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Beta-carotene is a well-known antioxidant found in most red and orange-pigmented vegetables and has been documented to provide health benefits. Furthermore, this compost oxidizes spontaneously, gaining interest as a dietary supplement due to its potential to improve the immune status of sows, helping improve piglet health, and enhancing growth performance. This study aimed to determine if supplementation of oxidized-beta carotene improved sow reproductive performance, litter growth performance, vitamin A status, and ability to alter immune cells abundance in sows and piglets, subsequent litter performance, and nursery growth performance. On approximately day 60 of gestation and through the lactation period, 194 sows were assigned to a common gestation diet, or the common diet supplemented with 80 ppm oxidized beta-carotene. A subset of sows (N = 54 per treatment) was sampled for blood and body weight recorded at the beginning of the study, farrowing, and weaning. Piglet’s blood samples at birth and weaning were analysed for vitamin A as retinol concentrations, and immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM levels were assessed from the sow's blood. Colostrum during farrowing and milk at weaning were analysed for IgG and IgA concentrations. Twelve pigs (N = 6 per treatment) were euthanized at birth and weaning, livers were collected and analysed for the Kupffer cell phagocytic activity.
As a result, there were no significant findings between the reproductive performance or difference in colostrum and milk composition of the control sows and the sows supplemented with the product. There was also no difference in piglet growth between the two groups. The product did not affect the measured immune functions of the piglets. However, IgG tended to decrease with the use of the product, and there was a decrease in IgM.
In conclusion, the supplementation of oxidized beta-carotene at 80 ppm from day 60 of gestation through lactation does not affect the reproductive performance of sows, litter growth performance, vitamin A status, piglet immune status, and antibodies or composition in colostrum and milk.
Elefson SK, Ross JW, Rademacher CJ, Greiner LL. Evaluation of oxidized beta-carotene on sow and piglet immune systems, sow reproductive performance, and piglet growth. Journal of Animal Science. 2023; 101: skad066. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad066
