The Influence of Sow Colostrum Trypsin Inhibitor on the Immunoglobulin Absorption in Newborn Piglets

The influence of sow colostrum trypsin inhibitor (SCTI) on the immunoglobulin absorption from the gut of 16 newborn colostrum-deprived piglets was investigated in a paired feeding experiment.Three times at 1 h intervals the piglets were fed an experimental diet consisting of sow milk, purified swine serum immunoglobulins containing agglutinins against Bordetella bronchiseptica, and purified SGTI (diet I) or saline (diet II). The serum concentrations of IgG, IgM, IgA, and antibodies for B. bronchiseptica were measured by single radial immunodiffusion and by a tube agglutination procedure and used to evaluate the immunoglobulin absorption. Four and 6 h after the first experimental meal, blood samples from the piglets given SGTI in their diet had a generally higher level of IgG, IgA and aggutinins against B. bronchiseptica than blood samples from the piglets d no SGTI. No real differences were found in the IgM levels. Although the piglets fed no SGTI all showed a considerable immunoglobulin absorption, the SCTI was found to have a statistically significant positive influence on the IgG and IgA absorption.     

Improvement of growth performance and sanitary status of weaned piglets fed a bovine colostrum-supplemented diet

The present study investigated the effect of 3 different durations of feeding a diet supplemented with defatted bovine colostrum (Col) on growth performance and sanitary status of the weaned piglet. At 28 d of age, piglets were weaned and fed 1 of the 2 following diets: a control (Ctrl) starter diet or a starter diet supplemented with Col. Two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, 310 piglets (12 pens consisting of 10 piglets/pen and 10 pens consisting of 19 piglets/pen) were allocated to 1 of the 2 dietary treatments for 12 d. In Exp. 2, 522 piglets (18 pens consisting of 10 piglets/pen and 18 pens consisting of 19 piglets/pen) were allocated to 1 of the following 3 dietary treatments: fed the Ctrl diet from d 1 to 12 (Ctrl), Col diet from d 1 to 4 and then the Ctrl diet up to d 12 (Col-4d), or the Col diet from d 1 to 6 and then the Ctrl diet up to d 12 (Col-6d). For both experiments, a commercial second-phase diet was fed to piglets from d 12 to 46. Feed intake, growth performance, and cleanliness of floor and hindquarters of animals were investigated during the first 7 wk postweaning. In Exp. 1, from d 0 to 12, ADFI, ADG, and G:F were 16 (P = 0.004), 23 (P < 0.001), and 5% (P = 0.069) greater, respectively, in Col piglets compared with Ctrl piglets. Thereafter, ADFI and ADG were 7 (P < 0.001) and 9% (P < 0.001) greater, respectively, in Col piglets than Ctrl piglets (d 12 to 46). On d 12 after weaning, piglets fed the Col diet had more normal feces (+13%) and less soft or liquid feces (-9 and -4%, respectively) than piglets fed the Ctrl diet (P = 0.06). Compared with Ctrl piglets, feeding the Col diet led to more days with normal feces for the floor cleanliness (+22%; P < 0.001) from d 7 to 11. In Exp. 2, compared with Ctrl piglets, ADFI, ADG, and G:F were 8, 23, and 13% greater (P < 0.05) in Col-6d piglets from d 0 to 9, whereas values for Col-4d piglets were intermediate and did not differ from the values of the other dietary treatments. On d 9 after weaning, piglets fed the Col-4d or the Col-6d diet had more normal feces (+6 and +4%, respectively) and less liquid feces (-4 and -3%, respectively) than piglets fed the Ctrl diet (P = 0.08). No long lasting effects were observed thereafter. In conclusion, there was a reduction of weaning-induced growth check and diarrheal episodes in weaned piglets fed the Col diet. The beneficial effects of the bovine colostrum were observed beyond the period of treatment when the supplementation covered the first 6 d postweaning, which corresponded to the acute phase of postweaning digestive disturbances.     

