this experiment indicated that the use of PKE as a fiber source for late gestating sows should be avoided.

The effect of reproductive state on activity budget, feeding behavior, and urinary C-peptide levels in wild female Assamese macaques

Abstract

The source of maternal energy supporting reproduction (i.e., stored or incoming) is an important factor determining different breeding strategies (capital, income or mixed) in female mammals. Key periods of energy storage and allocation might induce behavioral and physiological shifts in females, and investigating their distribution throughout reproduction helps in determining vulnerable phases shaping female reproductive success. Here, we examined the effects of reproductive state on activity budget, feeding behavior, and urinary C-peptide (uCP) levels, a physiological marker of energy balance, in 43 wild female Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis). Over a 13-month study period, we collected 96,266 instantaneous records of activity and 905 urine samples. We found that early lactating females and non-gestating–non-lactating females follow an energy-saving strategy consisting of resting more at the expense of feeding and consuming mostly fruits which contributed to enhancing their energy intake and feeding efficiency. We found an opposite pattern in gestating and late lactating females who feed more at the expense of resting and consume mostly seeds, providing a fiber-rich diet. Storing food into cheek pouches increased throughout gestation while it decreased all along with lactation. Lastly, we found the highest uCP levels during late gestation. Our results reflect different feeding adaptations in response to the energetic costs of reproduction and suggest a critical role of fat accumulation before conception and metabolizing fat during gestation and lactation. Overall, our study provides an integrative picture of the energetics of reproduction in a seasonal species and contributes to our understanding of the diversity of behavioral and physiological adaptations shaping female reproductive success.

Significance statement

To offset their substantial energetic investment in reproduction, mammalian females may modify their behavior and the way they extract energy from their environment. In addition, as a result of heightened energy expenditure, female reproduction might trigger physiological shifts. To date, most studies investigated the energetic costs of female reproduction using either a behavioral or a physiological approach. To arrive at a more comprehensive picture, we combined behavioral data with a physiological marker of energy balance, i.e., urinary C-peptide, in a seasonal primate species in its natural habitat. Our results indicate that throughout the reproductive cycle, behavioral and physiological adaptations operate concomitantly, inducing modifications in female activity budget, feeding behavior, and suggesting shifts in fat use. Overall, our results illustrate the relevance of combining data on behavior and hormones to investigate breeding strategies in coping with the energetic costs of reproduction.

Effects of the Inclusion of Fermented Mulberry Leaves and Branches in the Gestational Diet on the Performance and Gut Microbiota of Sows and Their Offspring

Fermented feed mulberry (FFM), being rich in dietary fiber, has not been fully evaluated to be used in sow's diet. In this study, we investigated the effects of 25.5% FFM supplemented in gestation diets on the performance and gut microbiota of sows and their offspring. Results showed that the serum concentration of glucose, progesterone, and estradiol were not affected by the dietary treatment, while the level of serum insulin and fecal short chain fatty acid were both reduced in FFM group on gestation day 60 (G60, p < 0.05). Additionally, FFM increased both voluntary feed intake and weaning litter weight (p < 0.05), while decreased the losses of both Backfat thickness and bodyweight throughout lactation (p < 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing showed FFM supplementation significantly increased the diversity and relative abundance of sows' fecal microbiota on G60 (p < 0.05). The differential microbiota for sows from FFM group was that Bacteroidetes was increased on G60 while Firmicutes were decreased on Lactation day 7 (L7, p < 0.05), and which for the FFM piglets was that both unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae on L0 and norank_f_Ruminococcaceae on L7 were increased (p < 0.05). In short, FFM can be recognized as a potential feed ingredient used in sow's diet.