酿酒酵母培养物对八眉黑猪母猪繁殖性能和仔猪生长性能的影响

本试验旨在研究酿酒酵母培养物对八眉黑猪母猪繁殖性能及仔猪生长性能的影响。选择健康状况良好、体况及预产期相近的八眉黑猪妊娠母猪20头,随机分成2个处理组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组(妊娠母猪、哺乳母猪、断奶仔猪)饲喂基础日粮+0.1%酿酒酵母培养物。试验期从母猪妊娠85 d开始至下次配种结束,仔猪从断奶前一周至70日龄结束。结果得出:日粮中添加0.1%酿酒酵母培养物能显著提高八眉黑猪断奶窝重和断奶均重(P0.05),分别提高了9.73 kg和0.49 kg;哺乳期显著提高了仔猪每头平均日增重23.05 g以及平均窝增重8.97 kg(P0.05);还能够缩短母猪非生产天数(P0.05)。总体来看,日粮中添加0.1%酿酒酵母培养物,可缩短母猪非生产天数,提高仔猪断奶窝重,增加断奶仔猪日增重。     

酵母培养物和寡糖对仔猪生长性能的影响

选择30头平均体重为2.42kg的杜×约二元杂交仔猪,分为A、B、C3组,A组饲喂基础日粮+0.25%酵母培养物+0.05%寡糖;B组饲喂基础日粮+0.15%酵母培养物+0.1%寡糖;C组饲喂基础日粮+80m g/kg金霉素。结果表明,A、B组平均日增重较C组分别提高20.3%(P<0.05)、5.8%;A、B组料重比较C组分别降低17.4%(P<0.05)、11.6%;试验期平均日采食量A组较B、C组分别提高9.8%、5.2%;试验期A、B组较C组每头多盈利25.7元、10.82元。     

酵母培养物和半乳甘露寡糖对育肥猪生长性能的影响

选择45头体重为(25.3±2.3)kg的杜约二元杂种断奶仔猪,按单因子随机试验设计分为A、B、C3组,A、B组为试验组,C组为对照组,每组15头进行94天的饲养试验。A组饲喂基础饲粮+0.2%酵母培养物+0.05%半乳甘露寡糖;B组饲喂基础饲粮+0.15%酵母培养物+0.08%半乳甘露寡糖;C组饲喂基础饲粮+金霉素80mg/kg,各组基础饲粮完全相同。结果表明,试验全期A、B组日增重较C组分别提高9.0%和6.8%,差异显著(P<0.05);料重比A、B组较C组分别降低10.4%和7.6%,差异显著(P<0.05);A、B组较C组每头多盈利33.46元和20.04元,A组较B组多盈利13.42元。     

酵母水解物对母猪生产性能和血液生理生化指标的影响

为研究酵母水解物(AY)对母猪泌乳性能及仔猪生长发育的影响,本试验选取膘情、体重、胎次相近,妊娠108 d左右的健康PIC经产母猪20头,随机分成2组,每组10个重复,每个重复1头。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中添加0.3%的酵母水解物,试验至仔猪21日龄断奶结束。结果表明,与对照组相比,试验组仔猪断奶时存活率、母猪日采食量和泌乳量分别提高7.49%(P<0.05)、3.8%(P<0.05)和14.9%(P<0.01);试验组母猪血清中尿氮含量增加61.6%(P<0.05),总蛋白、白蛋白的含量变化不显著(P>0.05);必需氨基酸中,蛋氨酸水平有增加的趋势(0.050.05);非必需氨基酸中,试验组母猪血浆中谷氨酰胺比对照组显著提高50.75%(P<0.05),此外,血浆中脯氨酸、甘氨酸、天冬氨酸、羟脯氨酸、组氨酸和丙氨酸含量均有上升趋势(0.05相似文献   

