Performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs fed highly or low fermentable coarse or finely ground fibre-rich feedstuffs.

Dietary fibre is mainly classified according to its chemical characteristics but structure and particle size of fibre-rich feedstuff can also be decisive for digestion and performance. So far, only few studies investigated this in pigs. This experiment aimed to compare coarse and finely ground dried hemp plants and apple pomace regarding performance and ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. Coarse or finely ground apple pomace or dried hemp plants were added to the diet of 56 nine weeks old growing pigs (DanBred x Duroc), housed in flat decks with each 2 animals. The growing pigs received the experimental diets for three weeks while performance was recorded. Eight pigs per group were sacrificed and digesta and organ tissue sampled. The stomach health was evaluated by visually scoring of the mucosa integrity. Apparent ileal (AID) and total tract digestibility (ATTD) were calculated using titanium dioxide as marker. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). The highest feed intake (fibre particle size, p = 0.018) and bodyweight gain (fibre particle size, p = 0.018; fibre source x particle size interaction, p = 0.040), was observed in animals fed finely ground apple pomace, while the feed conversion ratio was 8-12% lower in pigs fed finely ground fibre sources (p = 0.012). No differences in stomach mucosa integrity were detected between the groups. The relative pancreas (p = 0.045), stomach (p < 0.001), and jejunum (p = 0.010) weights were higher in animals fed diets containing apple pomace. In contrast, the relative liver, caecum and colon weights were not affected by fibre source or particle size. The AID of protein and amino acids was not affected, while ATTD was increased by fibre source (hemp vs. apple pomace) reducing faecal nitrogen excretion. The AID of calcium was increased when diets contained apple pomace (p < 0.001), while zinc AID and ATTD were enhanced when diets contained dried hemp (p = 0.016; p = 0.016, respectively). Our results suggest that the structure as well as the chemical characteristics should be considered in a future fibre evaluation system in pigs.

Effects of dietary crude protein content and resistant starch supplementation on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology and microbial metabolites in weaned pigs.

A 4-week study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) content and resistant starch (RS) supplementation on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology and microbial metabolites of weaned pigs. A total of 96 pigs (7.06 ± 0.45 kg body weight) were assigned to 1 of 4 diets in a randomised complete block design involving a 2 (CP levels) × 2 (without or with RS) factorial arrangement to give 8 replicate pens and 3 pigs per pen. Body weight and feed disappearance were recorded weekly, and the faecal consistency score was determined every morning. Blood was sampled on days 1, 14 and 28 from one pig per pen, and the same pig was euthanised on day 28 to collect ileal tissue and ileal and colon digesta. Data were analysed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. The average daily gain and gain:feed ratio were lower (p < 0.05) in pigs fed low crude protein (LCP) diets compared to those fed high CP (HCP) diets during week 3 and overall period. The analysed Lys, Met+Cys and Thr in feed were lower than calculated values, particularly in LCP diets, which may have affected performance. Pigs fed the LCP diets had longer (p < 0.05) ileal villi and higher villus height to crypt depth ratios than those fed the HCP diets, and RS supplementation increased (p < 0.05) ileal villus height. Interactions (p < 0.05) between dietary CP content and RS inclusion were observed for short-chain fatty acid concentration in the ileum and colon in phase 2. There was no difference in propionic acid (ileum) or butyric acid (colon) concentrations among pigs fed HCP diets, however, the butyric acid concentration increased in pigs fed the LCP diet when supplemented with RS. Reducing dietary CP lowered (p < 0.05) faecal score, plasma urea nitrogen and digesta ammonia content. Overall, feeding LCP diets reduced growth performance but improved gut morphology in weaned pigs. Feeding the LCP diet with RS supplementation modulated concentrations of ileal propionic acid and colonic butyric acid in weaned pigs.

Re-domestication of feral pigs in Martinique: first results of growing-finishing trials to test meat consumption and consumers' perceptions.

