Effects of supplementing processed straw during late gestation on sow physiology, lactation feed intake, and offspring body weight and carcass quality1

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of supplementing late gestation sow diets with processed or unprocessed oat or wheat straw on physiology, early lactation feed intake, and offspring performance. One hundred fifty gestating sows were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments (30 sows per diet) from day 86 of gestation until farrowing. Treatments, arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial plus a control, were a standard gestation diet (control) or control supplemented with 10% wheat or oat straw, processed or unprocessed. Sows were fed a standard lactation diet postfarrowing. The processed straws were produced by high-pressure compaction at 80 °C. On day 101 of gestation (day 15 of the trial), blood samples were collected from a subset of sows (n = 8 per treatment) through ear vein catheters and analyzed for insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), prolactin, glucose, and urea concentrations. Fecal samples were collected on days 103 to 104 of gestation to determine nutrient digestibility, and feeding motivation was investigated on day 104. Litter characteristics and sow feed intake were recorded for 7 d postfarrowing. Three piglets per litter were selected at weaning, fed standard diets, and followed to market. Treatment had no effect on feeding motivation, piglet characteristics at birth, estimated milk production, and offspring BW at market or carcass quality. Processed straw improved DM digestibility and energy content and the effect was greater with oat straw (straw × processing effect, P < 0.05). Pre- and postprandial glucose concentrations tended to decrease (P < 0.10) with processing of wheat, but not oat straw, and this effect was more apparent in the preprandial samples. Preprandial prolactin concentration increased with oat but decreased with wheat straw, whereas postprandial IGF-1 and prolactin concentration increased with processing of wheat, but not oat straw (straw × processing, P < 0.05). Sow lactation feed intake improved (P < 0.05) with oat straw supplementation relative to wheat straw. Piglet weaning weight increased (P < 0.05) with oat straw supplementation and processing improved (P < 0.05) nursery exit BW. However, straw supplementation, regardless of processing, had no effect on offspring BW at market or carcass quality. Overall, oat straw supplementation had a greater impact on sow physiology and provided benefits for sows in late gestation, and there was some indication that further benefits could be obtained through mild processing.

Effects of Fermented Radix puerariae Residue on Nutrient Digestibility and Reproductive Performance of Sows

“…Although the maternal dietary FRPR supplementation did not affect litter size and litter weight at birth, the 4% FRPR treatment significantly increased the number and litter weight of weaning piglets. These results were consistent with previous studies, such as the addition of 13.35% ground wheat straw to the gestation diet improving litter size and total litter weight at birth and weaning (5,22). Dietary fiber has been demonstrated to improve oocyte quality and early embryo survival rate, increase litter size, prevent gestation and miscarriage, and improve the reproductive performance of sows (16)(17)(18)20).…”

“…Research reported that dietary energy digestibility improved with an increase in dietary soluble fiber (29). Agyekum et al also found that supplementing processed straw, which is rich in fiber, during late gestation improved the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and energy (5). The authors speculated that the processing of straw might have improved digestibility by changing the fiber matrix, reducing fiber length, and opening up the cell wall structure.…”

“…Under commercial intensive feeding conditions, pregnant sows are often limit-fed to prevent excessive weight gain, which can lead to negative consequences on locomotion, farrowing, and post-farrowing feed intake (3,4). However, this kind of restricted feeding strategy may induce aggression and stereotypies (5), or even affect the health of offspring piglets. There is evidence that fiber-rich diets could increase the satiety of pregnant sows and, thereby, reduce restricted feeding-induced behavioral problems (6,7).…”

Identifying Suitable Supplements to Improve Piglet Survival during Farrowing and Lactation

“…Shang et al reported improvement in average daily gain in the group fed SBP as compared to the control and WB groups (CON: 196 g/d, SBP: 221 g/d, WB: 206 g/d, and p = 0.01) [61]. Another 2019 article by Agyekum et al compared oat hay with wheat hay as maternal dietary fibre sources, and found that the average piglet weight at weaning was marginally higher in the oat hay group compared to the control and to those fed wheat hay (CON: 6.87 kg, oat: 7.02 kg, wheat: 6.86 kg, and p < 0.05) [62]. Although there are no significant data to indicate which specific fibre sources should be preferred by any given producer, these results indicate that the choice of maternal fibre source plays an important role in piglet growth.…”

Effects of the Inclusion of Fermented Mulberry Leaves and Branches in the Gestational Diet on the Performance and Gut Microbiota of Sows and Their Offspring

“…SCFAs can directly activate G-protein-coupled receptors, inhibit histone deacetylases, and serve as energy substrates [ 12 ]. Additionally, various physiological processes may influence health and disease [ 13 ]. In addition to dietary fiber’s direct effects, a new strategy entails adding fiber to the mother’s diet in an attempt to improve the offspring’s microbiota.…”