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Yeast products have been shown to enhance swine performance as both a probiotic or prebiotic due to the benefits provided by the living microorganism itself and the effects of its components, such as cell wall components. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of Pichia guilliermondii (PG), a whole cell–inactivated yeast product, on dam and litter performance and immune function modulation. A total of 98 gestating sows were allotted to 1 of 3 treatments consisting of a control (SC) diet or SC diet supplemented with 0.1 (S1) or 0.2% (S2) PG. Dietary treatments were fed through gestation and lactation. Fourteen days after farrowing, colostrum and milk samples were collected for IgA, IgG, and IgM analysis. Blood samples were collected from sows on day 110 of gestation and at weaning, and from piglets at 14 d of age for peripheral white blood cell counts and serum IgA, IgG, and IgM analysis.
As a result, an increase in the number of piglets born alive was observed as the level of PG increased (12.49, 13.33, and 13.43 born alive per litter for SC, S1, and S2, respectively). Additionally, PG supplementation reduced the percentage of piglets weighing less than 0.9 kg at birth. Supplemented sows also weaned a greater number of piglets (10.31, 10.55, and 10.60 weaned per litter in control, 0.1% and 0.2% PG, respectively). However, pre-weaning mortality was higher for both PG supplemented groups than in the control group. There were no differences in gestation BW gain, BW loss during lactation or piglets’ individual birth or weaning weight. Regarding immune function modulation, no differences between treatments were observed. As for blood analysis, a linear increase in neutrophil concentration, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, and percentage of neutrophils was observed at weaning as level of PG increased in sow diets.
In conclusion, PG supplementation linearly increased the number of born alive and weaned piglets, with a decreased number of lightweight piglets at birth. However, the inclusion of PG had no effect on immune parameters measured in milk, colostrum, or piglet serum, but increased the peripheral blood neutrophil concentration of gilts and sows.
Bass, B. E., Tsai, T. C., Yang, H., Perez, V., Holzgraefe, D., Chewning, J., Frank, J.W., and Maxwell, C. V. (2019). Influence of a whole yeast product (Pichia guilliermondii) fed throughout gestation and lactation on performance and immune parameters of the sow and litter. Journal of animal science. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz060