Heat stress is an important issue, and the addition of fiber to the diet is an option in modifying intestinal health. This study evaluated the effect of acid detergent fiber (ADF) levels on reproductive performance, intestinal integrity, and metabolism of gestating sows, and its carry-over effect on the lactation period during heat stress. The diets included 4.3% (Low fiber; LF), 5.4% (Medium fiber; MF), and 6.5% (High fiber; HF) ADF. Sows fed the HF diet showed a lower respiratory rate, hair cortisol concentration, and farrowing duration compared with the LF treatment. The HF diet increased the pyruvate, citrate cycle, glyoxylate, dicarboxylate, and thiamine metabolism compared with the MF. The concentration of acetate and total short-chain fatty acids were increased in the sows fed the HF diet. The gene expression of glucose transporter 3 and glucose transporter 4 was increased in the HF treatment. The gene expression of heat shock protein 70 was decreased in the HF treatment. The HF diet during gestation increased feed intake, constipation index, piglet weight, and litter weight compared with the LF. Sows in the LF treatment showed the greatest digestibility of crude protein and the lowest digestibility of ADF. In conclusion, a 6.5% ADF level is recommended for gestating sows during heat stress.

This study evaluated dietary fiber (DF) level and the ratio of soluble fiber (SF): insoluble fiber (ISF) impact on sows’ reproductive performance under heat stress. Forty sows at day 90 of gestation were assigned to four treatments. HH diet had, 20% DF, 1:4, SF:ISF ratio; HL, 20% DF, 1:6, SF:ISF ratio; LH, 14% DF, 1:4, SF:ISF, LL, 14% DF, 1:6, SF:ISF. Results showed that; lactation back-fat loss was lower (P < 0.05) in HH . Feed intake was higher (P < 0.05) in HH and HL. Farrowing duration shorter (P < 0.05) in HH. Constipation index was higher (P < 0.05) in HH and LH. Weaning piglets’ body weight was greater (P < 0.05) in HH than LH and LL. Hair cortisol was lower (P < 0.05) in HH than HL, and LL. Acetate, propionate, isovalerate, and butyrate was higher (P < 0.05) in HH and LH. Plasma zonulin, fecal lipocalin-2 were lower (P < 0.05) in HH, and HL. Superoxide dismutase tended to be higher (P = 0.056) and malondialdehyde tended to be lower (P = 0.069) in HH and HL. We opined that higher levels of dietary fiber and soluble fiber could ameliorate heat stress in gestating sows.

Stocking density stress is one of the most common management stressors in the poultry industry. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary Sophora koreensis (SK; 0 and 20 mg/kg diet) and stocking density (SD; 14 and 16 chickens/m2) on the antioxidant status, meat quality, and growth performance of native Korean chickens. There was a lower concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and a higher concentration of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity in the serum and leg muscle with the supplementation of SK. The concentration of MDA was increased and concentrations of SOD were decreased in the leg muscle of chickens in low SD treatments. The SK-supplemented treatments showed an increased 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate-reducing activity of leg muscles. The higher water holding capacity of breast muscle and a lower cooking loss and pH were shown in the SK-supplemented treatments. The addition of dietary SK resulted in a greater body weight gain and greater spleen and bursa Fabricius weight, as well as lower feed intake and abdominal fat. The low SD and supplementation of SK increased the concentrations of cholesterol. The concentration of glucose was increased in the low SD treatment. Corticosterone level was decreased in the SK-supplemented and low SD treatments. In conclusion, SK supplementation reduced the oxidative stress and increased meat quality and antioxidant status of chickens apart from the SD stress.