In Martinique, pig production satisfies less than 20% of demand for pork, with traditional pig farming and wild pig hunting covering only a small proportion. This study has three parts: (i) for the first time, it analyses the performance of domesticated descendants of Creole feral pigs of Martinique based on a 29-day finishing test on two farms (A vs. B) with the same fibre-rich diet on a total of 40 pigs; (ii) it evaluates consumers' tastes based on a sensorial test by an untrained panel of 61 consumers who tasted pork prepared as a fricassee from either farm A or farm B; and (iii) evaluates willingness to pay (WTP) for Creole pork products and of the design of a future niche market. The average daily gain (ADG) of the finishing pigs was higher on farm A than on farm B (256 vs. 100 g/d, P < 0.001) resulting in a higher hot carcass weight on farm A than farm B (41.3 vs. 33.5 kg, P < 0.01), and better hot carcass yield on farm B than farm A (74.0 vs 68.8 %, P < 0.01). In the sensorial test, the consumers gave a higher score to the meat originating from the youngest pigs (Farm B), especially scores for tenderness and juiciness (+0.94 and +0.55 points, P < 0.05 and P=0.10, respectively). The 61 respondents were willing to pay more for processed products (sausage, pâté, ham) than for fresh meat. They considered that Creole pork has a better taste and is of better quality than industrial meats originating from mainstream genotypes. According to the majority of respondents, Creole pork should be rich in intra-muscular fat (100% of respondents) and low in inter-muscular fat (60% of respondents). Based on the survey, the main desirable future for Martinique's Creole pig production correspond to a low-carbon system with feed based on local resources, with on-farm slaughtering and short-distance sales (direct-to-consumer farm gate sale, sale at the butcher's or at the pig cooperative).

Transcriptomic Response of Differentiating Porcine Myotubes to Thermal Stress and Donor Piglet Age.

Climate change is a current concern that directly and indirectly affects agriculture, especially the livestock sector. Neonatal piglets have a limited thermoregulatory capacity and are particularly stressed by ambient temperatures outside their optimal physiological range, which has a major impact on their survival rate. In this study, we focused on the effects of thermal stress (35 °C, 39 °C, and 41 °C compared to 37 °C) on differentiating myotubes derived from the satellite cells of Musculus rhomboideus, isolated from two different developmental stages of thermolabile 5-day-old (p5) and thermostable 20-day-old piglets (p20). Analysis revealed statistically significant differential expression genes (DEGs) between the different cultivation temperatures, with a higher number of genes responding to cold treatment. These DEGs were involved in the macromolecule degradation and actin kinase cytoskeleton categories and were observed at lower temperatures (35 °C), whereas at higher temperatures (39 °C and 41 °C), the protein transport system, endoplasmic reticulum system, and ATP activity were more pronounced. Gene expression profiling of HSP and RBM gene families, which are commonly associated with cold and heat responses, exhibited a pattern dependent on temperature variability. Moreover, thermal stress exhibited an inhibitory effect on cell cycle, with a more pronounced downregulation during cold stress driven by ADGR genes. Additionally, our analysis revealed DEGs from donors with an undeveloped thermoregulation capacity (p5) and those with a fully developed thermoregulation capacity (p20) under various cultivation temperature. The highest number of DEGs and significant GO terms was observed under temperatures of 35 °C and 37 °C. In particular, under 35 °C, the DEGs were enriched in insulin, thyroid hormone, and calcium signaling pathways. This result suggests that the different thermoregulatory capacities of the donor piglets determined the ability of the primary muscle cell culture to differentiate into myotubes at different temperatures. This work sheds new light on the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern piglet differentiating myotube response to thermal stress and can be leveraged to develop effective thermal management strategies to enhance skeletal muscle growth.

Constraints associated with captivity alter craniomandibular integration in wild boar.

The domestication process is associated with substantial phenotypic changes through time. However, although morphological integration between biological structures is purported to have a major influence on the evolution of new morphologies, little attention has been paid to the influence of domestication on the magnitude of integration. Here, we assessed the influence of constraints associated with captivity, considered as one of the crucial first steps in the domestication process, on the integration of cranial and mandibular structures. We investigated the craniomandibular integration in Western European Sus scrofa using three-dimensional (3D) landmark-based geometric morphometrics. Our results suggest that captivity is associated with a lower level of integration between the cranium and the mandible. Plastic responses to captivity can thus affect the magnitude of integration of key functional structures. These findings underline the critical need to develop integration studies in the context of animal domestication to better understand the processes accountable for the set-up of domestic phenotypes through time.

