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The present study investigated the effects of attapulgite supplementation in sow diets during gestation and lactation on sow performance. The study comprised two reproductive phases (cycles) in two commercial farrow to finish farms: Farm A (capacity: 550 sows) and Farm B (capacity: 220 sows). The treatment groups were: a) control group (CN): the sows were fed a common gestation or lactation diet; b) attapulgite group (AT): the sows were fed the CN diet supplemented with attapulgite at 0,7% level; c) attapulgite plus group (AT+): the sows were fed the CN diet supplemented with attapulgite (0.7%) and a mix of enzymes, live yeast and amino acids (0.1%), at a total of 0.8% level. Within each cycle the sows included per treatment were: 24 for Farm A; 12 for Farm B. Initially data were analyzed per cycle and per each farm. Data from sows that completed both cycles within each farm, were analyzed by repeated measures analysis. Regarding sow parameters, sow body weight loss during lactation tended to be greater in AT sows compared to CN sows during cycle 1 in Farm B and was greater in AT and AT+ than CN sows in Farm A that completed both cycles (P=0.063 and P=0.023, respectively). A greater litter size 24h postpartum was observed in favour of AT compared to CN group during cycle 1 in Farm A and in sows that completed both cycles in Farm A (P=0.001 and P= 0.011, respectively). Litter size at weaning was greater in sows from the AT group than CN during cycle 1 and 2 in Farm A, in cycle 1 in Farm B and in sows that completed both cycles in Farm A (P=0.004, P=0.037, P=0.037, and P=0.022, respectively). Piglet weight at weaning and average daily gain during lactation were greater in AT group than CN and AT+ in sows that completed both cycles in Farm A (P=0.049 and P=0.040 respectively). Notable similar effects, although not statistically significant, were also observed in Farm B. This field study suggests that attapulgite supplementation in sow diets can improve performance indexes. Further research should investigate the underlying mechanisms involved.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two timed-AI (TAI) protocols (Group G5D, GnRH and PRID -5d- PGF2a -1d- PGF2a -1d- GnRH, n = 105 and Group G7D, GnRH and PRID-7d- PGF2a -1d- PGF2a -1d- GnRH, n = 98) and a modified G7G protocol combining heat detection (HD) and AI or TAI if HD failed (Group HD, GnRH and PRID -7d- PGF2a -1d- PGF2a -5d- HD or 5d TAI if no HD, n = 92). Pregnancy per AI (P/AI) did not differ between G5D and G7D protocol (G5D: 33.8% vs. G7D: 35.2%, P = 0.85). Cows assigned to G5D and G7D group were pooled as TAI group (GTAI) and further compared to GHD. Within the GHD, more primiparous cows exhibited estrous signs compared to multiparous cows (70.4% vs. 46.2%, P = 0.03). Furthermore, 49 cows (53.3%) were served after HD, whereas 43 cows (46.7%) were served after TAI. There was no difference in P/AI between cows served after HD (51.6%) or after TAI (43.0%, P = 0.49). GHD showed higher P/AI at 1st service compared to GTAI (49.1% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.04), whilst, median days to pregnancy did not differ between the two groups. Overall, P/AI of primiparous cows tended to be better in comparison with multiparous cows (48.3% vs. 37.2%, P = 0.06). In conclusion, there was no significant difference regarding the efficacy of 5- and 7-day Ovsynch + PRID protocols. Moreover, a modified G7G protocol, with intermediate heat detection, resulted in overall better P/AI compared to TAI protocols and appears as a promising strategy to optimize estrus detection for 1st AI.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of attapulgite on the performance of fattening pigs from weaning to slaughter under field conditions in three commercial farrow to finish herds. In total 1890 pigs were used for six months: 720 pigs in Farms A and B, respectively and 450 pigs in Farm C. The pigs were equally allocated in three dietary treatments: CON, standard diet in each growing phase; ATT, standard diet that was supplemented with attapulgite at 7 kg/tn of feed; and ATT+, standard diet that was supplemented with 8 kg/tn of feed with a compound product based on attapulgite. Pigs that were fed diets that were supplemented with attapulgite (ATT and ATT+) had significantly higher (p < 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI) and a better feed conversion ratio (FCR), compared to the control (CON). In conclusion, attapulgite supplementation in the diet of pigs from weaning to slaughter can improve their performance in commercial farms.