Cysteamine improves growth performance and gastric ghrelin expression in preweaning piglets

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of cysteamine on growth performance of preweaning piglets and gastric expression of ghrelin mRNA in vivo and in vitro. Twelve litters of newborn piglets were allocated randomly to control and treatment groups. From 15 d of age, piglets in the control group were fed basal creep diet, whereas the treatment group received basal diet supplemented with 120 mg cysteamine per kg of diet until weaning on 35 d of age. Body weight gain, creep feed consumption, and diarrhea rates were recorded, and gastric mucosal tissues were collected for quantifying mRNA expression. To evaluate the direct effect of cysteamine on gastric ghrelin expression, primary cultures of gastric mucosal cells isolated from 35-d-old piglets were exposed to cysteamine for 20 h at 0, 1, 10, and 100 μg/mL, respectively. Dietary cysteamine increased (P < 0.05) average daily creep feed consumption and BW gain in preweaning pigs, which was accompanied by reduction in diarrhea rates. At 35 d of age, piglets treated with cysteamine showed increased (P < 0.05) ghrelin and gastrin and decreased (P < 0.05) somatostatin mRNA expression in gastric mucosa. Moreover, dietary cysteamine treatment increased serum concentration of gastrin (P < 0.05). In vitro, cysteamine significantly increased ghrelin mRNA expression in gastric mucosal cells at the concentration of 10 μg/mL. In conclusion, dietary cysteamine is effective in improving the growth performance and health condition of preweaning piglets, which is associated with its stimulatory effects on gastric ghrelin mRNA expression both in vivo and in vitro.     

日粮中添加多肽菌素对妊娠母猪繁殖性能和新生仔猪生长性能的影响

试验旨在研究母猪日粮中添加多肽菌素对妊娠母猪繁殖性能和新生仔猪生长性能的影响。试验选取胎次、体况相近,预产期前45 d的母猪23头,随机分为2组,试验组12头,对照组11头。每头母猪单栏饲喂,作为一个重复。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中添加2 g/kg多肽菌素。试验期69 d(妊娠期45 d,哺乳期24 d)。结果表明:(1)试验组母猪窝产仔总数比对照组高2.98%,窝产活仔数比对照组高4.98%,窝产健仔数比对照组高6.95%,健仔率比对照组高3.90%,但差异均不显著(P0.05)。(2)试验组仔猪初生窝重、初生个体重、断奶窝重、断奶个体重、平均窝增重及平均个体增重均比对照组显著提高(P0.05);(3)试验组仔猪初生窝重均匀度及断奶窝重均匀度分别比对照组提高32.23%和38.78%,差异极显著(P0.01)。说明妊娠母猪日粮添加2 g/kg多肽菌素可提高妊娠母猪繁殖性能和初生仔猪生长性能,提高生猪养殖的实际效益。     

Effects of magnesium on the performance of sows and their piglets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental magnesium (Mg) on the performance of gilts and parity 3 sows and their piglets. Fifty-six gilts (Trial 1) and 56 sows (Trial 2) were assigned to one of 4 treatments according to their mating weight, respectively. The treatments comprised corn-soybean meal based gestation and lactation diets (0.21% magnesium) supplemented with 0, 0.015, 0.03, or 0.045% Mg from mating until weaning. The results showed that magnesium supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the weaning to estrus interval in both gilts and sows. There were significant effects (P < 0.05) of supplemental magnesium on the total number of piglets born, born alive and weaned in sows. In late gestation and lactation, the digestibility of crude fiber (quadratic effects, P < 0.05), and crude protein (P < 0.05), were significantly influenced by magnesium in gilts and sows, respectively. There were differences among the 4 groups in terms of the apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude fiber in sows (P < 0.05) during both early and late gestation. The apparent digestibility of gross energy was increased for sows in late gestation (P < 0.05), and lactation (quadratic effects, P < 0.05). At farrowing and weaning, serum prolactin levels and alkaline phosphate activities linearly increased in sows as the Mg supplementation increased (P < 0.05). Serum Mg of sows at farrowing and serum urea nitrogen of sows at weaning was significantly influenced by Mg supplementation (P < 0.05). The Mg concentration in sow colostrum and the serum of their piglets were increased by supplemental magnesium (P < 0.05). In addition, growth hormone levels were linearly elevated (P < 0.05) in the serum of piglets suckling sows. Our data demonstrated that supplemental magnesium has the potential to improve the reproduction performance of sows, and the suitable supplemental dose ranged from 0.015% to 0.03%.     