饲粮中添加中链脂肪酸甘油三酯对母猪繁殖性能、血清生化指标及初乳成分的影响

本试验旨在研究母猪妊娠后期和泌乳期饲粮中添加中链脂肪酸甘油三酯(MCT)对母猪繁殖性能、血清生化指标及初乳成分的影响。试验选取120头纯种大白妊娠母猪(3~5胎),根据母猪预产期相近,胎次、体况、历史繁殖成绩均衡分布的原则分为3组,每组40个重复,每个重复1头母猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮(含3.17%豆油),油剂组以0.6%纯油剂MCT替换基础饲粮中0.6%的豆油(含2.57%豆油),粉剂组在基础饲粮中添加0.5%微胶囊粉剂MCT。试验从母猪妊娠第85天开始至仔猪断奶结束。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,油剂组和粉剂组母猪产程分别提高了17.58%(P0.05)和9.21%(P0.05),母猪泌乳期平均日采食量分别提高了5.92%和10.07%(P0.05),母猪断奶后7日发情率分别提高了6.52%和4.25%(P0.05);饲粮中添加MCT对母猪其他繁殖性能指标无显著影响(P0.05)。2)饲粮中添加MCT对母猪血清生化指标均无显著影响(P0.05)。3)与对照组相比,油剂组和粉剂组母猪初乳乳脂含量分别提高了18.09%和19.09%(P0.05),饲粮中添加MCT对母猪初乳成分均无显著影响(P0.10)。由此可见,在母猪妊娠后期及泌乳期饲粮中添加MCT未能改善母猪的生产性能、血清生化指标及初乳成分,但添加油剂型MCT可显著缩短母猪产程。     

The effect of diet on fecal moisture, osmolarity of fecal extracts, products of bacterial fermentation and loss of minerals in feces of weaned pigs

Litters of pigs were allotted to one of three dietary treatments. Treatment 1 (T1) consisted of a corn-soybean meal starter diet. Pigs fed treatment 2 (T2) received a steamed, rolled oat groats-casein diet and pigs in treatment 3 (T3) remained with the sow. Four pigs/treatment were used to investigate the difference in performance and the cause of post-weaning diarrhea associated with early weaning of pigs at 4 wk of age to a starter diet. Fecal moisture, osmolarity, acetic acid, lactic acid and glucose contents were all good indicators of dietary differences because of treatment X age interactions. These variables increased faster in fecal extracts from pigs fed the corn-soybean meal diet. Lactic acid, volatile fatty acid (VFA) levels, glucose and pH values were indicative of a more active bacterial fermentation in pigs receiving T1 than in those receiving T2 or pigs remaining with the sow (T3). Excess minerals appear to contribute significantly to the osmolarity of fecal material. Of the anions, lactate was the main contributor to the osmolarity of feces of T1 pigs, followed by P, VFA, of which acetic acid contributed 70%, and Cl. The main cations were K, Na and Ca. In T2, P was the main anion, followed by lactate, VFA and Cl, while the main cations were Na, K and Ca. Minerals seemed to be the major osmotic particles in fecal extracts of pigs remaining with the sow. Phosphorus was the major anionic contributor to osmolarity, followed by VFA, Cl and lactic acid. Potassium was the major cation, followed by Na and Ca.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Energy balance of lactating primiparous sows as affected by feeding level and dietary energy source