Assessment of exposure to influenza A viruses in pigs between weaning and market age.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are common causes of respiratory infection in pigs. The objective of this study was to characterize the circulation of IAVs between weaning and market age on the basis of development of antibody response and molecular epidemiology of detected viruses. Two batches of weaned pigs were followed in the nursery and finisher barns with a sample of 81 and 75 pigs. Nasal swabs and blood samples were collected from individual pigs for virological and serological analyses. A H3N2 subtype virus, of cluster IV, was detected in Study 1, with a maximum of 97.9% identity to HA gene of viruses previously isolated in Ontario. In Study 2, a H1N1 subtype virus, of 2009 H1N1 pandemic lineage, was detected, with a maximum of 97.8% identity to HA gene of viruses previously isolated in Ontario. On the basis of HA gene, it was observed that pigs were being detected with the same virus over time. The existence of antibody titers for IAV other than the isolated one confirmed that more than one subtype can circulate in the same population. In Study 1, pigs with higher numbers of IAV detection had lower serological titers for the same virus that was confirmed to circulate in the nursery (P < 0.01). Thorough knowledge of all endemic viral strains is fundamental for development of infection and disease control, particularly in complex production systems. This may include consideration of sampling and testing strategies which could detect circulation of all IAV variants, even if they have low prevalence.

Identification of blood immune and metabolic indicators explaining the variability of growth of pigs under contrasted sanitary conditions.

BACKGROUND: Health and growth of pigs are affected by the hygiene of housing. Lower growth performance observed in poor hygiene of housing conditions is explained by reduced feed intake and metabolic changes caused by the activation of body defences. In a previous experiment, we reported contrasted average values of body weight gain, concentrations of circulating metabolites, redox and immune indicators in blood of pigs housed in good or poor hygiene conditions during the growing period. This study addressed inter-individual variability in these responses to determine whether a particular blood profile explains average daily gain (ADG) of the pig. RESULTS: The data originated from 160 growing pigs, half of which subjected to a hygiene challenge for 6 weeks (W0 to W6) and the others housed in good hygiene conditions. Pigs originated from two lines divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI). Individual body weights were recorded during this period, and relative ADG (rADGW0-W6) was calculated as the ADG corrected by the initial body weight measured at W0. Blood samples were taken before (W0) and 3 weeks (W3) after the beginning of the challenge. The analysed dataset consisted of 51 metabolites and indicators of immune and inflammatory responses measured on 136 pigs having no missing value for any variables, when calculated as the differences W3 minus W0 in circulating concentrations. An algorithm tested all possible linear regression models and then selected the best ones to explain rADGW0-W6. Six variables were identified across the best models and correlated with rADGW0-W6 with a goodness of fit (adjusted R2) of about 67%. They were changes in haptoglobin, global antioxidant capacity of plasma (Biological Antioxidant Power or BAP), free fatty acids, and 3 amino acids: leucine, tryptophan, and 1-methylhistidine. The effects of housing conditions and RFI lines were comprised in the variables of the selected models and none of these conditions improved accuracy of the predictive models, leading to genericity of the pinpointed metabolic changes in relation to variability of ADG. CONCLUSIONS: This approach allows us to identify blood variables, whose changes in blood concentrations correlated to ADG under contrasted sanitary conditions.

Dietary Arthrospira platensis improves systemic antioxidant potential and changes plasma lipids without affecting related hepatic metabolic pathways in post-weaned piglets.

BACKGROUND: The ability of a high level of dietary Arthrospira platensis, individually or in combination with two exogenous carbohydrate-degrading enzymes (lysozyme and Rovabio®), to improve systemic antioxidant potential and hepatic lipid metabolism was tested in piglets. Forty male post-weaned piglets, sons of Large White × Landrace sows crossed with Pietrain boars, were allocated into 4 groups (n = 10) and fed during 28 days one of the following diets: 1) a control basal diet (cereal and soybean meal); 2) a basal diet with 10% of A. platensis (AP); 3) the AP diet supplemented with 0.005% of Rovabio® (AP + R); 4) the AP diet supplemented with 0.01% of lysozyme (AP + L). RESULTS: Arthrospira platensis decreased BW gain of piglets, regardless the addition of feed enzymes. The majority of plasma metabolites were affected by diets. A. platensis increased total lipids, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, without changing hepatic fatty acid content or modulating, in an expressive manner, the transcriptional profile of lipid sensitive mediators. The antioxidant potential in general, and total carotenoids in particular, were improved by the microalga, regardless lysozyme or Rovabio®. CONCLUSIONS: Summing up, A. platensis, individually and combined with feed enzymes, impacts negatively on piglets' growth but improves the systemic antioxidant potential and changes plasma lipids with a minor modulation on related hepatic metabolic pathways.