Effects of magnesium on the performance of sows and their piglets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental magnesium(Mg) on the performance of gilts and parity 3 sows and their piglets.Fifty-six gilts(Trial 1) and 56 sows(Trial 2) were assigned to one of 4treatments according to their mating weight,respectively.The treatments comprised corn-soybean meal based gestation and lactation diets(0.21%magnesium) supplemented with 0,0.015,0.03,or 0.045%Mg from mating until weaning.The results showed that magnesium supplementation significantly(P 0.05) reduced the weaning to estrus interval in both gilts and sows.There were significant effects(P 0.05) of supplemental magnesium on the total number of piglets born,born alive and weaned in sows.In late gestation and lactation,the digestibility of crude fiber(quadratic effects,P 0.05),and crude protein(P 0.05),were significantly influenced by magnesium in gilts and sows,respectively.There were differences among the 4 groups in terms of the apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude fiber in sows(P 0.05) during both early and late gestation.The apparent digestibility of gross energy was increased for sows in late gestation(P 0.05),and lactation(quadratic effects,P 0.05).At farrowing and weaning,serum prolactin levels and alkaline phosphate activities linearly increased in sows as the Mg supplementation increased(P 0.05).Serum Mg of sows at farrowing and serum urea nitrogen of sows at weaning was significantly influenced by Mg supplementation(P 0.05).The Mg concentration in sow colostrum and the serum of their piglets were increased by supplemental magnesium(P 0.05).In addition,growth hormone levels were linearly elevated(P 0.05) in the serum of piglets suckling sows.Our data demonstrated that supplemental magnesium has the potential to improve the reproduction performance of sows,and the suitable supplemental dose ranged from 0.015%to 0.03%.     

Effects of sow-crate design on health and performance of sows and piglets

The effects of sow-crate design on certain health and performance traits of 211 sows and their piglets were evaluated with a 2 X 2 X 4 factorial arrangement of crate width (narrow [N = 55 cm] or wide [W = 64] between lowest horizontal pipes), length (short [S = 183 cm] or long [L = 198] from rump stop to front gate) and side type (lower side of sow crate "fingered" [F], "bowed" bottom bar--marking the sow zone 19.3 cm wider at the bottom--20 cm above the floor [B], or straight bottom bar 20 cm [S20] or 25 cm above the floor [S25]). Between d 107 to 110 postcoitum and d 21 postpartum, no crate design variable affected the sow's body-weight change, but side type tended to affect the most prominent head-neck and leg integumentary lesions. Number of stillborn piglets/litter was greater with W crates than with N, except with crates having S20 sides, and was greater with L crates than with S. More piglets were crushed to death in W crates than N crates, and stillbirth frequency was greater in L crates than in S, but overall preweaning piglet mortality was affected by no crate-design feature. At both 7 and 21 d of age, piglets' knee lesions were most severe with S20 crates and least with S25, whereas face-lesion score was unaffected by crate design. Piglet body weight at age 21 d was least with S20 crates and greatest with F and S25. No crate-design variable affected within-litter variation in piglet growth rate. Sow-crate design affected important health and performance traits of piglets through postnatal d 21.     

“复方女贞子散”对繁殖母猪生产性能与哺乳仔猪生长性能的影响

为研究产前饲喂中药"复方女贞子散"对繁殖母猪和哺乳仔猪生产性能的影响,试验选择20头胎次相同、配种日期接近的妊娠长白母猪,随机分为2组,每组10头。在基础日粮与饲养环境相同的情况下,试验组母猪从预产期前30d开始每天每头添加30"g复方女贞子散",连喂30d,对照组母猪不添加任何药物,均按常规饲养,并连续观察至仔猪40日龄断奶时结束,试验结果表明:试验组母猪的产活仔数、成活率、初生重与断奶重均比对照组高,仔猪初生重较对照组提高24.04%,40日龄重较对照组提高18.07%,日增重较对照组提高17.32%,均达极显著水平(P<0.01)。仔猪腹泻的次数试验组比对照组显著降低。本试验结果表明,中药"复方女贞子散"可以增强母猪和新生仔猪的抗病能力,显著提高繁殖母猪与哺乳仔猪的生产性能。     

Socializing piglets before weaning: effects on behavior of lactating sows, pre- and postweaning behavior, and performance of piglets

