134 Effect of Sow Nutrition on Offspring’s Gut Microbiota

In mammals, fetal development is programmed by the mother’s metabolism, body condition and health status, and thus by her diet. Besides this nutritional programming, the diet of sows has also an impact on her intestinal microbiota and on colostrum and milk production and composition, which may then modulate the microbiota of piglets. Indeed, colostrum and milk are composed of macronutrients, but contain as well immunoglobulins and immune cells, bioactive molecules such as hormones, growth factors, prebiotic and antimicrobial compounds. The latter two also play a role on the establishment of the gut microbiota. Moreover, the contact of the piglets with the faeces of the sows, at birth and during the lactation period, may all affect the composition of their microbiota. As a proof-of-concept concerning this microbiota modulation, it was shown that maternal antibiotic treatment from 10 days before the estimated farrowing date until 21 days after farrowing, transiently modified both mother fecal and offspring ileal microbiota during the first weeks of life, without effects on offspring’s microbiota on a long-term. There is evidence, although limited, that dietary fibers in the diet of the sows modulate the microbiota and gut homeostasis of the progeny. This has been shown by the use of seaweed extracts, short chain fructo-oligosaccharides, wheat bran, resistant starch, or the inclusion of guar gum and cellulose. For example, wheat bran in the diet of sows modulates the microbiota of the sows and piglets differently. Supplementation of the sow’s diet with probiotics (Bacillus subtilis) also revealed that the development of the intestinal microbiota of piglets is modulated, seen by a reduction in pathogenic communities (i.e. Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens) in colon and ileum respectively. In conclusion, to optimize piglet’s gut development through the colonization of the microbiota, the diet of the sow should be taken into account.

Latest Advances in Sow Nutrition during Early Gestation

In the pig, the establishment and maintenance of luteal function in early gestation is crucial to endometrial function, embryo development, and survival. The level of feed intake has a positive effect on formation of luteal tissue and progesterone secretion by the ovaries in the pre-implantation period, which is important for endometrial remodeling and secretion. These effects are independent of luteinising hormone (LH) and probably driven by metabolic cues, such as insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and seem to support progesterone secretion and delivery to the endometrium, the latter which occurs directly, bypassing the systemic circulation. Even after implantation, a high feed intake seems to improve embryo survival and the maintenance of pregnancy. In this stage, luteal function is LH-dependent, although normal variations in energy intake may not result in pregnancy failure, but may contribute to nutrient supply to the embryos, since in this phase uterine capacity becomes limiting. Feed incidents, however, such as unintended fasting of animals or severe competition for feed, may result in embryo or even pregnancy loss, especially in periods of seasonal infertility. Specific nutrients such as arginine have a role in the vascularisation of the placenta and can improve the uterine capacity in the period after implantation.

1 Introduction: Review of the Career: Gary L. Allee

Gary Allee’s professional career as a swine nutritionist spans from 1972 to 2020 in the peer-reviewed publication record. An evaluation of the major themes presented in his publications show a connectivity of work done at a “basic” science level leading to work on the application of this basic knowledge to meet pig production needs. It is interesting to explore the themes of Dr. Allee’s work and connect that to how pigs are fed on a practical basis today. Regarding sow nutrition work, Dr. Allee used his early work on lipogenesis to expand on the topic to understand how energy sources are able to cross the placental barrier and ultimately impact neonatal energy reserves. Further, Dr. Allee responded to availability changes in synthetic amino acids to the industry to explore opportunities to leverage these AA’s into sow diet formulations. In the area of nursery pig nutrition, his record explores the theme of lipid metabolism from lipogenesis, to ketogenesis to fat source and fatty acid profile implication to diet value. However, Dr. Allee picked up the themes of protein and lactose sources and implications on hypersensitivity and value of proteins and sugars targeted to the young pig all influencing practical diet formulations globally in young pig nutrition. In the area of the grow-finish pig, Gary’s work explored topics of dietary fat use, practical aspects of amino acid inclusion and the interaction of repartitioning approaches to lean deposition with nutrient requirements. This symposium is designed to highlight several key principals for success as a scientist that are evident in Dr. Allee’s career: a) importance of being a systems thinker in ability to take basic information and evolve it into practical implications; b) importance of being a global citizen in scientific professional development; and c) the impact that one has on people endures.

