Modulation of fecal microbiota and reductions in fecal antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) driven by Weissella-fermented feed in growing pigs.

Probiotics-induced feed fermentation can improve the composition of microbiota, leading to benefits in pig production. However, the influence of probiotics-driven feed fermentation on pollution reduction is limited. This study aimed to analyze the impact of Weissella-based feed fermentation on the chemical characteristics, changes in microbial abundance, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Moreover, the possible mechanism and the association among them was also analyzed. First, pigs reared on fermented feed exhibited improved growth performance. The fermentation group showed a significant reduction in emissions of total phosphorus (TP), total carbon (TC), organic matter (OM), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) levels in feces compared to the control group. The fermentation group also showed a significant decrease in the ARGs, especially for the tetX, tetW, tetQ, tetL, tetO, tet32, tet44, ermG, ermF, CfxA2, CfxA3, aph3-III, aadA, and ant9-I, compared to the control group. The primary functional microbiota, characterized by increased levels of Bifidobacterium, Megasphaera, and Mitsuokella, and decreased levels of Methanosphaera, and Ruminiclostridium, displayed both negative and positive correlations with ARGs, TC, TP, OM, Cu, and Zn. Furthermore, a significant association was observed between the alterations in microbiota and ARGs and the lactic acid concentration in the fermented feed. The molecular docking results showed a good fit between lactate dehydrogenase and three antibiotics, particularly tetracycline. In conclusion, these results offer novel targets and strategies to address environmental pollutants associated with pig farming.

The challenges of pig farming in Hong Kong: a study of farmers' perceptions and attitudes towards a pig health and production management service.

BACKGROUND: Pig farming in Hong Kong differs markedly from other places in the world, with a highly urbanised population, the majority of pigs being imported for slaughter, and limited on-farm veterinary support. Little is known about the barriers and attitudes of pig farmers in Hong Kong and their expectations of a new pig health and production management service provided by veterinarians. We collected qualitative and quantitative data to 1) describe pig farms, 2) identify barriers to pig farming in Hong Kong and 3) describe the perceptions of the new service. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify barriers and attitudes. RESULTS: Eight and nine out of 38 pig farmers agreed to participate in the qualitative and quantitative components, respectively. All farms were farrow-to-finish farms with a median of 2800 (range 950 to 7000) pigs per farm. Three themes were identified during the interview analysis and could be ranked based on their importance to the farmers: the regulatory environment (Theme 1), veterinary support structures (Theme 2), and the sustainability of the pig industry (Theme 3). Farmers expressed dissatisfaction with the regulation of the industry and veterinary services on offer within Hong Kong. However, farmers did note that the provision of a new pig health and production management service was as a positive development. The public perception of pig farming, market forces, and competition from mainland pig farmers have resulted in sustainability challenges for the industry. CONCLUSIONS: Farmers identified very specific local systems and challenges unique to pig farming in Hong Kong. The lack of veterinary support was one of these challenges and although a certain level of scepticism towards the new pig health and production service was expressed, farmers indicated their interest and listed areas where they would benefit from improved veterinary support. Prior experiences of veterinary services clouded farmers perceptions of the usefulness of a new service. To be successful in this environment, clear communication about the goals, role and limitations of the new on farm service is crucial, as is the alignment with the needs of farmers. Despite the small sample size, the qualitative methodology used allows us to assume that these themes give a general idea of what Hong Kong farmers' concerns and attitudes are.

Exploratory inference of the ingestive behavior of pigs in the finishing phase in an air-conditioned environment.

