Use of an extract (Silymarin) from the plant Silybum marianum to increase circulating concentrations of prolactin in sows

International audienc

Sow influence on neonatal survival : a special focus on colostrum

Session : Pregnancy, partutition and the neonateInternational audienc

Effects of high fiber intake during late pregnancy on sow physiology, colostrum production, and piglet performance

Dietary fiber given during pregnancy may influence sow endocrinology and increase piglet BW gain during early lactation. The aim of the current study was to determine whether dietary fiber given to sows during late pregnancy induces endocrine changes that could modulate sow colostrum production and, thus, piglet performance. From d 106 of pregnancy until parturition, 29 Landrace x Large White nulliparous sows were fed gestation diets containing 23.4 [high fiber (HF); n = 15] or 13.3% total dietary fiber [low fiber (LF); n = 14]. In the HF diet, wheat and barley were partly replaced by soybean hulls, wheat bran, sunflower meal (undecorticated), and sugar beet pulp. After parturition, sows were fed a standard lactation diet. Colostrum production was estimated during 24 h, starting at the onset of parturition (T0) and ending at 24 h after parturition (T24) based on piglet weight gains. Jugular blood samples were collected from sows on d 101 of pregnancy, daily from d 111 of gestation to d 3 of lactation, and then on d 7 and 21 of lactation (d 0 being the day of parturition). Postprandial kinetics of plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were determined on d 112 of pregnancy. The feeding treatment did not influence sow colostrum yield (3.9 +/- 0.2 kg) or piglet weight gain during the first day postpartum to d 21 of lactation. Colostrum intake of low birth weight piglets (< 900 g) was greater in litters from HF sows than from LF sows (216 +/- 24 vs. 137 +/- 22 g; P = 0.02). Preweaning mortality was lower in HF than LF litters (6.2 vs. 14.7%; P = 0.01). Circulating concentrations of progesterone, prolactin, estradiol-17 beta, and cortisol were not influenced by the treatment. Sows fed the HF diet had greater postprandial insulin concentrations than LF sows (P = 0.02) whereas the postprandial glucose peak was similar. At T24, colostrum produced by HF sows contained 29% more lipid than colostrum produced by LF sows (P = 0.04). Immunoglobulin A concentrations in colostrum were lower at T0 and T24 (P = 0.02) in HF than LF sows (at T0: 8.6 +/- 1.1 vs. 11.9 +/- 1.1 mg/mL; at T24: 2.5 +/- 0.7 vs. 4.8 +/- 0.7 mg/mL). In conclusion, dietary fiber in late pregnancy affected sow colostrum composition but not colostrum yield, increased colostrum intake of low birth weight piglets, and decreased preweaning mortality, but these effects were not related to changes in peripartum concentrations of the main hormones involved in lactogenesis

Effects of high fiber intake in late gestating sows on colostrum production and piglet performance

Session 13A. Sow nutrition to cope with increased reproductive potentialSession 13A. Sow nutrition to cope with increased reproductive potentialabsen

Prolactin and progesterone concentrations around farrowing influence sow colostrum yield

In swine, colostrum production is induced by the drop of progesterone concentrations which leads to theprepartum peak of prolactin. Prolactin regulates mammary cell turnover and stimulates lacteal nutrientsynthesis. Progesterone inhibits prolactin secretion and down-regulates the prolactin receptor in the mammarygland. The aim of the study was to determine if the relative peripartal concentrations of progesteroneand prolactin (PRL/P4 ratio) influence sow colostrum production. Twenty-nine Landrace Large Whiteprimiparous sows were used. Colostrum yield was estimated during 24 h starting at the onset of parturition(T0) using litter weight gains. Colostrum was collected at T0 and 24 h later (T24). Repeated jugular bloodsamples were collected during the peripartum period (i.e. from -72 to +24 h related to farrowing) and wereassayed for progesterone and prolactin. Sows were retrospectively categorized according to their PRL/P4ratio 24 h before farrowing: 3 (HighPRL/P4, n=13). Data were analyzed byANOVA using the MIXED procedure (SAS Inst.), except for piglet mortality (GENMOD procedure). Duringthe peripartum period, the circulating concentrations of progesterone were lower (P0.10). Piglet mortality between birth and T24 averaged 10.0% in LowPRL/P4 litters and 7.0% inHighPRL/P4 litters (P=0.29). In conclusion, a higher PRL/P4 ratio 24 h prepartum, characterized by lowerprogesterone concentrations and a trend for higher prolactin concentrations peripartum, led to a greatercolostrum yield

