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Physiological changes during lactation cause oxidative stress in sows, reduce immunity, and hamper the growth capacity of piglets. Therefore, providing adequate nutrients is of vital importance. Dietary fatty acids supplementation during late pregnancy and/or lactation can increase the overall litter growth and pig weaning weights, reduce body weight loss during lactation, and affect milk yield and milk fatty acid profile. Alpha-glycerol monolaurate (α-GML) is an α-monoglyceride of medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) lauric acid, which has potential for enhancing the antimicrobial activity of sows and the growth of suckling piglets. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of α-GML on sow performance, milk composition and piglets’ growth. Eighty sows were allocated randomly to four groups: basal diet and basal diets supplemented with 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg α-GML. The experiment started on day 85 of gestation and lasted until piglets were weaned on day 21 of lactation. The number of live-born piglets was standardized to 12 ± 1 per sow on the day of parturition. On days 0 and 21 of lactation, body weight of piglets was measured and milk samples were obtained from sows, and serum samples and feces from piglets were obtained on day 21.
As a result, feed intake, backfat loss, and weaning estrus interval did not differ among the four groups of sows. Maternal α-GML supplementation increased the body weight of piglets at weaning and the apparent total tract digestibility of crude fat of sows. The immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G levels were greater in a quadratic manner in the milk of sows as dietary α-GML increased. Concerning fatty acid profile, C12:0, C15:0, C17:0, C18:2n6c, C18:3n3, C24:0, and C22:6n3 were higher in linear and quadratic manners in colostrum of sows-fed α-GML diets compared with the control sows. There was lower n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in milk than in the control sows. Maternal α-GML increased the abundance of Firmicutes and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria of piglet fecal microbiota.
In conclusion, dietary supplementation with α-GML improved milk immunoglobulins and altered fatty acids of sows, thereby improving the health of piglets.
Li L, Wang H, Dong S, Ma Y. Supplementation with alpha-glycerol monolaurate during late gestation and lactation enhances sow performance, ameliorates milk composition, and improves growth of suckling piglets. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology. 2023; 14(1): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-023-00848-x