A genome-wide association study reveals additive and dominance effects on growth and fatness traits in large white pigs.

The dominance effect is a kind of non-additive effect due to the interaction between alleles at the same locus. Quantitative traits such as growth traits in farm animals have been found to be influenced by dominance effects. However, dominance effects are usually ignored in the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of complex traits for farm animals. In this study, we performed GWAS and genetic parameters estimation for the two traits age at 100 kg (AGE) and backfat thickness at 100 kg (BF) of 3572 Large White pigs. The pigs were from three breeding farms of China and were genotyped by an in-house designed 50k SNP chip. Our results showed significant non-zero variance for the dominance effect of AGE, while the dominance effect of BF was not significant. Using a GWAS model accounting for both additive and dominance effects, we identified three additive and two dominance significant SNPs for the trait AGE. For the trait BF, three genome-wide significant additive SNPs were detected, but no significant SNP was found for the dominance effect. In total, six important functional genes (NPAS3, USP16, PARN, ARL15, GPC3, ABHD4) near significant SNPs were identified as candidate genes associated with AGE or BF. Notably, ARL15 and PARN were associated with AGE near the dominance association signals. Overall, the newly detected SNPs and newly identified candidate genes in our study added new information about the genetic architectures of growth and fatness traits in pigs, and have the potential to be applied to the pig breeding program in the future.

Genome-wide association studies for growth-related traits in a crossbreed pig population.

Growth-related traits are important economic traits in the pig industry that directly influence pork production efficiency. To detect quantitative trait loci and candidate genes affecting growth traits, genome-wide association studies were performed for backfat thickness (BF) and loin muscle depth (LMD) in 370 Chuying-black pigs using Illumina PorcineSNP50 BeadChip array. We totally identified 14 BF-associated SNPs, which included 11 genome-wide SNPs (P < 1.39E-06) and 3 chromosome-wide suggestive SNPs (P < 2.79E-05) and for LMD, 9 SNPs surpassed the genome-wide significant threshold (P < 1.39E-06). These SNPs explained 30.33 and 27.51% phenotypic variance for BF and LMD respectively. Furthermore, 14 and 9 genes nearest to the significant SNPs were selected to be candidate genes, including MAGED1, GPHN, CCSER1, and GUCY2D for BF and PARM1, COL18A1, HSF5, and SCML2 genes for LMD. One significant SNP, which explained 6.07% of phenotypic variance for BF, mapped to a pleiotropic quantitative trait locus with a 494-kb interval. Together, the SNPs and candidate genes identified in this study will advance our understanding of the complex genetic architecture of BF and LMD traits, and they will also provide important clues for future implementation of a genomic selection program in Chuying-black pigs.

Effect of Supplementing Seaweed Extracts to Pigs until d35 Post-Weaning on Performance and Aspects of Intestinal Health.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of feeding laminarin (LAM) and fucoidan (FUC) enriched seaweed extracts up to d35 post-weaning on measures of animal performance, intestinal microbial and transcriptome profiles. 75 pigs were assigned to one of three groups: (1) basal diet; (2) basal diet + 250 ppm fucoidan; (3) basal diet + 300 ppm laminarin with 7 replicates per treatment group. Measures of performance were collected weekly and animals sacrificed on d35 post-weaning for the sampling of gastrointestinal tissue and digesta. Animal performance was similar between the basal group and the groups supplemented with FUC and LAM (P > 0.05). Pigs fed the basal diet had higher alpha diversity compared to both the LAM and FUC supplemented pigs (P < 0.05). Supplementation with LAM and FUC increased the production of butyric acid compared to basal fed pigs (P < 0.05). At genus level pigs fed the LAM supplemented diet had the greatest abundance of Faecalbacterium, Roseburia and the lowest Campylobacter of the three experimental treatments (P< 0.05). While neither extract had beneficial effects on animal performance, LAM supplementation had a positive influence on intestinal health through alterations in the gastrointestinal microbiome and increased butyrate production.

