Creep Feeding and Weaning Influence the Postnatal Evolution of the Plasma Metabolome in Neonatal Piglets

Abstract

Data on the evolution of blood metabolites and metabolic markers in neonatal piglets are scarce, although this information is vital to detect physiological aberrations from normal development. We aimed to characterize age- and nutrition-related changes in the plasma metabolome and serum biochemistry of suckling and newly weaned piglets and assess metabolite patterns as physiological markers for the two phases. In two replicate batches (n = 10 litters/group), piglets either received sow milk alone or were additionally offered creep feed from day 10 until weaning (day 28). Blood was collected from one piglet/litter on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 31 and 35 of life, totaling five females and five males/group/day. Signature feature ranking identified plasma triglycerides (TG) as discriminative for age and nutrition during the suckling phase. Influential TG 20:4_36:5, TG 17:0_34:2 and TG 18:2_38:6 were higher in creep-fed piglets on days 14, 21 and 28 of life, respectively, compared to only sow milk-fed piglets. Metabolites belonging to pathways within histidine, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism as well as hippuric acid were distinctive for the postweaning compared to the suckling period. In conclusion, plasma lipid profiles especially corresponded to the type of nutrition in the suckling phase and showed a strong weaning effect.

An insight into the temporal dynamics in the gut microbiome, metabolite signaling, immune response, and barrier function in suckling and weaned piglets under production conditions

“…Similar to the age-related changes for the receptor expression, we observed a shortening of jejunal villi and the absorptive surface from DoL 7–28; findings that may reflect the high nutrient demand of the piglet in the immediate time after birth ( 17 ). At both gut sites, the secretory processes and cell renewal potential increased as indicated by the deepening of the crypts ( 43 , 44 ).…”

“…The sows were part of the regular sow herd, which included sows from parities 1–6. Management and feeding of sows and piglets corresponded to the routine protocol at the pig facility [see also ( 17 )]. In two consecutive replicate batches, each lasting 35 days (from farrowing to one-week post-weaning), litters (Large White × Piétrain) from 20 Large White sows were used.…”

“…Subsamples were taken for dry matter and nutrient analysis and the creep feed intake was estimated on a litter basis daily. The creep feed was prepared as described in a previous study ( 17 ). The dry powder of the milk replacer was mixed 1:5 (wt/vol; 200 g/L) with warm water (45°C) to achieve a thin liquid according to the manufacturer’s instructions.…”

Variations in colostrum metabolite profiles in association with sow parity

“…Sows were handled similarly in both replicate batches. Five days before farrowing, sows were moved into free-ranging farrowing pens (BeFree, Schauer, Agrotonic, Prambachkirchen, Austria; 2.3 × 2.6 m) as described in Metzler-Zebeli et al (2023) . The pens were equipped with partly slatted flooring, a feeder, and a drinker.…”

“…Metabolites in colostrum were analyzed by six reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (RP-HPLC-MS/MS) methods and one anion-exchange chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometric (AIC-HR-MS) method mode as described in detail in Metzler-Zebeli et al (2023) . In short, amino acids and biogenic amines were first derivatized with phenyl isothiocyanate and then measured by RP-HPLC-MS/MS in positive ionization mode.…”