The objective of this research is to apply exploratory analysis and modeling associated with abiotic factors, physiological and behavioral variables of swine in the semi-arid region. The experimental design used was completely randomized, in a 3 × 3 factorial scheme, randomly distributed in nine pens, with three animals. The behavior of the animals was recorded using images and analyzed within 10-min interval. The data analysis used was multivariate, using the clustering method (tree diagram) and principal component analysis (PCA), in order to establish the main predictors of swine ingestive behavior, using multiple linear regression models. The PCA showed satisfactory results, in which the lowest eigenvalue observed was 2.82 and the accumulated variance for the treatments ranged from 69.70 to 94% for the first two principal components. Through exploratory data analysis, it was possible to identify the relationship between biotic and abiotic factors with the ingestive behavior of pigs in the finishing phase. Based on the results of the multivariate analysis, the most promising predictor variables for estimating the regression models were determined. Adiabatic evaporative cooling associated with 18 h of light was the combination of factors with the best results, presenting models for eating and drinking behavior, i.e. a complete ingestive characterization.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniasis in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniasis (TSCT) is reported to be endemic in pig producing areas around the world, causing significant disease burden and economic losses. METHODS: This cross-sectional study aimed at assessing Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) regarding TSCT in four districts, namely Mbulu, Mpwapwa, Mbinga, and Rungwe in Tanzania. Data on KAP were collected through questionnaire-based interviews and household infrastructure observations. RESULTS: Knowledge about porcine cysticercosis was good, particularly among pig keepers across the districts. Many participants had heard about the pork tapeworm (T. solium taeniasis), and the knowledge about signs/symptoms and treatment was fair, but the means of transmission and prevention measures were often unknown. Whilst most participants were familiar with epilepsy, no one knew anything about human cysticercosis and the link between cysticercosis and epileptic seizures. A similar trend is reflected through the attitudes toward the low risk perception of cysticercosis infection. Not surprisingly, the risk perception of the infection with the pork tapeworm was low too. Many participants reported not washing their hands before eating or after using the toilet which highlights potential risks for the development of human cysticercosis. Albeit nearly every participant reported using the toilet always, household observations revealed that toilets were either lacking or had no complete walls. Generally, household observations revealed a discrepancy between questionnaire answers on the one hand and the availability of toilet and handwashing facilities and the confinement of pigs on the other hand. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates knowledge gaps and adverse practices which may hinder and/or slow down the control/elimination of T. solium in endemic countries. The study results are also useful for appropriate designing of TSCT health interventions that need to be planned carefully, taking into account the local context and designing TSCT in partnership with the local communities from the beginning to the end applying a One Health approach to allow the possible sustained and best impacts.

The Research Progress of Vision-Based Artificial Intelligence in Smart Pig Farming.

Pork accounts for an important proportion of livestock products. For pig farming, a lot of manpower, material resources and time are required to monitor pig health and welfare. As the number of pigs in farming increases, the continued use of traditional monitoring methods may cause stress and harm to pigs and farmers and affect pig health and welfare as well as farming economic output. In addition, the application of artificial intelligence has become a core part of smart pig farming. The precision pig farming system uses sensors such as cameras and radio frequency identification to monitor biometric information such as pig sound and pig behavior in real-time and convert them into key indicators of pig health and welfare. By analyzing the key indicators, problems in pig health and welfare can be detected early, and timely intervention and treatment can be provided, which helps to improve the production and economic efficiency of pig farming. This paper studies more than 150 papers on precision pig farming and summarizes and evaluates the application of artificial intelligence technologies to pig detection, tracking, behavior recognition and sound recognition. Finally, we summarize and discuss the opportunities and challenges of precision pig farming.

Factors affecting enduring participation in a pig farming program in Southern Papua, Indonesia.

In mid-2016, the local government of Papua, Indonesia, launched a subsidised program to improve pig farming in the area, with 250 participants. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with enduring participation in pig farming among the program participants. Two years after the commencement of the program, one hundred of the 250 participants were recruited into the study and divided into two groups: participants who continued to engage in pig farming ("remain") and those who had quit pig farming ("quit"). Data were collected from interviews, including personal data and events on the farms between April 2017 and March 2018. Multiple correspondence analysis, followed by a two-step cluster analysis and multivariate regression, was used to explore factors associated with the durability of pig farmings. Results indicated that associated factors included feed and water security, the use of concrete material for the pig house floor, the avoidance of swill feeding, reduced pig mortality, and continued pig husbandry training. This study highlights that a good feeding regimen and effective control of pig diseases should be priority pig husbandry techniques to be extended through training and assistance to improve traditional pig farming in Papua.