日粮中添加酵母培养物对断奶仔猪生长性能的影响

选取21日龄的杜×长×大三元杂交断奶仔猪150头,随机分成3组,每组设2个重复,每个重复25头。A组（对照组）饲喂基础日粮;B组和C组分别在基础日粮中添加0.05%和0.10%的酵母培养物。试验结果表明：①C组的日增重显著高于A组（P<0.05）,B、C组之间差异不显著（P>0.05）;②C组的采食量显著高于A组（P<0.05）;③随着酵母培养物添加量的增加,料重比有下降的趋势;④C组的腹泻头数比对照组有明显减少,死亡淘汰数也有明显降低。     

蛋白营养粉对断奶仔猪生长性能和蓝耳病毒抗体效价的影响

选取160头23日龄断奶仔猪,随机分成A、B、C、D 4组,每组4个重复,每个重复10头,A组为对照组,饲喂基础日粮,B、C、D组为试验组,分别饲喂用蛋白营养粉以1%、2%、3%的添加量等比例替代基础日粮中鱼粉的日粮,研究蛋白营养粉替代鱼粉对仔猪生长性能和蓝耳病毒抗体效价的影响。试验期21 d。试验结果表明:试验前期(1～10 d),对照组平均日增重、料重比均优于各试验组,其中料肉比显著低于2%替代组(P<0.05);试验后期(11～21 d),1%替代组的平均日增重、平均日采食量、料重比等指标均优于对照组(P>0.05),2%替代组的平均日增重、平均日采食量、料重比较对照组差,但差异不明显(P>0.05);全期试验中,1%、2%替代组仔猪生长性能与对照组无显著差异(P>0.05),试验组腹泻率较对照组无显著差异(P>0.05),试验组的蓝耳病毒抗体阳性率和抗体效价较对照组均有所提高。     

赐美健制剂对断奶仔猪生产性能的影响

为了观测赐美健制剂对断奶仔猪生长性能及腹泻率的影响,选择60头30±2日龄体重相近的健康长×大断奶仔猪,随机分为3组,一个对照组(A组),饲喂基础日粮,两个试验组(B组和C组),分别饲喂赐美健制剂,每组两个重复,试验期为20 d.结果表明,头均日增重试验组显著高于对照组(P<0.01),B组和C组仔猪平均日增重分别为448.5g和439.6g,比对照组提高11.04%和8.84%;料肉比B组和C组比A组分别降低11.73%和8.38%;腹泻率试验组极显著低于对照组(P<0.01),分别降低10.5%和8.25%.试验表明赐美健制剂能够提高断奶仔猪的生长速度和降低其腹泻率,为推广使用该产品提供了科学依据.     

日粮中添加缬氨酸对泌乳母猪生产性能及其仔猪生长性能的影响

本试验旨在研究母猪日粮中添加缬氨酸对泌乳母猪乳成分、采食量、背膘厚、断奶后发情问隔和哺乳仔猪生长性能的影响.选取预产期、胎次、体况相近,健康状况良好的长白×大约克母猪32头,随机分为4个组,每组8个重复,每个重复1头母猪,对照组、试验组1、试验组2和试验组3分别饲喂基础日粮(含赖氨酸0.93%、缬氨酸0.84%)、基础日粮+0.10%缬氨酸、基础日粮+0.25%缬氨酸和基础日粮+0.40%缬氨酸.试验期从妊娠107 d到仔猪21日龄断奶结束.结果表明:第1天和第14天,添加缬氨酸极显著提高了母猪乳中乳脂、乳蛋白、总固形物和非脂固形物的含量(P<0.01),极显著降低了乳糖的含量(P<0.01),其中试验组2效果最好;母猪日粮中添加缬氨酸提高了仔猪断奶窝重和断奶窝增重,其中试验组2的这2项指标分别比对照组提高了14.92%(P<0.05)和22.17%(P<0.05),效果最好;添加缬氨酸对母猪泌乳1～5 d、6～10 d、11～15 d、16～21 d以及全期的采食量、泌乳期背膘厚、断奶后至冉发情的间隔天数无显著影响(P>0.05).因此,母猪日粮中添加缬氨酸町促进泌乳,改善乳品质,从而提高哺乳仔猪的生长性能.在本试验条件下,使仔猪获得最大断奶窝重和断奶窝增重的母猪开粮缬氨酸含量为1.09%.     

