Effects of silymarin supplementation during transition and lactation on reproductive performance, milk composition and haematological parameters in sows

Abstract

Silymarin has been shown to be a multiple-functional plant extract having antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects. In recent years, the galactagogue effects of silymarin in animals and humans have also been revealed. This research was conducted to test whether dietary inclusion of silymarin during transition and lactation could impact reproductive performance of sows and to explore the underlying mechanisms. From day 108 of gestation to weaning, sows were randomly assigned to receive dietary treatment of silymarin (40 g/day) or not and were designated as control group (CGP, n = 55) or treatment group (TGP, n = 55). The results showed that piglets' average daily gain and average weaning weight were higher in TGP than CGP sows. In comparison with the CGP sows, the TGP sows had higher serum concentrations of catalase (CAT) on day 18 of lactation and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) on day 7 of lactation. The TGP sows had lower concentration of TNF-α on day 7 of lactation and significantly lower concentration of IL-1β on day 18 of lactation than CGP sows. There was significantly higher serum concentration of PRL on day 7 of lactation in sows consuming silymarin than sows from the CGP group. On day 18 of lactation, the protein and urea contents in milk were significantly increased while the serum urea concentration was significantly decreased in TGP sows. In summary, our results indicate that silymarin supplementation during transition and lactation can increase circulating concentrations of PRL transiently, reduce oxidative stress, increase feed intake and enhance protein metabolism, thereby significantly increasing milk yield of sows and subsequently improving growth performance of their offsprings.

Silymarin Modulates Microbiota in the Gut to Improve the Health of Sow from Late Gestation to Lactation

“…The main components of silymarin are four isomers: silybin, isosilybin, silydianin, and silychristin [ 2 ]. In our previous study, dietary silymarin supplementation during the sow transition and lactation reduced oxidative stress, decreased TNF-α concentration in serum on the seventh day of lactation, and increased the colostrum yield of sows [ 3 ]. Sows fed micelle silymarin from the 109th prenatal day to the 21st postnatal day increased their feed intake and milk yields during lactation, along with increased sow antioxidant capacity [ 4 ].…”

Silybum marianum seed extract supplementation positively affects the body weight of weaned piglets by improving voluntary feed intake

“…Excellent voluntary feed intake promotion and body weight improvement properties of SMS extract have been demonstrated in experimentally induced toxic responses in poultry [22,23]. In addition, Jiang et al [24] noted that feeding sows with an SMS extract containing diet significantly increased the feed intake, and subsequently improved the reproductive performance. The increase in ADFI means animals intake more nutrients, which is beneficial to the improvement of growth performance [25].…”

Potential of herbs as galactogogues – A review

“…Another study made on sows by Jiang et al (2020), also indicate that silymarin supplementation during transition and lactation can increase circulating concentrations of prolactin transiently, reduce oxidative stress, increase feed intake and enhance protein metabolism, thereby significantly increase milk yield of sows and subsequently improve growth performance of their descendants. Thyme Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) or wild thyme, as it is also known, is a perennial subshrub of the Lamiaceae family, which grows in almost all the countries bordering the Mediterranean, in Asia and in parts of Central Europe (Jovanović et al, 2017).…”