The effects of feeding level and major dietary energy source used during lactation on sow milk composition, piglet body composition, and energy balance of sows were determined. During a 21-d lactation, 48 primiparous sows were fed either a Fat-rich (134.9 g/kg fat; 196.8 g/kg carbohydrate) or a Starch-rich (33.2 g/kg fat; 380.9 g/kg carbohydrate) diet at either a High (44 MJ NE/d; 1,050 g protein/d) or a Low (33 MJ NE/d; 790 g protein/d) feeding level. Within each feeding level, the two diets were fed to provide an isocaloric and isonitrogenous intake. At the Low feeding level, no differences in milk production, milk composition, or piglet body composition were found as a result of feeding the two dietary energy sources. However, at the High feeding level, sows fed the Fat-rich diet produced higher milk fat (8.4 vs 6.9%) and milk energy (5.38 vs 4.77 kJ/g) concentrations and a higher piglet body fat concentration (152.1 vs 135.4 g/kg) than sows fed the Starch-rich diet. At the Low feeding level, the energy balance (d 6 to d 20) of the sows was similar when fed either the Fat- or the Starch-rich diet (-558 and -515 kJ x BW(-.75) x d(-1)), but at the High feeding level, the energy balance was more negative in sows fed the Fat than those fed the Starch-rich diet (-544 vs -372 kJ x BW(-.75) x d(-1)). This suggests that at the High feeding level, dietary energy in the form of fat is preferentially used for milk fat synthesis, resulting in growth and in fatter piglets. Alternatively, at the High feeding level, Starch as the major energy source is used only for growth of the piglets, as confirmed by protein deposition, and also results in a less-negative energy balance for the sows. From this experiment, it can be concluded that effects of substituting cornstarch for fat in the diet of lactating sows on milk composition, piglet body composition, and energy balance of the sows are dependent on feeding level.     

Effects of Inulin Supplementation in Low‐ or High‐Fat Diets on Reproductive Performance of Sows and Antioxidant Defence Capacity in Sows and Offspring

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of inulin supplementation in low‐ or high‐fat diets on both the reproductive performance of sow and the antioxidant defence capacity in sows and offspring. Sixty Landrace × Yorkshire sows were randomly allocated to four treatments with low‐fat diet (L), low‐fat diet containing 1.5% inulin (LI), high‐fat diet (H) and high‐fat diet containing 1.5% inulin (HI). Inulin‐rich diets lowered the within‐litter birth weight coefficient of variation (CV, p = 0.05) of piglets, increased the proportion of piglets weighing 1.0–1.5 kg at farrowing (p < 0.01), reduced the loss of body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (BF) during lactation (p < 0.05) and decreased the duration of farrowing as well as improved sow constipation (p < 0.05). Sows fed fat‐rich diets gained more BW during gestation (p < 0.01), farrowed a greater number of total (+1.65 pigs, p < 0.05) and alive (+1.52 pigs p < 0.05) piglets and had a heavier (+2.06 kg, p < 0.05) litter weight at birth as well as a decreased weaning‐to‐oestrous interval (WEI, p < 0.01) compared with sows fed low‐fat diets. However, it is worth noting that the H diet significantly decreased the serum activities of superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) and increased the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in sows and piglets (p < 0.05). In contrast, HI diet enhanced the activities of T‐SOD and GSH‐Px and decreased the serum MDA concentrations (p < 0.05) in sows and piglets. In summary, the fat‐rich diets fed to sows during gestation had beneficial effects on reproductive performance, but aggravated the oxidative stress in sow and piglets. Inulin‐rich diets fed to sow during gestation had beneficial effects on within‐litter uniformity of piglet birthweight and enhanced the antioxidant defence capacity of sows and piglets.     

Impact of diet on development of bronchial-associated immunity in the neonatal piglet

Bronchial-associated immune development is critically important to protect neonates from respiratory infections. Herein, bronchial-associated immune development in formula-fed and sow-reared pigs is described. Colostrum-fed newborn piglets were fed medicated sow milk replacer formula beginning at 48 h of life or remained with the sow. Blood and tissues were sampled at one-week (d7) and three-weeks (d21) of age. Lymphocyte subpopulations, including T helper 2, cytotoxic T, memory T, and NK cells, in peripheral blood, mediastinal lymph nodes, and thoracic lymph nodes were identified using flow cytometry. Additionally, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNFα, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, IFNα, IFNβ, and dectin gene expression were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Total IgG, IgM, and IgA concentrations in serum were analyzed. Dietary and developmental effects were observed. This set of baseline measurements provides a framework for future respiratory challenge studies where the effects of diet on the neonate's ability to resist and/or recover from infection can be tested.     