酵母培养物对母猪生产性能的影响

为研究在母猪饲粮中添加酵母培养物对母猪繁殖性能及哺乳仔猪生长性能的影响,选择3～5胎的健康妊娠新美系原种母猪18头,随机分为3组,每组6头母猪（杜洛克、大约克、长白各2头）。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,两个试验组母猪于临产前15 d和哺乳期分别在基础饲粮中添加0.1%、0.2%的酵母培养物。试验结果表明,0.1%、0.2%酵母培养物组的哺乳母猪日采食量、窝产活仔数比对照组有所提高,但差异不显著（P〉0.05）;仔猪初生重和初生窝重与对照组相比,0.1%酵母培养物组有小幅度提高（P〉0.05）0,.2%酵母培养物组有所降低（P〉0.05）;健仔率与对照组相比,0.1%酵母培养物组差异不显著（P〉0.05）0,.2%酵母培养物组差异显著（P〈0.05）;0.1%、0.2%酵母培养物组仔猪断奶重分别比对照组提高11.92%（P〈0.01）、7.08%（P〈0.05）,日增重分别提高14.87%（P〈0.01）、11.68%（P〈0.05）,仔猪成活率分别提高9.13%（P〈0.05）、6.87%（P〈0.05）,断奶窝重分别提高24.44%（P〈0.01）、21.14%（P〈0.01）。结论是,在母猪妊娠后期及泌乳期饲粮中添加酵母培养物可以提高母猪繁殖性能及哺乳仔猪生长性能。     

生物蛋白粉替代血浆蛋白粉对断奶仔猪生产性能的影响

选择24日龄断奶的杜×长×大仔猪60头,按随机区组设计分成对照组、试验A组和试验B组,每组29头。28日龄开始,对照组饲喂市售哺乳仔猪料,试验A组饲喂含4%的血浆蛋白粉(SDPP)的饲粮,试验B组饲喂用4%的生物蛋白粉(BP1)替代SDPP的饲粮,试期10d。结果表明,用等量的BP1替代断奶仔猪饲粮中的SDPP,猪日增重分别比对照组和试验A组(SDPP组)提高7.60%和16.07%(P>0.05);平均日采食量分别增加20g和5g,增重的饲料消耗分别减少30g/kg和170g/kg;饲料效率分别提高2.54%和14.41%,增重的饲料成本分别降低1.95元/kg和0.77元/kg。     

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.     

Reproductive performance of sows supplemented with dietary L-carnitine over three reproductive cycles.

The effect of L-carnitine supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the reproductive performance of sows was studied in two separate trials over three reproductive cycles. Both trials were identical in design and conduct but were performed with different animals. The trials comprised of a total of 127 sows (trial 1) and 100 sows (trial 2) which were divided into control and treatment groups. All animals were fed individually and received basic feed mixtures with low native carnitine concentrations. The rations of the sows in the treated group were supplemented with 125 mg L-carnitine per head and day during pregnancy and 250 mg L-carnitine per head and day during lactation. The animals of the control group received identical feed mixtures in identical amounts, but without the L-carnitine supplement. In the first trial, 212 litters were produced and evaluated for number and body weight of the animals, in the second trial, 173 litters were produced. L-carnitine supplementation significantly increased body weight gains of the sows between day 1 and day 85 of weaning. The number of born piglets, stillborn piglets and piglets fit for rearing was not influenced by dietary L-carnitine supplementation. However, L-carnitine supplementation significantly increased the weights of piglets and litters at birth, weight gains of litters during suckling and weights of litters at weaning. These effects of L-carnitine were seen in both trials; they were independent of the age of the sows and remained over three reproductive cycles in which the sows where continuously treated with L-carnitine. Overall, the study shows that dietary supplementation with L-carnitine during pregnancy and lactation improves the reproductive performance of sows over several reproductive cycles, independent of the age of the sows.     