Balancing selection on a recessive lethal deletion with pleiotropic effects on two neighboring genes in the porcine genome.

Livestock populations can be used to study recessive defects caused by deleterious alleles. The frequency of deleterious alleles including recessive lethal alleles can stay at high or moderate frequency within a population, especially if recessive lethal alleles exhibit an advantage for favourable traits in heterozygotes. In this study, we report such a recessive lethal deletion of 212kb (del) within the BBS9 gene in a breeding population of pigs. The deletion produces a truncated BBS9 protein expected to cause a complete loss-of-function, and we find a reduction of approximately 20% on the total number of piglets born from carrier by carrier matings. Homozygous del/del animals die mid- to late-gestation, as observed from high increase in numbers of mummified piglets resulting from carrier-by-carrier crosses. The moderate 10.8% carrier frequency (5.4% allele frequency) in this pig population suggests an advantage on a favourable trait in heterozygotes. Indeed, heterozygous carriers exhibit increased growth rate, an important selection trait in pig breeding. Increased growth and appetite together with a lower birth weight for carriers of the BBS9 null allele in pigs is analogous to the phenotype described in human and mouse for (naturally occurring) BBS9 null-mutants. We show that fetal death, however, is induced by reduced expression of the downstream BMPER gene, an essential gene for normal foetal development. In conclusion, this study describes a lethal 212kb deletion with pleiotropic effects on two different genes, one resulting in fetal death in homozygous state (BMPER), and the other increasing growth (BBS9) in heterozygous state. We provide strong evidence for balancing selection resulting in an unexpected high frequency of a lethal allele in the population. This study shows that the large amounts of genomic and phenotypic data routinely generated in modern commercial breeding programs deliver a powerful tool to monitor and control lethal alleles much more efficiently.

Reproduction traits of heterozygous myostatin knockout sows crossbred with homozygous myostatin knockout boars.

Few studies exist on homozygous myostatin gene mutant (MSTN-/- ) pigs, especially on their reproductive ability. We have previously shown that semen quality of homozygous MSTN-/- boars is comparable to that of wild type (WT). However, no data exist on the reproductive ability of heterozygous MSTN gene mutant (MSTN+/ - ) sows. The present study highlights showed that the heterozygous MSTN+/ - sows have delayed pubertal age than WT sows (255.80 ± 6.79 versus 191.10 ± 3.42, respectively). The number of services per pregnancy of heterozygous MSTN+/ - sows is significantly higher than that of WT sows (3.33 ± 0.43 versus 1.60 ± 0.25, respectively). Moreover, although heterozygous MSTN+/ - sows have natural reproduction ability, their litter size was significantly lower than that of WT sows (7.75 ± 0.44 versus 14.25 ± 0.60, respectively). Offsprings generated from heterozygous MSTN+/ - sow and homozygous MSTN-/- boar were genotyped with the PCR and sequencing method to detect myostatin mutation and to identify whether the piglets are homozygous MSTN-/- or heterozygous MSTN+/ - . The proportion of homozygous MSTN-/- piglets was significantly lower than that of heterozygous MSTN+/ - piglets (2.50 ± 0.35 versus 5.25 ± 0.60, respectively). Furthermore, none of the sows presented dystocia, and the phenotype of heterozygous MSTN+/ - piglets was normal. However, 10% homozygous MSTN-/- piglets died of dyspnoea within 2 hr after birth, 60% of homozygous MSTN-/- piglets showed large tongues, and 50% had umbilical hernias. In summary, this study for the first time reports the reproduction traits of heterozygous MSTN+/ - sows crossbred with homozygous MSTN-/- boars. This study will pave the way in a new direction for the breeding and development of super lean meat varieties in the future.

Effects of tea tree oil supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune status and microbial community in weaned pigs.