Effects of the Ratio of n-6:n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Maternal Diet on Immunoglobulins, Fatty Acid Composition, and Performance of Lactating Sows and Suckling Piglets under Conditions of Low Maternal Energy Intake

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different ratios of n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in sow diets on the performance of lactating sows and their piglets at low digestible energy intakes.Twenty-one pregnant Landrace sows were assigned to one of three diets from day 108 of gestation until weaning (26 to 29 d),containing n-6∶n-3 PUFA ratios of 3∶1,8∶1 and 11∶1.The effects on sow and litter production traits and on sow body condition were examined.There were no differences among treatments in daily feed intakes or in changes in sow weight and back-fat levels during lactation.Litter size,litter weight at birth and weaning and litter average daily weight gain were also unaffected by treatment.As expected,large differences were observed in n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in the colostrum and plasma of sows and piglets (P ＜ 0.01 ).The ratio of n-6∶n-3 PUFA the diet was positively correlated with those in colostrum,sow plasma and piglet plasma ( R2 =0.55,0.80 and 0.80,respectively).Sow plasma insulin and IGF-I levels at weaning were unaffected by the treatments.Plasma leptin ( P ＜ 0.05) concentrations were increased in sows fed the diet with a n-6∶ n-3 ratio of 8∶1.Immunoglobulin concentrations in colostrum were not altered by dietary treatment.Plasma IgG concentrations at d 14 were highest in piglets from sows fed the 8∶1 ratio of n-6∶n-3.Furthermore,this group had the highest IgA concentrations at day 21 of lactation compared with the other two groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ).In summary,our study demonstrated that at low digestible energy levels,altering the ratio of n-6∶n-3 PUFA in the diets for lactating sows affected immune components and the fatty acid composition of lactating sows and their piglets.Further studies are needed to examine whether higher levels of fat supplementation than those used in the present study ( 1.5％ ) can successfully enhance performance.     

高铜对断奶仔猪生长性能及血清激素水平的影响

选用60头28日龄±2日龄“长大定”三元杂交断奶仔猪,按体重和性别随机分成3组,每组20头。Ⅰ组(对照组)仔猪饲喂基础日粮;Ⅱ组仔猪在断奶后14d内饲喂基础日粮 250mg/kg铜(CuSO4.5H2O),然后再饲喂基础日粮;Ⅲ组仔猪饲喂基础日粮 250mg/kg铜(CuSO4.5H2O)。试验期为28d。所有实验猪均于断奶后0,7,14d和28d称重,计算采食量,观察断奶后腹泻情况。同时每组固定10头仔猪,于断奶后0,7,14d和28d,经前腔静脉采血,测定部分血清激素水平。结果表明,高铜日粮能显著提高断奶仔猪体重(AW)、平均日增重(ADG)和日采食量(ADFI),降低料重比(F/G)和断奶后腹泻率,显著提高断奶仔猪血清GHI、NS、T3和T4的水平。     

断奶仔猪饲喂流食与颗粒料对比研究

研究流食与颗粒料不同方式对断奶仔猪增重和采食量,选择杜长大三元杂种28日龄仔猪,随机区组设计,共六个区组,每窝一个区组,每个区组四头猪,分为处理组2头和对照组2头。28日龄体重:试验组7.19±0.027 Kg,对照组7.19±0.031 Kg。处理组和对照组均自由采食,自由饮水,35日龄晨称个体重,结果给予流食比使用颗粒料提高仔猪采食量33g/d(P<0.05)和日增重17.6g/d(P<0.05)。仔猪早期断乳是提高母猪生产力和规模化养猪业中的关键技术之一,现代规模养猪业已把乳猪断奶日龄提至21~28 d。     

Impact of energy intake and pregnancy status on rate and efficiency of gain and backfat changes of sows postweaning