日粮中添加茴香和大蒜素对母猪初乳抗氧化特性及仔猪早期生长性能的影响

通过在母猪妊娠后期和哺乳前期的日粮中添加茴香或大蒜素,来研究茴香和大蒜素对母猪初乳抗氧化特性及仔猪早期生长的影响。选取健康的经产母猪36头,将母猪随机地分为3组,其中对照组母猪21头,茴香组母猪7头,大蒜组母猪8头。从母猪的妊娠后期(产前第30天)至哺乳前期(产后第7天),日粮中分别添加300 mg/kg的茴香或大蒜素。结果显示:茴香组和大蒜素组母猪初乳中的T-SOD含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),茴香组母猪初乳中的MDA含量显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。同时,茴香组母猪所产仔猪的出生重极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),7日龄时的体重也显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。试验表明,茴香能够增强母猪初乳的抗氧化性能,改善仔猪的早期生长性能。     

饲粮添加吡咯喹啉醌对围产期母猪繁殖性能和抗氧化功能的影响

本试验旨在比较吡咯喹啉醌(PQQ)与维生素E和有机硒对围产期母猪繁殖性能和抗氧化功能的影响。选用40头体重和背膘厚接近且妊娠90 d的第3胎大约克母猪,随机分为2组,每组20头。对照组在基础饲粮中添加60 mg/kg维生素E和0.20 mg/kg有机硒,试验组在基础饲粮中添加1 mg/kg PQQ。试验期为妊娠第90天至分娩后第7天。结果表明:与对照组相比,饲粮添加PQQ对母猪产程、产仔数、产活仔数及仔猪初生窝重、仔猪平均初生重以及产后7 d仔猪平均日增重均无显著影响(P0.05),但数值上有所升高;饲粮添加PQQ显著提高了初生仔猪和母猪血清总超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性及还原型谷胱甘肽含量(P0.05),显著降低了血清丙二醛含量(P0.05),对血清过氧化氢酶活性、总抗氧化能力及氧化型谷胱甘肽含量均无显著影响(P0.05)。综合得出,围产期饲粮中添加PQQ较维生素E和有机硒对母猪繁殖性能无显著影响,能显著增强围产期母猪及初生仔猪的血清抗氧化功能。     

Live yeast supplementation during late gestation and lactation affects reproductive performance,colostrum and milk composition,blood biochemical and immunological parameters of sows

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary live yeast (LY) supplementation during late gestation and lactation on reproductive performance, colostrum and milk composition, blood biochemical and immunological parameters of sows. A total of 40 multiparous sows were randomly fed either the control (CON) diet or the CON diet supplemented with LY at 1 g/kg from d 90 of gestation to weaning. Results showed that the number of stillborn piglets and low BW piglets were significantly decreased in the LY-supplemented sows compared with sows in the CON group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the concentrations of protein, lactose and solids-not-fat were increased in the colostrum of LY-supplemented sows (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT) at d 1 of lactation and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at weaning day were decreased by feeding LY diet (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, sows fed LY diet had higher plasma concentration of immunoglobulin G compared with sows fed CON diet at d 1 of lactation (P < 0.05). In conclusion, LY supplementation in maternal diets decreased the number of stillborn piglets and low BW piglets, improved colostrum quality and health status of sows.     

不同剂型酸化剂对哺乳母猪生产性能、初乳成分和肠道菌群结构的影响

本试验旨在比较2种不同剂型酸化剂对哺乳母猪生产性能、初乳成分和肠道菌群结构的影响。试验选择30头体况相近、预产期接近的2~4胎长大二元杂交母猪,随机分成3个组,每组10个重复,每个重复1头母猪。在试验期间各组母猪分别饲喂基础饲粮(对照组)、基础饲粮+0.3%吸附型酸化剂(A组)、基础饲粮+0.1%微囊型酸化剂(B组)。预试期7 d(母猪分娩前7天)、正试期26 d(从母猪分娩开始至泌乳结束)。结果表明:与对照组相比,A组和B组母猪的泌乳期平均日采食量分别提高4.9%(P0.05)和5.3%(P0.05),仔猪断奶均重分别提高2.6%(P0.05)和7.4%(P0.05)。A组和B组的母猪初乳中乳脂、乳蛋白、尿氮素、免疫球蛋白G和免疫球蛋白A含量均高于对照组(P0.05),而乳糖含量则低于对照组(P0.05)。与对照组相比,B组母猪饲粮蛋白质消化率显著提高(P0.05),且粪便中大肠杆菌数量显著降低(P0.05);A组母猪粪便中大肠杆菌数量显著降低(P0.05)。由此可见,微囊型酸化剂在提高仔猪断奶重以及哺乳母猪饲粮蛋白质消化率和改善肠道菌群结构方面有一定功效,而吸附型酸化剂在改善哺乳母猪肠道菌群结构方面有一定功效。     