This study evaluated how socializing piglets before weaning affects behavior of lactating sows and the pre- and postweaning behavior and performance of piglets. Two farrowing rooms, each with 6 pens, and 1 nursery with 4 pens were used. In total, data were obtained from 24 sows and their litters. In each farrowing room, the solid barriers between 3 farrowing pens were removed on d 12 after farrowing, and the sows remained confined in their crates (experimental group). In the other 3 farrowing pens of each farrowing room, sows and their litters were kept under conventional conditions until weaning (control group). All piglets were weaned 28 d after birth. After weaning, piglets from each group remained together in 1 pen of the nursery. The behavior of sows (lying, standing, sitting, nursing) and piglets (lying, active, suckling) in the farrowing rooms was observed for 24 h before and for 48 h after removal of the barriers between the pens. In addition, behavior (active, lying, feeding, agonistic behavior) of piglets was observed in the nursery during the initial 48-h period after weaning. Each piglet was weighed on d 5, 12, and 28 after birth and thereafter weekly until the fifth week of rearing. In the farrowing room, mixing of litters did not influence behavior of piglets and sows. Preweaning weight gain of the piglets did not differ (P = 0.60) between the treatments. In the initial 48 h after weaning, less agonistic behavior (P < 0.001) was observed in piglets belonging to the experimental group. During 5 wk of rearing, piglets in the experimental group gained more weight compared with the control group (P = 0.05). The advantage shown by the experimental group became especially conspicuous in the first week after weaning (P = 0.05). By socializing unfamiliar piglets before weaning, stress due to mixing could at least be distanced in time from the other burdens of weaning, thereby improving performance.     

Effects of farrowing crate floors on health and performance of piglets and sows

Three types of raised perforated floor were compared with floor-level concrete which had perforated flooring at the rear. Piglets on raised perforated floors grew faster (P less than 0.05) to 21 days than pigs on mainly solid floors (205 g/day and 198 g/day, respectively). The mortality in the first 21 days of all pigs born did not differ between raised (18.4 per cent) and mainly solid floors (18.7 per cent) and there were no effects of individual floor types on overall survival or on deaths due to crushing. The incidence of diarrhoea was not significantly less on raised than on solid floors (27 per cent and 34 per cent of litters, respectively) but antibiotic treatment time was shortened (0.9 days and 1.2 days, P less than 0.05). The incidence of splayleg was highest on fibreglass slats. Concrete floors caused most knee abrasions but the incidence of arthritis was unaffected. Approximately twice as many sows on mainly solid floors went off their feed or had a high rectal temperature compared with sows on raised perforated floors. No differences were observed between narrow or A-frame farrowing crates.     

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。     

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.     

Effects of oral doses of corn oil and other factors on preweaning survival and growth of piglets

Piglets were provided supplemental energy as oral doses of corn oil to find whether such treatment might improve survival or weight gains. A total of 1,840 piglets from 182 litters was used. Piglets were allotted to dosed and control treatments within litter on the basis of body weight. Dosed piglets received a total of 8 ml of corn oil in four doses during the first 48 h postpartum. The survival rate to weaning was high and not affected (P greater than .10) by the corn oil doses. Deaths of piglets low in birth weight were delayed by the fat doses, suggesting some utilization. The fat doses did not affect piglet weight gain. Factors affecting preweaning survival and growth of piglets were also evaluated using data from the same piglets. Specific factors investigated were sex, parity of dam, birth weight, litter size and the mean and standard deviation of piglet birth weights within litters. Male piglets were heavier at birth than females, but there was no sex effect on weight at 7 d or at weaning. Small males were less likely to survive to 3 d than were small females. Litters from primiparous sows were smaller at birth and weaning, but had lower percentages of stillbirths and of preweaning deaths than did those from multiparous sows. Piglets from primiparous sows were more uniform in birth weight. Piglets that were heavier at birth grew faster and were more likely to survive. Litter size affected growth but not survival of piglets. A heavier average birth weight in the litter reduced slightly the growth rate of individual piglets. An increase in variability of piglet birth weight within a litter was associated with an increase of the percentages of stillbirths and of preweaning mortality. A few litters accounted for a major portion of the mortality. Much of the variation in piglet mortality and growth was not explained by factors considered.     

凝结芽孢杆菌制剂对仔猪生长性能的影响

凝结芽孢杆菌除具有一般乳酸菌的维持肠道微生态平衡,刺激免疫,促进动物消化等益生作用外,还具有耐高温、耐酸和耐胆盐等高抗逆性,且具有较强的抑制肠道致病菌能力。选择21日龄仔猪,体重在6 kg左右90头,公母各半,分成三个组,分别为对照组（饲喂教槽料）,试验组1组（饲喂添加0.1%凝结芽孢杆菌制剂）、试验2组（饲喂添加0.2%凝结芽孢杆菌制剂）,每组30头,每组3个重复,试验期为10 d。试验结果表明：试验期间仔猪的毛色状态和精神状态指标较对照组均有所改善,试验组2平均日增重与试验组1和对照组相比差异显著（P＜0.05）,腹泻率和死亡率也有所下降,在添加量为0.2%凝结芽孢杆菌的日粮中效果优于添加量为0.1%的日粮。     