A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate factors related to determining optimal feeding and management programs for increasing net returns from marketing cull sows. A total of 269 multiparous sows averaging 192 kg of body weight were weaned, moved to individual gestation crates, and assigned to one of eight treatment combinations in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement for a 42-d postweaning feeding experiment. Factors included limited (L) (1.8 kg/sow/d) or ad libitum (AL) access to feed during wk 1 postweaning, a corn-soybean meal (corn) or barley-sunflower meal (barley) diet, and pregnant or nonpregnant status. All sows were provided ad libitum access to feed from wk 2 to 6 postweaning. Gain and feed intake (FI) data were collected weekly for each sow and used to calculate gain:feed (G/F). Ultrasonic backfat (BF) data were collected on d 0, 21, and 42 postweaning. Sows on the AL treatment had greater FI (P < 0.05) but similar gain (P = 0.80) for the 42-d postweaning period compared to sows on the L treatment. Most of this response was due to lower sow body weight loss during wk 1 postweaning (P < 0.01) when sows were provided AL (-7.2 kg) vs L (-13.2 kg) access to feed. Sows fed the corn diet had higher gain (P < 0.01), improved G/F (P < 0.01), and increased BF (P < 0.01) over the 42-d feeding period than sows fed barley. The corn diet resulted in less sow BW loss (P < 0.01) during wk 1 (-8.8 kg) than the barley diet (-11.6 kg). Pregnant sows had higher gain, FI, G/ F, and BF (P < 0.01) than nonpregnant sows over the 42-d feeding period. Most of this advantage occurred during wk 4 postweaning when FI and gain of nonpregnant sows was lower (P < 0.01) than for pregnant sows. An economic analysis indicated that, when cull sow prices are relatively high and feed prices are moderate to low, maintaining and managing cull sows for an additional 6 wk postweaning may be economically advantageous compared to 0 or 3 wk. Pregnant sows fed the corn diet produced the greatest economic return. These results suggest that mating sows as they return to estrus postweaning and providing ad libitum access to a corn-soybean meal diet improves growth performance and feed efficiency, and may thereby provide increased returns when marketing cull sows.     

Effects of dietary additions of fat and triamcinolone for sows during late gestation on subsequent pig performance

Three trials involving 118 sows were conducted to evaluate the effects of fat and triamcinolone additions in the diets of late-term gravid sows on pre- and postweaning performance of pigs. Beginning an average of 9 d prepartum, sows were fed daily 1.8 kg of a fortified, corn-soybean meal diet [6 Mcal of metabolizable energy (ME) and 290 g of protein/sow] that was supplemented with 4 Mcal of ME/sow in the form of starch, soybean oil or soybean oil plus 70 mg/sow of triamcinolone, a synthetic glucocorticoid. During a 28-d lactation, sows were self-fed a standard 14% protein, corn-soybean meal diet. The addition of soybean oil to the diet of sows during late gestation did not (P greater than .10) influence the weights of survivability of pigs at birth, 14 or 28 d of age, but increased (P less than .05) the carcass fat content of the pigs at birth. The dietary addition of triamcinolone to the sow's prepartum diet increased (P less than .10) pig weights at birth and 14 d, and tended to increase pig weights at 28 d compared with those of pigs from sows fed soybean oil only. Prepartal administration of triamcinolone depressed (P less than .05) carcass protein content and adrenal weights in pigs at birth or 28 d of age. From weaning (d 28) to 56 d of age, pigs from sows fed soybean oil before parturition, particularly those from sows fed triamcinolone, tended to consume less feed and gained slower and less efficiently than pigs from sows fed starch, although the differences were not significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

日粮中使用NUTRI-PAL对夏季初产母猪繁殖性能的影响

试验以20头妊娠90d的初产母猪(长白×大白)为试验动物,研究日粮中使用5%Nutri-Pal对其繁殖性能的影响。试验分对照组及5%Nutri-Pal试验组。结果表明:与对照组相比,试验组母猪的采食量略有提高(P>0.05),窝产活仔数增加0.55头、初生窝重增加1.57kg、断奶后7d内发情率提高了22.3%,弱仔、死胎、木乃伊的比例均有不同程度的下降,但母猪窝总产仔数、断奶到发情的间隔无显著差异(P>0.05)。仔猪15日龄窝重、断奶窝重比对照组分别提高了3.53kg和5.56kg,死亡率下降了37.57%。结果显示,日粮中使用5%Nutri-Pal能促进夏季初产母猪的繁殖性能。     

