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In pregnant and lactating sows, metabolism and immunity undergo drastic changes, which can lead to constipation, abortion, and intrauterine growth restriction and reduce production performance. Dietary fiber can regulate animal gut microbiota, alleviate inflammatory responses, and improve performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding different fiber sources, including soybean hulls, alfalfa meal, and beet pulp, to sow diets on growth performance, gut microbiota, gut permeability, and inflammation in sows and piglets. 48 sows (Large × Landrace) of 60 days of gestation served as subjects and were randomly allocated to four groups: control, and dietary supplementation with either alfalfa meal, beet pulp, or soybean hulls. At 100 days of gestation and at 4 and 18 days of lactation, four sows were selected from each treatment for collection of serum and fecal samples, and piglet blood samples were also collected at 4 and 18 days of lactation. The performance was measured.
According to the performance indicators of sows, the optimal treatment was selected for the measurement of inflammatory factors, short-chain fatty acid levels, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The alfalfa meal diet decreased intrauterine growth restriction, increased food intake during lactation, and promoted the reproductive performance and physical condition of sows. Further, the alfalfa meal diet reduced markers of intestinal permeability in sow serum, and of systemic inflammation in sow feces and serum, as well as piglet serum, while it increased the anti-inflammatory marker IL-10 in sow serum and feces. The alfalfa meal diet also affected gut microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of proinflammatory bacteria, while decreasing anti-inflammatory bacteria. Moreover, the total short-chain fatty acid content was higher in feces from sows fed an alfalfa meal diet, with butyric acid content significantly higher during lactation, than in controls. Sow performance was correlated with intestinal permeability, inflammation, and gut microbiota, which were also vertically transmitted to piglets.
The "sows to piglets" model could provide a reference for the effect of dietary fiber on the gastrointestinal function.
Liu B, Zhu X, Cui Y, Wang W, Liu H, Li Z, Guo Z, Ma S, Li D, Wang C, Shi Y. Consumption of dietary fiber from different sources during pregnancy alters sow gut microbiota and improves performance and reduces inflammation in sows and piglets. Msystems. 2021; 6(1): 10-1128. https://doi.org/10.1128%2FmSystems.00591-20