The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary tea tree oil (TTO) supplementation could effectively replace the antibiotics through modulating the antioxidant capacity and intestinal microbiota profile, and then decreasing the diarrhoea incidence and improving the growth performance of weaned pigs. A total of 216 weaned pigs with initial body weights (BW) of 9.19 ± 1.86 kg were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments in a completely randomised design. The dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON) without any antibiotics, and two experimental diets formulated by adding 75 mg/kg aureomycin (AGP) or 100 mg/kg TTO into the basal diet, respectively. Pigs fed the TTO diet showed greater gain to feed ratio (p < 0.05) than those fed CON and AGP diets during d 0-14 and d 14-28. Both dietary TTO and AGP supplementation tended to increase the average daily gain of weaned pigs during d 14-28 (p = 0.06) and the overall 28-d period (p = 0.07), and significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the diarrhoea incidence during d 0-14 compared with the CON treatment. In addition, dietary TTO supplementation improved the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and ether extract (p < 0.05), and increased (p < 0.05) the propionate and butyrate concentrations in faecal samples of weaned pigs. Moreover, pigs fed the TTO diet showed greater total antioxidant capacity, greater superoxide dismutase and interleukin-10 concentrations, and lower malondialdehyde concentration in serum than those fed the CON diet (p < 0.05). Furthermore, pigs fed the TTO diet demonstrated greater relative abundance of Clostridiaceae_1, while those fed the AGP diet exhibited greater relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae at family level. In conclusion, dietary TTO supplementation could improve growth performance in weaned pigs, which could be mainly attributed to the benefits on nutrient digestibility, antioxidative capacity and microbial community profile.

Effects of dietary supplementation of compound enzymes on performance, nutrient digestibility, serum antioxidant status, immunoglobulins, intestinal morphology and microbiota community in weaned pigs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of compound enzymes (CE) (containing per g 375 U amylase, 2500 U protease, 4000 U xylanase and 150 U ß-glucanase) on performance, nutrient digestibility, serum antioxidant status, immunoglobulins, intestinal morphology, volatile fatty acids contents and microbiota community in weaned pigs. Seventy-two pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, weaned at d 28) with an average body weight of 8.49 ± 0.87 kg were allotted into two treatments with six replicate pens per treatment (three barrows and three gilts per pen) according to sex and body weight in a randomised complete block design. The treatments contained a corn-soybean meal-barley basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 1000 mg CE/kg (CE). The study was divided into phase 1 (d 1 to 14) and 2 (d 15 to 35). The average daily gain was increased (p < 0.05) in pigs fed CE in phase 2 and overall (d 1 to 35) compared with CON. These pigs had greater (p ≤ 0.05) serum IgA, IgG, superoxide dismutase and catalase contents, as well as tended to increase serum IgM content and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of organic matter in phase 1 compared with CON. In phase 2, pigs supplemented with CE showed greater (p < 0.01) ATTD of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and gross energy compared with CON. These pigs also had increased (p < 0.05) IgA, IgG, IgM, superoxide dismutase contents, and decreased (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde content in serum compared with CON. Moreover, pigs fed CE had higher (p < 0.05) villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in ileum, and tended to increased acetic acid content in colon compared with CON. Furthermore, pigs fed CE had increased (p < 0.05) relative abundance of Firmicutes at phylum level, Lactobacillales at order level, Lactobacillaceae at family level, Bacilli at class level, Lactobacillus at genus level in caecum and colon, as well as lower (p < 0.05) relative abundance of Bacteroidetes at phylum level, Bacteroidales at the order level, Bacteroidia at class level, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_6 at genus level in colon compared with CON. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of compound enzymes could effectively improve nutrient digestibility, serum antioxidant status, immunoglobulin, gut morphology, microbiota community, and therefore improve performance in weaned pigs.

Incorporation of cooked barley residue and spent grapes in the ration of pregnant Large White Yorkshire sows and their piglets.