饲料中添加发酵豆粕对仔猪生长性能的影响

试验选择母猪胎次、初生体重相近的杜长大三元杂交哺乳仔猪24窝,随机分为对照组,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组,每组八窝。对照组饲喂常规乳猪料,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组分别饲喂添加10%、20%发酵豆粕的乳猪料,研究发酵豆粕对仔猪生长性能的影响。结果表明试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组仔猪平均日增重、平均日采食量均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),而料肉比、腹泻率显著低于对照组(P<0.05);试验组Ⅱ平均日增重、平均日采食量高于试验组Ⅰ,料肉比、腹泻率低于试验组Ⅰ,但二者之间差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

低聚寡糖对仔猪生产性能的影响

通过在基础日粮中分别添加 2种不同寡聚糖和抗生素比较其对仔猪的生长性能、腹泻率及料重比的影响。选用 9窝 72头平均日龄为 41d的长白×皮特兰×枫泾三元杂交断奶仔猪进行试验。试验分 3组 ,每组 2个重复。对照组 (Ⅰ )为抗生素组 ,试验组Ⅱ为甘露寡糖组 ,试验组Ⅲ为低聚果糖组。 2 8d的饲养试验表明 :Ⅱ、Ⅲ组在试验 1～ 4周全程体增重分别为 (6 2 5± 1 81 )kg和 (6 0 3± 2 59)kg ,日增重分别为 (2 2 3 0 7±64 54)g和 (2 1 5 33± 1 0 0 91 )g,均显著高于Ⅰ组体增重 (5 36± 2 0 6)kg和日增重 (1 91 37± 73 55)g(P <0 0 5) ;Ⅰ组的腹泻率为 (4 90±4 48) % ,低于Ⅱ组 (5 64± 4 40 ) %和Ⅲ组 (6 37± 5 33) % ,Ⅲ组腹泻较严重 ,但各组间差异不显著 (P >0 0 5) ;1～ 4周试验全程Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组的料重比分别为 (2 0 0± 0 2 5)和 (2 0 9± 0 0 8) ,均显著低于Ⅰ组 (2 41± 0 1 3) (P <0 0 5)。结果表明 :Ⅱ、Ⅲ组低聚寡糖的使用效果明显优于Ⅰ组抗生素。寡聚糖在一定程度上可替代抗生素 ,且不同低聚寡糖的饲喂效果存在差异。     

Metabolomic analysis of longissimus from underperforming piglets relative to piglets with normal preweaning growth

Background: Recent increases in intra-litter variability in weaning weight have raised swine production costs. A contributor to this variability is the normal birth weight pig that grows at a slower rate than littermates of similar birth weight. The goal of this study was to interrogate biochemical profiles manifested in skeletal muscle originating from slow growing(SG) and faster growing littermates(control), with the aim of identifying differences in metabolic pathway utilization between skeletal muscle of the SG pig relative to its littermates. Samples of longissimus muscle from littermate pairs of pigs were collected at 21 d of age for metabolomic analysis.Results: Birth weights did not differ between littermate pairs of SG and Control pigs(P 0.05). Weaning weights differed by 1.51 ± 0.19 kg(P 0.001). Random forest(RF) analysis was effective at segregating the metabolome of muscle samples by growth rate, resulting in a predictive accuracy of 81% versus random segregation(50%).Decreases in sugars in the pentose phosphate pathway(PPP) in the longissimus of SG pigs were detected(P 0.05). Decreases were also apparent in glycolytic intermediates(glycerol-3-phosphate and lactate) and key glycolysis-derived intermediates(glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate; P 0.05). SG pigs had increased levels of phospholipids, lysolipids, diacylglycerols, and sphingolipids(P 0.05). Pathway analysis identified a cluster of molecules associated with muscle and collagen/extracellular matrix breakdown that are increased in the SG pig(glutamate, 3-methylhistidine and hydroxylated proline moieties; P 0.05). Nicotinate metabolism was altered in SG pigs, resulting in a 78% decrease in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide pool(P 0.05).Conclusions: These metabolomic data provide the first evidence for biochemical mechanisms that should be investigated to determine if they have a potential role in the slow growth in some normal birth weight piglets that contribute to increased intra-litter variability in weaning weights and provides essential information and potential targets for the development of nutritional intervention strategies.     

Effect of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on growth performance of piglets from control sows or sows treated with L-carnitine during pregnancy and lactation

Previous studies showed that supplementation of sows' diets with L-carnitine increases body weights of their piglets at birth. This study was performed to investigate whether piglets of sows treated with L-carnitine differ in their growth potential from that of piglets of untreated control sows after weaning. It was also investigated whether supplementation of piglets' diets with L-carnitine improves their growth after weaning. In two trials, piglets of the first litters of primiparous sows (trial 1) and the second litters of the same sows (trial 2) were divided into four groups: group 1, piglets of control sows, fed a control diet; group 2, piglets of control sows fed a diet supplemented with 30 mg L-carnitine/kg; group 3, piglets of L-carnitine-treated sows, fed a control diet; group 4, piglets of L-carnitine-treated sows fed a diet supplemented with 30 mg L-carnitine/kg. Mean initial body weights of the piglets of the four groups were identical. They were 8.5 kg in trial 1 and 12.5 kg in trial 2. Diets were fed ad libitum over a period of 35 days. Piglets from sows treated with L-carnitine did not differ in body weight gains, feed intake and gain : feed ratio from those of control sows. In trial 1, piglets supplemented with L-carnitine had higher body weight gains (p < 0.005) and showed a tendency towards a higher gain : feed ratio (p = 0.09) than piglets fed the control diets. In trial 2, no significant difference in these parameters emerged between piglets fed the diet supplemented with L-carnitine and those fed the control diet. In conclusion, this study shows that dietary L-carnitine treatment of sows does not improve the growth potential of their piglets after weaning under the conditions of equal initial body weights. The study also shows that L-carnitine supplementation of their diets improves the growth performance in light piglets of primiparous sows.     

酵母锗对仔猪生长性能及养分代谢的影响

试验旨在研究不同酵母锗添加量对仔猪生长性能及养分代谢的影响。试验选用100头断奶日龄22 d、健康无病的杜×长×大三元杂交猪。将体重无显著性差异的100头仔猪RCB分为5组(对照组和试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组),每组20头仔猪,公、母各半,试验组日粮中的酵母锗有效含量分别为15、25、35、45 mg/kg,正式试验周期为42 d,分为三个阶段进行。观察记录仔猪生长情况及腹泻率,并分别在试验开始的第1、15、29、43 d对仔猪进行称重,在每个阶段结束前一天,采用全收粪法采样,分析酵母锗对仔猪的营养成分代谢的影响。结果表明:(1)在生长性能方面,日粮中酵母锗添加浓度达到35 mg/kg时,仔猪的平均日增重、平均日采食量、料重比在各个试验阶段,以及前两个阶段的仔猪腹泻率,均与对照组差异显著或极显著(P<0.05,P<0.01),有效提高了仔猪的生长性能;(2)在养分代谢方面,日粮中酵母锗添加浓度达到35 mg/kg时,仔猪对日粮中干物质、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗灰分以及Ca的表观消化率均明显提高(P<0.05),有效提高了仔猪对饲料的利用率。     

木瓜蛋白酶和苜蓿对断奶仔猪生长性能的影响

选取杜×长×大三元杂断奶仔猪171头作为实验动物,研究木瓜蛋白酶的添加和苜蓿替代部分豆粕后对断奶仔猪腹泻、生产性能的影响。结果表明:添加木瓜蛋白酶后对仔猪的生长有促进作用,平均日采食量增加2.7%、平均日增重提高2.56%、料重比分别提高2.7%、2.56%和降低1.6%。添加木瓜蛋白酶并用苜蓿替代5%的豆粕对仔猪的生长也有促进作用,平均日采食量增加10.8%、平均日增重提高7.69%、料重比降低1.03%。     

Comparative effects of sodium butyrate and flavors on feed intake of lactating sows and growth performance of piglets

We examined the effects of sodium butyrate and flavors on feed intake of lactating sows and growth performance of piglets. A total of 52 primiparous sows (Large White) were randomly divided into four treatments (n = 13) and received 6 g/kg sodium butyrate (SB), fruit‐milk (FM) flavor and fruit‐milk‐anise (FMA) flavor with pair feeding to the mothers receiving the control diet. The feeding trial lasted for 29 days, including 21 days of nursing and 8 days of post‐weaning period, respectively. The nursing and weaning piglets received creep diets with the same flavor or SB supplement as their mother. The results showed that FMA flavor increased average daily feed intake (ADFI) of lactating sows (P < 0.01), as well as improved litter weight gain (P = 0.05) and ADFI (P < 0.01) of nursing pigs among treatments. Indeed, greater ADFI and average daily gain of weaning piglets for the initial 8 days after weaning was observed in the FMA group compared with those in the control group (P < 0.01). These findings indicated that adding FMA flavor was superior to SB for increasing feed intake of lactating sows and improving growth performance of piglets.