Effect of selenium supplementation and source on the selenium status of horses

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Se supplementation and source on the Se status of horses. Eighteen 18-mo-old nonexercised horses were randomly assigned within sex to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) control (CTRL, no supplemental Se, 0.15 mg of Se/kg of total diet DM); 2) inorganic Se (INORG, CTRL + 0.45 mg of Se/kg of total diet DM from NaSeO3); or organic Se [ORG, CTRL + 0.45 mg of Se/kg of total diet DM from zinc-L-selenomethionine (Availa Se, Zinpro, Corp., Eden Prairie, MN)]. Horses were acclimated to the CTRL diet (7.1 kg of DM alfalfa hay and 1.2 kg of DM concentrate per horse daily) for 28 d. After the acclimation period, the appropriate treatment was top-dressed on the individually fed concentrate for 56 d. Jugular venous blood samples were collected on d 0, 28, and 56. Middle gluteal muscle biopsies were collected on d 0 and 56. Muscle and plasma were analyzed for Se concentrations. Glutathione peroxidase activity was measured in muscle (M GPx-1), plasma (P GPx-3), and red blood cells (RBC GPx-1). Data were analyzed as a repeated measures design. Mean plasma Se concentration on d 28 and 56 was greater (P < 0.05) for Se-supplemented horses compared with CTRL horses, and tended (P < 0.1) to be greater in ORG vs. INORG on d 28. Mean muscle Se concentration and P GPx-3 activities increased (P < 0.05) from d 0 to 56 but were not affected by treatment. Mean RBC GPx-1 activity tended to be greater (P < 0.1) in ORG than INORG or CTRL horses on d 28, and tended to be greater (P < 0.1) for INORG compared with ORG horses on d 56. Mean RBC GPx-1 activity of INORG and ORG horses was not different from that of CTRL on d 56. Mean M GPx-1 activity decreased (P < 0.01) from d 0 to 56. In conclusion, zinc-L-selenomethionine was more effective than NaSeO3 at increasing plasma Se concentration from d 0 to 28; however, both supplemental Se sources had a similar effect by d 56. No difference in Se status due to Se supplementation or source could be detected over a 56-d supplementation period by monitoring middle gluteal muscle Se, M GPx-1, or P GPx-3. Results for RBC GPx-1 also were inconclusive relative to the effect of Se supplementation and source.     

Effects of benzoic acid on performance and ecology of gastrointestinal microbiota in weanling piglets

The effects of feeding benzoic acid on weanling pig performance and on the ecology of their gastrointestinal microbiota were evaluated. One hundred and forty-four piglets (4 weeks of age) were used. Half of the piglets were fed a control diet and half were fed the same diet with 0.5% benzoic acid, and their performance was measured for 28 days. At the end of the trial, twelve piglets from each treatment were euthanised and samples of ileal and caecal digesta were collected. The digesta samples were cultured to quantify Lactobacillus spp., Escherichia coli,Enterococcus spp. and Clostridium perfringens and they were also studied by restriction fragment length polymorphism to evaluate the biodiversity degree and the similarity between the profiles of the microbiota. Benzoic acid improved piglets’ performance, and this was associated with a greater ileal microbiota biodiversity.     

Effect of dietary supplementation of oregano essential oils to sows on colostrum and milk composition, growth pattern and immune status of suckling pigs