11 Understanding today’s sow and challenging ourselves for the future

The impact of maternal influence across all species on lifelong health and performance is a topic that while recognized as important in the past was not heavily explored until more recently. Over the years, production has focused on sow nutrition and its role in improving birth weights and weaning weights. Today’s sow has approximately 3 more pigs per litter compared to sows 12 years ago and is producing more milk than that of a sow a quarter of a century ago (Nielsen et al. 2018; Rosero, et al, 2016). The biological challenges of supporting the increased total born and milk production, the change in the genetics and lean mass of the sow, along with the environmental challenges such as disease, temperature and social interactions have created an ever changing dynamic that has the potential to influence the sow’s nutritional demands, but also complicates the interpretation of data generated in sow facilities. Along with the increase in total born, other issues such as pelvic organ prolapses and agalactia have also started to increase. While little is known at this time as to the causative nature of these conditions, the goal to quickly resolve such challenges has become absolute. Furthermore, many wonder what else is on the horizon for the modern day sow? Researchers are working to better understand the basis of sow to piglet interaction in terms of immunology, microbiome hereditability and progeny wean to finish performance alongside those working to better understand nutritional requirements to improve longevity of the female. The presentation will focus on these aspects associated with predicting issues for the sows and proactively addressing these concerns along with exploring knowledge advancements and aligning them with sow performance and production.

Review: Practical Use of n-3 Fatty Acids to Improve Reproduction Parameters in the Context of Modern Sow Nutrition

The effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFAs) have been frequently investigated in sows because the profitability of pig production depends mainly on reproduction performance. In feeding trials, different sources and doses of n-3 PUFAs-rich feeds were used with various breeds and stages of production; however, a discrepancy in the response of n-3 PUFAs on sow reproduction has been observed. According to the results of the previous studies, n-3 fatty acids can postpone the time of parturition, decreasing the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are necessary for uterus contraction during labour. These effects could also be useful during the post-weaning period when low prostaglandin levels are indispensable for embryo survival. The n-3 fatty acids fed during the lactation period secreted in milk, may improve piglet performance. In this review, we will focus on the contradictory results of previous studies concerning practical swine nutrition. The main purpose of the review is to highlight those periods of swine breeding when the use of n-3 fatty acids may be advantageous in case of the deficiency of these essential nutrients. In finding the appropriate dose of n-3 PUFAs in terms of sow nutrition, the n-6 PUFAs levels in the given feeds must be taken into account to ensure that there are no significant reductions in the final n-6/n-3 ratio. Despite the numerous previous field trials, there are no current feeding recommendations available for PUFAs in swine nutrition. Hence, more research is required in different practical feeding situations to certify the assumptions and conclusions of this review.

PSVI-16 Meta-analysis of increasing lysine and energy in late gestation on piglet growth, colostrum composition and piglet throughput

A meta-analysis of four late gestation sow nutrition studies (n = 298 sows) was conducted to evaluate the effects of sow feeding level and diet composition on colostrum composition and sow productivity. In all experiments, sows were fed either a gestation diet (2,979 Kcal/kg ME, 0.58% SID lysine) or lactation diet (3,322 Kcal/kg ME, 0.99% SID lysine, 2.5% added fat). The timing of transition from the gestation to the lactation diet varied between day 93 and 107 of gestation. Feeding levels ranged from 1.5 to 4.5 kg. Total lysine (LYS) and total added fat (FAT) intake from day 93 of gestation to farrowing were calculated. Data was analyzed using PROC GLM in SAS with fixed effects of experiment, parity, litter size and day of diet transition. Sow was the experimental unit. Average total number born and mean piglet colostrum intake (CI) were 13.2 and 470 g, respectively. Increasing piglet CI increased (P < 0.05) number of piglets weaned by the biological dam (LSW) and average piglet weaning weight (WWT). A 1 g increase in added fat during late gestation increased piglet CI by 0.03 g (P < 0.01). A 1 g increase in LYS intake increased (P < 0.05) piglet CI by 0.12 g and WWT by 1.2 g. Feeding level did not impact (P > 0.05) piglet CI, LSW or WWT. Feeding level, LYS and FAT did not impact (P > 0.05) colostrum composition. A one nipple increase in functional teat number was associated with a 260 g increase (P < 0.01) in litter CI and a 0.30 piglet increase (P < 0.05) in LSW. Results suggest increasing LYS and FAT in late gestation, above what is typically fed on commercial sow farms, may improve sow reproduction. However a cost benefit analysis should be conducted before increasing feed cost. Strategies to increase sow functional teat number should be evaluated.