A set of studies was performed to determine the influence of dietary ZnO concentration and source during two phases (days 0 to 14 and days 15 to 28). Experiment 1: 168 weaned piglets were allocated to four treatment groups in six replicates. The treatments included a basal diet without ZnO supplementation (control), 2,500 mg ZnO/kg (In2500), 500 mg nano-ZnO/ kg (N500), and 150 mg nano-ZnO/kg (N150). Experiment 2: 168 weaned piglets were divided into three treatment groups with eight replicates. The treatments included control, In2500, N300, and 150 mg nano-ZnO/kg (N150). An in vitro trial showed that the growth of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium was inhibited when exposed to 300 and 500 ppm of ZnO after 24 h of incubation. In experiment 1, the average daily gain (ADG) by the pigs was improved in the N500 and IN2500 treatment groups. Colonization of coliforms and Clostridium spp. significantly decreased in the pigs fed the N500 and IN2500 diets in phase 1. The total plasma antioxidant capacity was greater in the IN2500 and N500 treatment groups than in the control. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was greater in pigs fed the IN2500 (phase 1) or the IN2500 and N500 (phase 2) diets than in the control and N150 treatment group. In experiment 2, pigs in the N300 treatment group showed a higher ADG and lower fecal score colonization of coliforms and Clostridium spp. compared with those in the N150 treatment group. In conclusion, nano-ZnO at a dose of 300 ppm showed the same growth as the pharmacological dose of Zn. This provides an option to the pharmacological dose.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of multiple cooling systems and different drinking water temperatures (DWT) on the performance of sows and their hair cortisol levels during heat stress. In this study, the effect of four different cooling systems: air conditioner (AC), cooling pad (CP), snout cooling (SC), and mist spray (MS), and two DWT, namely low water temperature (LWT) and high water temperature (HWT) on 48 multiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire; 242.84 ± 2.89 kg) was tested. The experiment is based on the use of eight replicas during a 21-days test. Different behaviors were recorded under different cooling treatments in sows. As a result, behaviors such as drinking, standing, and position change were found to be lower in sows under the AC and CP treatments than in those under the SC and MS treatments. Lying behavior increased under the AC and CP systems as compared with that under the SC and MS, systems. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) in sows and weight at weaning in piglets was higher under the AC, CP, and LWT treatments than under the SC, MS and HWT treatments. Sows subjected to SC and MS treatment showed higher hair cortisol levels, rectal temperature, and respiratory rate during lactation than those under AC and CP treatments. Hair cortisol levels, rectal temperature, and respiratory rate were also higher under the HWT than under the LWT treatment. As per the results of this study, the LWT has no significant effect on any of the behavioral factors. Taken together, the use of AC and CP cooling treatment is highly recommended to improve the behavior and to reduce the stress levels in lactating sows.

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Background: Heat stress is an important issue in swine farms, which causes economic loss and compromises sows health. The addition of fiber to the diet is an option in modifying intestinal health. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of fiber level on reproductive performance, intestinal microbiota and integrity, and metabolism of gestating sows, and its carry-over effect on the lactation period during heat stress. Methods: A total of 36 gestating sows (90 day-pregnant) were allotted to three treatments with 12 replicates. The diets included 3% (LF), 4.5% (MF), and 6% (HF) crude fiber. All gestating sows fed 2.5 kg of diet daily and diets contained 3150 kcal/kg of ME, 14% crude protein (CP), and 0.58% standardized ileal digestibility of lysine. Results: Sows fed the HF diet showed a lower respiratory rate and hair cortisol concentration compared with the LF treatment. The HF diet increased the feed intake of sows compared with the LF diet, while it decreased the farrowing duration. The HF diet increased the constipation index compared with the MF and LF diets. Sows in the HF treatment showed a greater piglet weight and litter weight compared with the LF treatment at weaning. Sows in the LF treatment showed the highest digestibility of CP and the greatest digestibility of acid detergent fiber was observed in sows fed HF diet. The HF diet increased lying and decreased standing, and sham chewing behavior compared with the LF diet. The concentration of acetate and total short-chain fatty acid were increased in sows fed the HF diet. The gene expression of glucose transporter 3 and 4 was increased in the HF treatment. The gene expression of heat shock protein70 was decreased in the HF treatment.Conclusion: Increasing dietary fiber level decreased stress level and improved farrowing duration and reproductive performance.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of calcium (Ca) levels in weanling pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc). In experiment 1, one hundred and eighty weanling pigs were randomly allotted to one of the three treatments. The treatments were low (Ca 0.60% in phase 1 and 0.50% in phase 2), standard (Ca 0.72% in phase 1 and 0.66% in phase 2), and high (Ca 0.84% in phase 1 and 0.72% in phase 2). In experiment 2, hundred and forty weanling pigs were randomly assigned to one of four treatments differing in Ca levels (high and low) and sources (CaCl 2 and CaCO 3 ) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. There were 10 pigs per replicate in both experiments, with 6 replicates in each treatment, and they were conducted in two phases (phase 1, days 0–14; phase 2, days 15–28). In experiment 1, body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and growth to feed ratio (G/F) increased as the Ca level decreased ( p < 0.05). P digestibility was higher in the low-Ca diet group than in the high-Ca diet group ( p <0.05). In experiment 2, the final BW, ADG, and G/F increased in the CaCl 2 diet group compared with the case in the CaCO 3 diet group ( p < 0.05). The digestibility of crude protein (CP), Ca, and P was higher in the CaCl 2 diet group than in the CaCO 3 diet group ( p < 0.05). Cl − levels were higher in the CaCl 2 diet group than in the CaCO 3 diet group ( p < 0.05). The bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ), base excess (BE), and electrolyte balance (EB) levels were lower in the CaCl 2 diet group than in the CaCO 3 diet group ( p < 0.05). Hematocrit increased as the Ca level decreased ( p < 0.05). The HCO 3 − interacted with the Ca sources and thus, affected the Ca levels ( p < 0.05). Bone ash, Ca, and P were downregulated in the low-Ca diet group compared with the case in the high-Ca diet group. Overall, the low dietary Ca supplementation led to greater growth performance. Furthermore, CaCl 2 appeared to be a better Ca source than CaCO 3 because of the greater digestibility of CP, Ca, and P, and improved EB.