An Internet of Things Platform Based on Microservices and Cloud Paradigms for Livestock.

With the growing adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the agricultural sector, smart devices are becoming more prevalent. The availability of new, timely, and precise data offers a great opportunity to develop advanced analytical models. Therefore, the platform used to deliver new developments to the final user is a key enabler for adopting IoT technology. This work presents a generic design of a software platform based on the cloud and implemented using microservices to facilitate the use of predictive or prescriptive analytics under different IoT scenarios. Several technologies are combined to comply with the essential features-scalability, portability, interoperability, and usability-that the platform must consider to assist decision-making in agricultural 4.0 contexts. The platform is prepared to integrate new sensor devices, perform data operations, integrate several data sources, transfer complex statistical model developments seamlessly, and provide a user-friendly graphical interface. The proposed software architecture is implemented with open-source technologies and validated in a smart farming scenario. The growth of a batch of pigs at the fattening stage is estimated from the data provided by a level sensor installed in the silo that stores the feed from which the animals are fed. With this application, we demonstrate how farmers can monitor the weight distribution and receive alarms when high deviations happen.

Evolution of welfare indicators of pigs housed in deep bedding systems during growing and finishing phases: assessment of good health principles and housing conditions.

The aim of the study was to monitor the evolution of welfare indicators of pigs throughout growing and finishing phases housed in a deep bedding system by principles of good health and housing. In all, 16,500 animals, distributed in 15 facilities, were evaluated over a 4-month period. Three assessments were carried out in each facility by a single evaluator, according to the following time distribution: phase one (75 to 85 days old), phase two (86 to 161 days old), and phase three (162 to 180 days old). Only the parameters related to good health and good housing were considered. Data were analyzed by logistic regression for longitudinal data. Poisson distribution was used on the coughing and sneezing data, with subsequent chi-square analysis. There were no cases of poor body condition, shivering, panting, huddling, tail biting, pumping, twisted snout, rectal prolapse, lameness, and skin conditions. The final evaluations were associated with greater chances of hernia and bursitis, with greater prevalence in males than in females. The prevalence of wound and manure on the body parameters was influenced by the interaction of the evaluation and animal category. The incidence of coughing and the number of animals presenting this symptom gradually increased, becoming considerably higher in the final stage of evaluation. Health-related problems change throughout the production cycle. The evaluation of a broad and reliable view on animal welfare allows for the most appropriate management of production systems using deep bedding.

An index for multidimensional assessment of swine health.

Pork accounts for almost one-third of the meat consumed worldwide. Infectious diseases have a marked impact on pig production. Epidemiological indicators are considered the most useful criteria in decision-making; however, a health status assessment remains a challenge at the national and regional levels. This study proposes a health index including herd-losses, morbidity, fatality, and type of diseases, to rate the health situation in a region or country; it contributes to assessing the effectiveness of control, damage manifestation, and trends. It is a multidimensional index with a structure of triads and simple quantitative, semi-quantitative, and qualitative expressions that use flexible and dynamics limits. With it, we analyzed twenty-one countries in 2005-2018, focusing on African swine fever, classical swine fever, foot-mouth-disease, and porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome, diseases that caused 72% of the morbidity. Our multidimensional approach estimates farm, local, and regional impact from infectious agents and outbreaks, and apprises trends aiming to be useful to control measures, strategic actions, and animal health policies.

Cottonseed meal with enzyme complex for finishing pigs.

This work evaluated the digestibility of the experimental diets, the performance and the economic viability of pigs in the finishing phase fed with diets containing increasing levels of cottonseed meal (CM) with enzymatic complex. In the digestibility test, 35 barrows with an average weight of 54.54 ± 2.49 kg were used and for the performance and economic viability test, 30 pigs with an average weight of 55.47 ± 5.3 kg were used. In both trials, the animals were distributed in five diets: control diet (0), control diet plus the enzyme complex (0E), diet with 5% CM plus the enzyme complex (5E), diet with 10% CM plus the enzyme complex (10E), and a diet with 15% CM plus the enzyme complex (15E). The digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) reduced with the inclusion of CM with enzyme complex in the diet of pigs in the finishing phase, in contrast to the ether extract (EE), which improved as the inclusion of CM increased. No statistical difference (P > 0.05) was found in the performance when all diets were compared; however, when comparing only the diets that contained the enzyme complex separately, a negative linear effect (P = 0.015) was observed for the feed conversion (FC) in period 2. The diets have no effects on periods 1 and 3. Diets 0, 5E, 10E, and 15E, presented better net income (P = 0.019) in March to May 2018 due to the different levels of inclusion of CM with enzyme complex; in the other evaluated items, there were no statistical differences (P > 0.05). The inclusion of CM and enzyme complex in the diets reduced the digestibility of the dietary components; however, it did not reflect on the performance and was not financially viable in the studied scenario.

Environmental life cycle comparisons of pig farming integrated with anaerobic digestion and algae-based wastewater treatment.

This article shows environmental life cycle comparisons of four scenarios of manure management systems (MMS) for the intensive pig farming systems in terms of materials, transport, energy, and emissions. The MMS scenarios are categorized by different combinations of outside storage, anaerobic mono-/co-digester, and algae-based wastewater treatment (AWWT), where the conventional MMS scenario merely uses the outside storage (Scenario 1) or adopts an integrated anaerobic mono-digester and the outside storage (Scenario 2). The nonconventional MMS scenario uses an integrated anaerobic mono-digester and AWWT process (Scenario 3), notably the harvested algae biomass is used to fully substitute a few ingredients of swine diets. Using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, it is validated that Scenario 3 reduces the total environmental impact by 35.5%-40% as compared to Scenarios 1 and 2 and increases the nutrient recovery of nitrogen ratio from 58% (Scenario 1) to 81%. Scenario 4 uses an integrated anaerobic co-digester and AWWT process, where the harvested algae biomass is partially recycled to substitute the partial ingredients of swine diets and the remaining part is fed into the anaerobic co-digester for improving the biogas yield, to increase the algae biomass yield by 49% and also enhance the cogeneration of heat and power by 26.6% and 7%, respectively, as compared to Scenario 3.

Microbial species and biodiversity in settling dust within and between pig farms.

The airborne fungal and bacterial species present in pig farm dust have not been well characterised even though these bioaerosols are known to cause inflammation and other airway maladies. In this study, the microbial species and composition in airborne dust within and between pig farms were investigated. Passively sedimenting dust from six pig farms were collected using electrostatic dust collectors. The bacterial and fungal species were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and next generation sequencing (NGS). Dust samples taken within the same stable section revealed high resemblance and stability. Constrained statistical analysis of the microbial community compositions indicated that the types of stable did not appear to have a great effect on the bacterial and fungal ß-diversity. In contrast to this, the farm from which samples were taken appeared to have the greatest effect on the bacterial ß-diversity, but this trend was not observed for the fungal ß-diversity. The most common bacteria and fungi according to NGS data were anaerobes typically associated with the pig intestinal tract and yeasts respectively. Bacterial sedimentation varied at a rate between 103 and 109 CFU/m2/day, with the most common species after aerobic incubation being Aerococcus viridans and Staphylococcus equorum, while Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus simulans were the most common species after anaerobic incubation. A total of 28 different species of bacteria and fungi were classifiable as pathogens. In conclusion, the biodiversity in pig farm dust shows a high diversity of bacterial species. However, samples from the same stable section resembled each other, but also different sections within the same farm also resembled each other, thus indicating a high degree of community stability in the dust source. In regards to fungal identification, the biodiversity was observed to be similar between samples from different stable sections and farms, indicating a higher degree of similarities in the mycobiomes found across pig farms studied.

Epidemiologic Survey of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection, Tibet, China, 2015.

We investigated Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) prevalence in high-altitude regions of Tibet, China, by using standard assays to test mosquitoes, pigs, and humans. Results confirmed that JEV has spread to these areas. Disease prevention and control strategies should be used along with surveillance to limit spread of JEV in high-altitude regions of Tibet.

Monitoring and assessment of surface water quality in Taquari-Antas Watershed, South Brazil-region with intensive pig farming.

Pig farming is one of the human activities carried out to meet the increasing food demand by the increasing population. South Brazil is the region with most intensive pig farming in the country, exerting pressure on the water and soil environments by the relevant pollutant emissions. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to assess pig farming pollution by monitoring superficial water qualities of the Taquari-Antas Watershed in South Brazil. The study area is about 8062 km2 (south latitude 292,614, 282,624 and west longitude 520,802, 504,554). In 2014, there were 861 pig farmers and 739,858 animals were slaughtered. Samples were collected bimonthly from 13 spots during 2 years of monitoring. The main analysis included the determination of the water quality index (WQI)-a nine physicochemical and microbiological parameter index-and the trophic state index (TSI), which gives a trophic degree based on phosphorous and chlorophyll-α concentration to assess the impacts of the pig farming on superficial water of the region. The results suggest that the regions with high concentration of finishing stage farms present a higher risk to water quality. A distance of 4 km between different spots was enough to detect a significant decrease in the WQI. The WQI was found ranging from "regular" to "good" (62.77 and 78.95). The TSI were found to be mesotrophic at every spot during the entire period of the study.

Space-temporal analysis of groundwater quality in three areas of the state of Yucatán, México, and its relationship with existing anthropogenic activity.

Groundwater in the Yucatan State is the only source of water. The karst aquifer in Yucatan is vulnerable to pollution. Anthropic activities in Yucatan, such as pig farming, are usually related to high wastewater discharges and water pollution. Administrative and logistical issues in developing on-site sampling to evaluate water quality are common in Mexico. The RENAMECA database provides official data related to groundwater quality. However, no analysis based on this database has been reported. A groundwater quality evaluation based on five reference pig farms and the effect of spatial and temporal anthropic activities in the study area was developed. Eighteen wells based on their location concerning the selected pig farms were studied. On-site sampling and laboratory analysis of the supply water and wastewater in the study case farm were done. Fecal coliforms (FC) values (maximum 2850 MPN [100 mL] -1) in most cases for supply water wells exceeded the allowed limit by NOM-127-SAA1-2021. The year of monitoring was significant (P < 0.05) on FC concentrations. Population density and the proximity of wells to population centers affect negatively the presence of total dissolved solids (TDS) and total nitrogen (TN). TDS (maximum value 2620 mg L -1) and phosphorus presence could be related to agricultural activities, human settlements, and local aquifer conditions. A local wastewater treatment issue is evident. Groundwater is not quality for consumption without treatment. Regarding the issues in on-site water monitoring, database analysis provides an approximation of the real situation of groundwater quality.

Antimicrobial Use in Pig Farms in the Midwestern Region of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The use of antimicrobials in swine production is an issue that concerns the whole world due to their impact on animal and public health. This study aimed to verify the antimicrobial use in 29 commercial full-cycle farms in the midwestern region of the state of Minas Gerais, since this region is a hub of intensive pig farming in Brazil, as well as the possible correlations between the use of antimicrobials, biosecurity, and productivity. A total of 28 different drugs used for preventive purposes were described. On average, the herds used seven drugs, exposing the piglets for 116 days and totaling 434.17 mg of antimicrobials per kilogram of pig produced. Just eight active ingredients made up 77.5% of the total number of drugs used on the studied herds. Significant differences were found between the variables, biosecurity score and number of sows, antimicrobial amount and number of drugs, number of drugs and number of sows, and between productivity and biosecurity scores. The use of antimicrobials was considered excessive in the swine farms in the state of Minas Gerais compared to what was reported in Brazil and in other countries. Educational measures and better control should be proposed to reduce the preventive use of antimicrobials.