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing sow diets with oregano essential oils (OEO) during gestation and lactation on sow colostrum and milk composition and on the growth pattern and immune status of suckling pigs. A total of 70 second-parity sows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 gestation dietary treatments within 24 h after service: control (CON) or CON + 250 mg/kg of OEO (OREG). In lactation, sows were again assigned to either the CON or OREG dietary treatment. Thus, the lactation treatments were CON-CON, CON-OREG, OREG-CON, and OREG-OREG. Colostrum and blood samples were collected from 6 sows per lactation dietary treatment. Thymus lymphocyte (T lymphocyte) subpopulations (γδ, cluster of differentiation 8, and 32 cluster of differentiation 4) were enumerated in blood and mammary secretions along with IGF-1, IgG, and IgA concentrations. Piglet growth rate were determined from 18, 17, 17, and 18 litters from the CON-CON, CON-OREG, OREG-CON, and OREG-OREG lactation dietary treatments, respectively. Growth rates were determined in 630 piglets, and piglets were individually identified and weighed on 1, 5, 9, 12, 16, and 19 d of age. Oregano essential oil supplementation during gestation or lactation had no effect (P > 0.05) on GE, CP, GE:CP, GE:fat, and IGF-1 in sow milk. Reductions of the fat percentage in milk on d 7 (P < 0.05) and d 14 (P = 0.07) were found in sows supplemented with OEO during lactation compared with those in the CON treatment. Milk from sows supplemented with OEO during lactation had the greatest number of T lymphocytes compared with those in the lactation CON treatment on d 14 of lactation (P < 0.01). The number of T lymphocytes in milk was greater for sows in the CON-OREG treatment compared with those other treatments on d 14 of lactation (P < 0.05). Energy intake was greater on d 1 to 5 in piglets from sows fed OEO during gestation than those from sows in the CON treatment (P < 0.05). A trend (P = 0.10) for greater milk intake was observed in piglets from sows supplemented with OEO during gestation compared with those from sows in the CON treatment. Similarly, a tendency for an increase in ADG on d 1 to 5 was found in piglets from sows supplemented with OEO during gestation compared with those from sows in the CON treatment (P = 0.10). Insulin-like growth factor-1 at birth and on d 7 and 14 of lactation did not differ among piglets from sows assigned to the different dietary treatments. Oregano essential oil supplementation of sow diets did not affect (P > 0.05) immunoglobulin concentrations in piglets after suckling. Supplementing sow diets with OEO during gestation or lactation did not affect (P > 0.05) the T lymphocytes, percentage of T-lymphocyte subpopulations, and natural killer cell activity of piglets during lactation. Supplementing sow diets with 250 mg/kg of OEO during gestation and lactation did not affect the growth potential of and immune responses in suckling piglets.     

Effects of diet for early-weaned crossbred beef steers on metabolic profiles and febrile response to an infectious bovine herpesvirus-1 challenge

Thirty-three early-weaned steers (average age at weaning = 132 days) were used to evaluate effects of protein supplementation of forage diets vs. a 70% concentrate diet fed during a backgrounding phase (84 d) on metabolic profiles and febrile response to an infectious bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) challenge during a receiving phase (27 d). Backgrounding treatments included a bermudagrass hay diet (CTRL); CTRL plus soybean meal (SBM) fed at 0.175% of BW (as-fed); CTRL plus SBM at 0.35% of BW; or a 70% concentrate (CONC) diet. During the receiving phase, all steers were fed CONC and intranasally challenged on d 85 with an infectious dose of BHV-1. Unexpectedly, 3 d after the BHV-1 challenge, serum IgG was greater (P < 0.05) for steers fed forage diets vs. CONC. Three and 4 d after the BHV-1 challenge, rectal temperatures were greater (P < 0.01) for protein-supplemented steers vs. CTRL. We conclude that a higher quality diet fed to early-weaned steers during a backgrounding phase enhances average daily gain and gain to feed ratio, and increases febrile response (measured by rectal temperature) to an infectious BHV-1 respiratory challenge.     

Dietary fiber for pregnant sows: influence on sow physiology and performance during lactation