复合益生菌对早期断奶仔猪生长性能和体液免疫水平的影响研究

为研究枯草芽胞杆菌、酵母菌和乳酸菌三者组合的复合益生菌对早期断奶仔猪生长性能和体液免疫水平的影响,选取"杜×长×大"三元杂交断奶仔猪40头,分为对照组、试验A组、试验B组和试验C组,每组10头,试验A组、试验B组和试验C组与基础饲粮按质量比分别添加1.0‰、2.0‰和3.0‰复合益生菌,对照组不添加复合益生菌,以评价复合益生菌对早期断奶仔猪生长性能、免疫器官指数、血液生理指标和血清生化指标的影响。结果表明,试验B组和试验C组末重极显著高于试验A组和对照组(P<0.01),试验C组平均日增重极显著高于试验A组、试验B组和对照组(P<0.01),对照组和试验B组腹泻率极显著高于试验A组和试验C组(P<0.01);在免疫器官指数上,试验B组、试验C组和对照组腹股沟淋巴结指数显著高于试验A组(P<0.05),试验A组、试验B组脾脏指数显著高于试验C组(P<0.05),试验各组肾脏指数均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),试验A组胸腺指数显著高于试验B组和试验C组(P<0.05);在生理水平上,试验组仔猪血液中,中间粒细胞比率、粒细胞比率、中间细胞数量、粒细胞数量、红细胞数量、血红蛋白、红细胞平均体积以及血小板数量低于对照组,且大部分指标表现为差异显著(P<0.05),淋巴细胞比率高于对照组,但差异不显著(P>0.05);在生化水平上,试验B组和试验C组谷草转氨酶含量显著高于对照组和试验A组(P<0.05)。试验结果表明,枯草芽胞杆菌、酵母菌、乳酸菌三者组合的复合益生菌与基础饲粮混合可提高早期断奶仔猪生长性能和体液免疫功能。     

不同形式补铁补硒对仔猪生长性能、血液生化指标、免疫性能的影响

[目的] 比较母猪和仔猪不同形式的补铁补硒对仔猪生产性能、血液生化指标、免疫性能的影响。[方法] 将32头母猪随机分为8组,每组4头,1~4组基础日粮中添加硫酸亚铁和亚硒酸钠,5~8组基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸。2组和6组母猪所产仔猪于3日龄肌注铁硒合剂;3组和7组仔猪基础日粮中添加硫酸亚铁和亚硒酸钠;4组和8组仔猪基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸;1组和5组仔猪饲喂基础日粮,不接受任何形式的补铁补硒。母猪预产期前30 d开始饲喂试验日粮,仔猪7日龄时开始饲喂试验日粮,试验至仔猪21日龄断奶结束。测定并比较不同组别仔猪生长性能指标、血液生化指标以及免疫性能指标,以及不同组别母猪初乳和常乳中的铁硒含量。[结果] 在仔猪补铁补硒形式相同的条件下,母猪基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸（5~8组）与基础日粮中补充硫酸亚铁和亚硒酸钠（1~4组）相比,能够显著（P<0.05）或极显著（P<0.01）提高仔猪的初生重、断奶重、断奶存活率、断奶合格率,2日龄和21日龄血浆铁含量、血浆硒含量、血红蛋白含量、血浆转铁蛋白含量、IgA含量、IgG含量、IgM含量,以及母猪初乳和常乳中的铁硒含量;在2种形式的母猪补铁补硒条件下,与不补铁补硒相比,仔猪不同补铁补硒形式（2~4组和6~8组）对其断奶重、断奶存活率、断奶合格率,以及21日龄血浆铁含量、血浆硒含量、血红蛋白含量、血浆转铁蛋白含量、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性、IgA含量、IgG含量、IgM含量均有极显著（P<0.01）的提高作用,并且仔猪基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸的效果优于肌注铁硒合剂和基础日粮中补充硫酸亚铁和亚硒酸钠。[结论] 母猪和仔猪基础日粮中添加甘氨酸螯合铁和硒代蛋氨酸,能有效提升仔猪的生长性能、血液生化指标和免疫性能。     