In Kerala and other South Indian States, the ayurvedic by-products are widely available which can adequately be incorporated into pig diets. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary incorporation of cooked barley residue and spent grapes on feed intake, growth performance, and nutrient utilization in sows and their piglets. Using completely randomized design (CRD), fifteen (15) Large White Yorkshire (LWY) pregnant sows with an average body weight of 180.53 kg, 3 weeks before the estimated date of farrowing, were randomly allotted to one of three treatment groups. The dietary treatment groups consisted of T1 (control), fed with a ration containing maize and soya bean meal of 18% CP and 3265 kcal/kg ME, T2 with a ration containing cooked barley residue replacing 25% maize in control, and T3 with a ration containing spent grapes replacing 25% maize in control ration. Data on average daily feed intake (ADFI), fortnightly bodyweight of sows and their piglets were recorded for 63 days. Also, the average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and cost of feed per kg of weight gain of the piglets were calculated. The result showed no significant (P > 0.05) dietary treatment effects on average weekly dry matter intake and fortnightly average body weight gain among the sows in all the three groups. Piglets showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) in total dry matter intake (DMI), total body weight gain, ADG, and FCR among the three groups during the entire study period. No variations were observed for the apparent digestibility of nitrogen-free extract and the availability of magnesium in the three rations. The cost of feed per kg weight gain was lower in piglets belonging to T2 and T3 than the control (T1), though not significant statistically (P > 0.05). It is, therefore, concluded that cooked barley residue and spent grapes could be included up to 25% in the ration of sow and their piglets by partially replacing maize without affecting their overall performances.

Nutrient Restriction has Limited Short-Term Effects on Gut, Immunity, and Brain Development in Preterm Pigs.

BACKGROUND: Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in preterm infants is associated with higher morbidity and impaired neurodevelopment. Early nutrition support may prevent EUGR in preterm infants, but it is not known if this improves organ development and brain function in the short and long term. OBJECTIVE: Using pigs as models for infants, we hypothesized that diet-induced EUGR impairs gut, immunity, and brain development in preterm neonates during the first weeks after birth. METHODS: Forty-four preterm caesarean-delivered pigs (Danish Landrace × Large White × Duroc, birth weight 975 ± 235 g, male:female ratio 23:21) from 2 sows were fed increasing volumes [32-180 mL/(kg·d)] of dilute bovine milk (EUGR group) or the same diet fortified with powdered bovine colostrum for 19 d (CONT group, 50-100% higher protein and energy intake than the EUGR group). RESULTS: The EUGR pigs showed reduced body growth (-39%, P < 0.01), lower plasma albumin, phosphate, and creatine kinase concentrations (-35 to 14%, P < 0.05), increased cortisol and free iron concentrations (+130 to 700%, P < 0.05), and reduced relative weights of the intestine, liver, and spleen (-38 to 19%, all P < 0.05). The effects of EUGR on gut structure, function, microbiota, and systemic immunity were marginal, although EUGR temporarily increased type 1 helper T cell (Th1) activity (e.g. more blood T cells and higher Th1-related cytokine concentrations on day 8) and reduced colon nutrient fermentation (lower SCFA concentration; -45%, P < 0.01). Further, EUGR pigs showed increased relative brain weights (+19%, P < 0.01), however, memory and learning, as tested in a spatial T-maze, were not affected. CONCLUSION: Most of the measured organ growth, and digestive, immune, and brain functions showed limited effects of diet-induced EUGR in preterm pigs during the first weeks after birth. Likewise, preterm infants may show remarkable physiological adaptation to deficient nutrient supply during the first weeks of life although early life malnutrition may exert negative consequences later.

Infant Formula Feeding Changes the Proliferative Status in Piglet Neonatal Mammary Glands Independently of Estrogen Signaling.

