Response of piglets weaned from sows fed diets supplemented with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to an Escherichia coli K88+ oral challenge

Abstract

Seventy-eight Cotswold piglets weaned from sows receiving 0% or 2% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-supplemented rations from day 85 of gestation through lactation were allocated to nursery diets (ND) according to their dam's lactation ration (LR) as follows (1) 0%-0% (0% CLA LR: 0% CLA ND, n 5 17); (2) 0%-2% (0% CLA LR: 2% CLA ND, n 5 17); (3) 2%-0% (2% CLA LR: 0% CLA ND, n 5 23); and (4) 2%-2% (2% CLA LR: 2% CLA ND, n 5 21). At 28 6 2 days of age all piglets received an oral Escherichia coli K88 1 (enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, ETEC) challenge and were subsequently monitored for scour development and overall health until 36 6 2 days of age, after which blood and tissue samples were collected. Piglet BW was not affected by dietary CLA supplementation to LR (P . 0.05). However, by day 36 piglets receiving 2% CLA-supplemented ND were significantly lighter (P , 0.05) than piglets receiving control diets. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were not affected by CLA supplementation. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) was greater for piglets weaned from 2% CLA-supplemented sows from day 17 to 28 (P , 0.05), otherwise ADFI was unaffected by dietary CLA supplementation (P . 0.05). The development of scours was less severe in piglets weaned from 2% CLA-supplemented sows at 8, 24, 48 and 56 h after ETEC challenge (P , 0.05). Intestinal coliform and lactic acid bacteria populations post challenge were not affected by CLA supplementation. However, cecal ammonia-N was numerically greatest in 0%-0% piglets compared to the other treatment groups, and the total volatile fatty acid production was numerically lower in 0%-0% and 0%-2% piglets compared to 2%-0% and 2%-2% piglets. In addition, piglets weaned from 2% CLA-supplemented sows had increased serum immunoglobulin A (P , 0.001) and G (P , 0.05) levels and reduced (P , 0.05) intestinal mucosal inflammation compared to piglets weaned from control sows. Although there were no obvious additional health effects observed when CLA was provided in ND, supplementing sow rations with 2% CLA from mid-gestation through weaning appears to have immune-stimulating carry-over effects post weaning. Thus, supplementing sow rations with CLA may be a practical strategy for enhancing passive immune transfer and improving the immune status and overall gut health of nursery piglets.

Analysis of Possible Influence of Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Growth Performance and Losses of Piglets

“…The same conclusion is confirmed by Patterson et al. () who found significantly lower weight at weaning in piglets from sows fed with 2% of CLA before weaning against the control group (p < 0.05), despite balanced birth weight.…”

“…Patterson et al. () proved a decrease in occurrence of inflammation of the intestinal mucosa as compared with piglets from control group (p < 0.05). The authors state that supplementing feed ration for gravid and lactating sows with conjugated linoleic acid is a practical strategy for increasing the transfer of passive immunity, improvement of immune status and the state of intestinal mucosa in piglets.…”

Effect of feeding sows on rations enriched with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and the growth capacity and survival of their piglets

“…Piezska et al (2007) wrote that it showed a positive eff ect on values of haemoglobin and hematocrit. Patterson et al (2008) observed a decrease in cases of enteritides in piglets. Our results indicated better values of the parameter "number of weaned piglets", viz.…”

Gastrointestinal health and function in weaned pigs: a review of feeding strategies to control post‐weaning diarrhoea without using in‐feed antimicrobial compounds

“…For example, using lactic acid-producing bacteria as probiotics produced positive responses to growth performance indices and controlling PWD in some studies (Lessard and Brisson, 1987;Shu et al, 2001;Taras et al, 2006) but not in others (Walsh et al, 2007). Likewise, inclusion of yeast culture in weanling pig diets yielded positive responses to indictors of gut health and growth performance indices in some studies (Mathew et al, 1998;Bontempo et al, 2006;van der Peet-Schwering et al, 2007) but not in others (Kornegay et al, 1995;van Heugten et al, 2003). Inconsistency in the results has been attributed to differences in dosage and type of strain of probiotic, sanitary environment and diet type (Bontempo et al, 2006).…”