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Weaning stressors and poor farm sanitation can lead to dysbiosis and intestinal disturbances, which promote the proliferation of Streptococcus suis and E. coli . Optimizing maternal nutrition to influence the early establishment of the intestinal microbiota in piglets is a promising strategy to prevent intestinal disorders at weaning and promote health and growth. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of supplementing diets with a synergistic blend of short- and medium-chain fatty acids (SCFAs-MCFAs) during the peripartum and lactation phases on early microbial colonization and the subsequent growth performance of newborn pigs.
Methods: The experiment involved 72 sows and their litters, with a follow-up on 528 weaned pigs. Sows were fed either a control diet or a diet supplemented with SCFAs-MCFAs and the pigs were monitored for their growth performance and microbial populations. Subsequently, selected weaned pigs were allotted to an SCFAs-MCFAs diet according to the maternal diet.
Results: SCFAs-MCFAs supplementation led to reduced backfat loss in sows and improved pig weight and uniformity at weaning. Additionally, suckling pigs exhibited significant shifts in gut microbiota, including increased lactic acid bacteria and reduced Streptococcus suis populations. Although there was no influence of maternal diet on pig growth after weaning, there was a modulation on bacterial populations at 7 and 35 days post-weaning. Pigs fed SCFAs-MCFAs demonstrated improved feed efficiency with notable reductions in E. coli and Streptococcus suis counts.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that maternal dietary supplementation with SCFAs-MCFAs can positively influence both sow and pig performance, offering a potential strategy to enhance productivity and health in commercial swine production.
Villagómez-Estrada S, Melo-Durán D, van Kuijk S, Pérez JF, Solà-Oriol D. Specialized Feed-Additive Blends of Short-and Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Improve Sow and Pig Performance During Nursery and Post-Weaning Phase. Animals: an Open Access Journal from MDPI, 2024; 14(24): 3692. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243692