Effects of dietary arginine supplementation during gestation and lactation on the performance of lactating primiparous sows and nursing piglets

A 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized block design was used to determine the effects of dietary Arg supplementation during gestation and lactation on the lactation performance of 38 first-parity sows. At 30 d of gestation, pregnant gilts were allotted based on BW to 1 of 2 diets supplemented with 1% L-Arg.HCl or 1.7% L-Ala (isonitrogenous control). After farrowing, sows were further allotted based on BW within previous gestation treatment groups to 1 of 2 lactation diets supplemented with 1% L-Arg.HCl or 1.7% L-Ala (isonitrogenous control). All gestation diets contained 3.1 Mcal/kg and 12.2% CP (as is) and were fed 2 kg/d in 2 equally sized meals, whereas all lactation diets contained 3.2 Mcal/kg and 18.6% CP (as is) and were fed ad libitum. Litter size was standardized to 10 piglets by cross-fostering within 24 h postfarrowing. On a weekly basis, BW and backfat (BF) thickness of sows, as well as piglet BW were measured, and blood and milk samples were obtained from the sows. Number of days from weaning to estrus and ADFI were also recorded. There were no differences in BW, BF thickness, ADFI, or days until return to estrus among treatment groups. There was no effect of the gestation diet or a gestation x lactation diet interaction on any parameter measured. On d 7 of lactation, plasma concentrations of Arg and insulin in sows, as well as concentrations of most AA in milk, were greater (P < 0.05) in response to Arg supplementation during lactation compared with the control. Weight gain of piglets from sows fed the Arg-supplemented diet during lactation was greater between d 0 and 7 (P < 0.01) and between d 0 and 21 (P < 0.05) of lactation compared with piglets from sows fed the control diet. Collectively, results from this study indicate the potential beneficial effects of dietary Arg supplementation in improving the lactation performance of first-parity sows.     

Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on antioxidative ability and performance of sows and nursing piglets

The current study was carried out to determine the effects of alpha‐lipoic acid (LA) supplementation during late‐gestation and lactation on antioxidative ability and performance of sows and their nursing piglets. A total of 160 multiparous sows were randomly allocated to four treatments with 40 replicates per treatment according to parity number and backfat (BF) thickness. Sows were fed 1 of 4 diets from day 85 of gestation to day 21 of lactation. Diets were control without LA; 400 ppm LA supplementation; 600 ppm LA supplementation; and 800 ppm LA supplementation. BF thickness of sows was determined on day 85 and 110 of gestation and days 1 and 21 of lactation. Piglet bodyweight was measured at birth, days 7, 14 and 21. Blood samples were obtained from the sows, and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the sows during lactation was recorded. There were no differences in BF thickness or ADFI among treatment groups. Dietary LA supplementation resulted in a decrease in blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.01) concentration at days 110 of gestation. Dietary 800 ppm LA increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity (p < 0.05) and reduced maleic dialdehyde levels (p < 0.01) of sows compared with the control diet at days 21 of lactation. Alpha‐lipoic acid supplementation increased the birthweight and weaning weight of piglets (p < 0.01) compared with the control group. Weight gains of piglets from sows fed the 800 ppm LA diets were greater (p < 0.01) between days 7 and 14 compared with piglets from control sows. Weight gains of piglets from sows fed the LA‐supplemented diets were greater between days 14 and 21 (p < 0.05) and between days 1 and 21 (p < 0.01) compared with piglets from control‐fed sows. In conclusion, the results indicate that antioxidant LA was effective in enhancing antioxidant enzymes activity and improving the performance of sows and their nursing piglets.