BACKGROUND: Soy infant formula contains isoflavones, which are able to bind to and activate estrogen receptor (ER) pathways. The mammary gland is sensitive to estrogens, raising concern that the use of soy formulas may promote premature development. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine if soy formula feeding increases mammary gland proliferation and differentiation in comparison to other infant postnatal diets. METHODS: White-Dutch Landrace piglets aged 2 d received either sow milk (Sow), or were provided milk formula (Milk), soy formula (Soy), milk formula supplemented with 17-beta-estradiol (2 mg/(kg·d); M + E2), or milk formula supplemented with genistein (84 mg/L of diet; M + G) until day 21. Mammary gland proliferation and differentiation was assessed by histology, and real-time RT-PCR confirmation of differentially expressed genes identified by microarray analysis. RESULTS: Mammary terminal end bud numbers were 19-31% greater in the Milk, Soy, and M + G groups relative to the Sow and M + E2, P <0.05. Microarray analysis identified differentially expressed genes between each formula-fed group relative to the Sow (±1.7-fold, P <0.05). Real-time RT-PCR confirmed 2- to 4-fold increases in mRNA transcripts of genes involved in cell proliferation, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), and fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18), in all groups relative to the Sow, P <0.05. In contrast, genes involved in cell differentiation and ductal morphogenesis, angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AGTR2), microtubule associated protein 1b (MAP1B), and kinesin family member 26b (KIF26B), were significantly upregulated by 2-, 4-, and 13-fold, respectively, in the M + E2 group. Additionally, mRNA expression of ER-specific gene targets, progesterone receptor (PGR), was increased by 12-fold, and amphiregulin (AREG) and Ras-like estrogen regulated growth inhibitor (RERG) expression by 1.5-fold in the M + E2 group, P <0.05. In the soy and M + G groups, mRNA expressions of fatty acid synthesis genes were increased 2- to 4-fold. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate soy formula feeding does not promote ER-signaling in the piglet mammary gland. Infant formula feeding (milk- or soy-based) may initiate proliferative pathways independently of estrogenic signaling.

Multi-omics profiling highlights lipid metabolism alterations in pigs fed low-dose antibiotics.

BACKGROUND: In order to study the relations of hepatocellular functions, weight gain and metabolic imbalance caused by low-dose antibiotics (LDA) via epigenetic regulation of gene transcription, 32 weaned piglets were employed as animal models and randomly allocated into two groups with diets supplemented with 0 or LDA (chlorotetracycline and virginiamycin). RESULTS: During the 4 weeks of the experiment, LDA showed a clear growth-promoting effect, which was exemplified by the significantly elevated body weight and average daily gain. Promoter methylome profiling using liquid hybridization capture-based bisulfite sequencing (LHC-BS) indicated that most of the 745 differential methylation regions (DMRs) were hypermethylated in the LDA group. Several DMRs were significantly enriched in genes related with fatty acids metabolic pathways, such as FABP1 and PCK1. In addition, 71 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by strand-specific transcriptome analysis of liver tissues, including ALOX15, CXCL10 and NNMT, which are three key DEGs that function in lipid metabolism and immunity and which had highly elevated expression in the LDA group. In accordance with these molecular changes, the lipidome analyses of serum by LC-MS identified 38 significantly differential lipids, most of which were downregulated in the LDA group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that LDA could induce epigenetic and transcriptional changes of key genes and lead to enhanced efficiency of lipid metabolism in the liver.

Capsulized faecal microbiota transplantation ameliorates post-weaning diarrhoea by modulating the gut microbiota in piglets.

Early weaning-induced stress causes diarrhoea, thereby reducing the growth performance of piglets. Gut bacterial dysbiosis has emerged as a leading cause of post-weaning diarrhoea. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of capsulized faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on the gut bacterial community, immune response and gut barrier function of piglets. Thirty-two weaned barrows were randomly divided into two groups. The recipient group was inoculated orally with capsulized faecal microbiota of healthy Tibetan pigs during the whole period of the trial, while the control group was given an empty capsule. The feed-to-gain ratio, diarrhoea ratio, and histological damage score of recipient piglets were significantly decreased. FMT treatment significantly increased the colon length of piglets. Furthermore, the relative abundances of Firmicutes, Euryarchaeota, Tenericutes, Lactobacillus, and Methanobrevibacter in the colon of recipient piglets were increased, and the relative abundances of Campylobacter and Proteobacteria were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group. CD4+ lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the peripheral blood of recipient piglets were significantly increased. FMT treatment increased the IL-4 and IL-10 levels and decreased the TNF-α and INF-γ levels in the colonic tissue of piglets. The recipient piglets' mRNA expression of TLR2, TLR8, NF-κB, and iNOS was significantly regulated. In addition, FMT significantly enhanced the gene expression of ZO-1. Overall, treatment with capsulized FMT ameliorated diarrhoea in piglets, with significant effects on limiting colon inflammatory responses, downregulating the TLR signalling pathway and the gene expression of iNOS, and strengthening intestinal barrier function by modulating the constituents of the gut microbiota.