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding sows a bulky diet during gestation on their physiological and metabolic adaptations during the peripartum period, and to determine how these effects may relate to sow and piglet performances. From d 26 of gestation until farrowing, gilts were fed diets that contained 2.8 or 11.0% crude fiber (control and high-fiber diets, respectively, n = 9/group). Daily feed allowance provided the same amount of DE daily (33 MJ of DE/d). Throughout lactation, sows were allowed to consume a standard lactating sow diet ad libitum. Litters were standardized to 12 piglets beyond 48 h after birth. On d 105 of gestation, a jugular catheter was surgically implanted. Preprandial blood samples were collected from d 109 of gestation to the day after farrowing and on d 4, 18, and 26 of lactation. Meal tests and glucose tolerance tests were performed on d 109 of gestation and d 4 and 18 of lactation. During gestation, BW and backfat gain did not differ between treatment groups. During lactation, sows fed the high-fiber diet ate an average of 0.94 kg/d more than control sows (P < 0.02). Piglets born from sows fed the high-fiber diet grew faster than piglets from control sows (P = 0.03). Body weight and backfat losses did not differ between the 2 treatment groups. Sows fed the high-fiber diet during gestation had lesser concentrations of leptin before farrowing than control sows (P < 0.01). Leptin concentrations were negatively correlated with feed intake during lactation (P < 0.05). The prepartal increase in prolactin concentrations tended to be greater in sows fed the high-fiber diet than in control sows (P < 0.1). Preprandial concentrations of glucose, NEFA, lactate, and IGF-I fluctuated over time without significant treatment effect. Glucose half-life was shorter in late gestation than during both stages of lactation, but did not differ between sows in the 2 groups. In late gestation, the postprandial increases in glucose and insulin were delayed, and smaller, after a high-fiber meal than after a control meal. During lactation, glucose and insulin profiles after a standard meal did not differ between sows from treatment groups. In conclusion, the greater appetite of lactating sows fed a high-fiber diet during gestation does not seem related to changes in glucose and insulin metabolism and may be partly due to decreased secretion of leptin. The greater feed consumption was accompanied by a faster growth rate of piglets without sparing effect on maternal body reserves.     

Riboflavin requirement of lactating swine

Twenty-five crossbred gilts and 25 crossbred sows were used in an experiment to estimate the riboflavin requirement of lactating swine. During gestation the females were fed a 12% crude protein, corn-soybean meal diet that was marginal in riboflavin content, i.e., 2.3 mg/kg. After farrowing, litter size was equalized across lactation diets within each parity category. The basal, 14% crude-protein corn-soybean meal lactation diet was supplemented to provide five levels of dietary riboflavin: 1.25, 2.25, 3.25, 4.25 and 5.25 mg/kg. Five gilts and five sows were fed each dietary treatment. Each dam was provided her assigned diet ad libitum during the 24-d lactation; piglets were not provided supplemental feed. The erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRAC), an indicator of riboflavin status, was measured on blood samples obtained from the dams and their piglets on d 1 and d 24 postpartum. On d 1, the mean EGRAC of gilts was slightly higher than that of sows, while piglet EGRAC was similar regardless of maternal age. On d 24 gilts and their piglets had higher average EGRAC (P less than .01) than did sows and their piglets. Thus, there was a treatment x dam age interaction (P less than .05). Lactation performance criteria gave further evidence of similar treatment x age group interactions. Gilts fed the diet containing 1.25 ppm riboflavin had higher piglet mortality, consumed less feed and lost more weight (P less than .05) for each criterion than did sows fed the same diet. Despite these observations, the broken-line estimates of the riboflavin requirement, based on EGRAC, for gilts and sows were 16.3 and 16.2 mg/d, respectively. The EGRAC values for piglets closely paralleled those of their dams regardless of treatment, suggesting that there is no mechanism to protect the nursing piglets from a maternal dietary deficiency of riboflavin.     

Effects of dietary star anise (Illicium verum Hook f) supplementation during gestation and lactation on the performance of lactating multiparous sows and nursing piglets

Thirty‐two sows were allocated to four treatments to evaluate the effect of dietary star anise (SA) supplementation during gestation and lactation on the lactational performance of sows. At 85 days of gestation, sows were randomly allotted to one of two diets supplemented with 0.5% SA or basal diet. After farrowing, sows were further allotted to one of two lactation diets supplemented with 0.5% SA or basal diet. On a weekly basis, body weight (BW) of sows and piglets was measured. Blood and milk samples were obtained from the sows and piglets. Number of days from weaning to estrus, milk yield and feed intake were also recorded. Weight gain of piglets from sows fed the SA‐supplemented diet during lactation was greater between days 7 and 14, days 14 and 21 and the overall experimental period compared with control groups. Supplementation of SA during lactation improved weaning weight of piglets, milk yield and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of sows. The SA diet increased concentrations of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) in ordinary milk and prolactin (PRL) in serum of sows. In conclusion, this study has indicated the beneficial effects of dietary SA addition in improving the lactation performance of sows.