Influence des fibres alimentaires données à la truie en fin de gestation sur la production de colostrum et les performances des porcelets pendant la lactation

Chez la truie, la consommation de fibres alimentaires pendant la fin de la gestation peut augmenter le gain de poids des porcelets durant le début de la lactation. La présente étude vise à évaluer si les fibres alimentaires données en fin de gestation influencent la production de colostrum des truies et les performances des porcelets. Vingt‐neuf cochettes Large White x Landrace ont reçu pendant les neuf derniers jours de gestation un aliment contenant 7,9% (lot FIBRES, n = 15) ou 3,3% de cellulose brute (lot TEM, n = 14). Le traitement alimentaire n’a influencé ni les concentrations plasmatiques de progestérone et de prolactine (P > 0,10) ni le volume de colostrum produit par les truies (3,9 ± 0,2 kg ; P > 0,10). La consommation moyenne de colostrum des porcelets ne différait pas dans les deux lots (P > 0,10) mais celle des petits porcelets (< 900 g) issus des truies FIBRES était supérieure à celle des porcelets des truies TEM (respectivement 216 et 137 g ; P = 0,02). Pendant la lactation, le gain de poids des porcelets n’a pas été affecté par le traitement mais le taux de mortalité a été diminué dans les portées des truies FIBRES (6 vs 14% pour TEM ; P = 0,01). Les concentrations d’immunoglobulines A dans le colostrum étaient réduites (P = 0,02) chez les truies FIBRES comparativement aux truies TEM. En conclusion, bien que les fibres n’aient pas affecté le volume de colostrum produit par les truies, elles ont augmenté la survie des porcelets pendant la lactation.In sows, dietary fibre given during late gestation may increase the body weight gain of piglets during early lactation. The aim of this study was to determine whether dietary fibre given in late gestation influences colostrum production and piglet performance during lactation. Twenty‐nine Large White x Landrace primiparous sows were fed, during the last 9 days of gestation, diets containing 7.9% (FIBRE, n=15) or 3.3% crude fibre (TEM, n = 14). The feeding treatment did not influence sow plasma concentration of progesterone and prolactin (P > 0.10) or sow colostrum yield (3.9 ± 0.2 kg; P > 0.10). Mean colostrum intake by piglets did not differ between groups (P > 0.10) whereas the colostrum intake of low birth weight piglets (< 900 g) was greater in the FIBRE group than in the TEM group (216 and 137 g, respectively; P = 0.02). During lactation, although the body weight gain of piglets was not influenced by dietary treatment, the mortality rate was lower in the FIBRE group than in the TEM group (6 vs 14%; P = 0.01). Immunoglobulin A concentrations in colostrum were lower (P = 0.02) in the FIBRE group compared with the TEM group. In conclusion, although dietary fibre did not increase sow colostrum yield, it decreased piglet mortality

Relative prolactin to progesterone concentrations around farrowing influence colostrum yield in primiparous sows

In swine, colostrum production is induced by the drop of progesterone (P4) concentrations which leads to the prepartum peak of prolactin (PRL). PRL regulates mammary cell turnover and stimulates lacteal nutrient synthesis. P4 inhibits PRL secretion and downregulates the PRL receptor in the mammary gland. The aim of the present study was to determine if the relative prepartum concentrations of P4 and PRL (PRL/P4 ratio) influence sow colostrum production. The performance of 29 Landrace × Large White primiparous sows was analyzed. Colostrum yield was estimated during 24 h starting at the onset of parturition (T0) using litter weight gains. Colostrum was collected at T0 and 24 h later (T24). Repeated jugular blood samples were collected during the peripartum period, that is, from −72 to +24 h related to farrowing and were assayed for P4 and PRL. Sows were retrospectively categorized in 2 groups according to their PRL/P4 ratio 24 h before farrowing being either 3 (high PRL/P4, n = 13). During the peripartum period, the circulating concentrations of P4 were lower (P 0.10). The Na/K ratio in colostrum 24 h after the onset of farrowing was lower in high PRL/P4 compared with low PRL/P4 sows (P < 0.05). Piglet mortality between birth and T24 averaged 10.0% in low PRL/P4 litters and 7.0% in high PRL/P4 litters (P = 0.29). In conclusion, a greater PRL/P4 ratio 24 h prepartum, characterized by lower P4 concentrations and a trend for greater PRL concentrations peripartum, led to increased colostrum yield in primiparous sows