Fermented Rapeseed and Soybean Alone and in Combination with Macro Algae Inhibit Human and Pig Pathogenic Bacteria In Vitro.

Higher plants produce secondary metabolites expressing antimicrobial effects as a defense mechanism against opportunistic microorganisms living in close proximity with the plant. Fermentation leads to bioconversion of plant substrates to these bioactive compounds and their subsequent release via breakdown of plant cell walls. Fermented feed products have recently started to become implemented in the pig industry to reduce overall disease pressure and have been found to reduce events such as post-weaning diarrhea. In this study, we investigate the antimicrobial potential of fermented soybean- and rapeseed-based pig feed supplements with and without added seaweed. The antimicrobial effect was tested in a plate well diffusion assay against a range of known human and livestock pathogenic bacteria. Further, we investigate the metabolite profiles based on liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of the fermented products in comparison to their unfermented constituents. We observed a pronounced release of potential antimicrobial secondary metabolites such as benzoic acids when the plant material was fermented, and a significantly increased antimicrobial effect compared to the unfermented controls against several pathogenic bacteria, especially Salmonella enterica Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, and a strain of atopic dermatitis causing Staphylococcus aureus CC1. In conclusion, fermentation significantly enhances the antimicrobial properties of rapeseed, soybean, and seaweed, offering a promising alternative to zinc oxide for controlling pathogens in piglet feed. This effect is attributed to the release of bioactive metabolites effective against pig production-relevant bacteria.

Circular bioeconomy approach for pig farming systems using microalgae-based wastewater treatment processes.

The circular bioeconomy (CBE) presents a sustainable solution for the pig farming system, delivering economic and environmental benefits. This shift from a linear to a CBE model is anticipated to result in substantial economic, environmental, and social transformations. In this study, the CBE outcomes are evaluated with Scenarios (1 to 3): (1) pig farming and anaerobic digestion (AD) only, (2) pig farming, AD, and microalgae system (MS) with partial microalgae-based biomass (MB) recycle, and (3) pig farming, AD, and MS without MB recycle. Through economic and life cycle analyses, the internal rate of return for Scenarios (1 to 3) are 13.3%, 15.0%, and 12.3%, respectively, but the corresponding endpoint indicators are 483pt, 363pt, and 398pt. To address the best CBE, Scenario 2 by using MB product as a pig feed supplement could achieve higher revenue as well as lower environmental impact.

The effects of antibiotic use on the dynamics of the microbiome and resistome in pigs.

Antibiotics are widely used in pig farming across the world which has led to concerns about the potential impact on human health through the selection of antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria. This worry has resulted in the development of a production scheme known as pigs Raised Without Antibiotics (RWA), in which pigs are produced in commercial farms, but are ear-tagged as RWA until slaughter unless they receive treatment, thus allowing the farmer to sell the pigs either as premium priced RWA or as conventional meat. Development of antibiotic resistance in pig farming has been studied in national surveys of antibiotic usage and resistance, as well as in experimental studies of groups of pigs, but not in individual pigs followed longitudinally in a commercial pig farm. In this study, a cohort of RWA designated pigs were sampled at 10 time points from birth until slaughter along with pen-mates treated with antibiotics at the same farm. From these samples, the microbiome, determined using 16S sequencing, and the resistome, as determined using qPCR for 82 resistance genes, was investigated, allowing us to examine the difference between RWA pigs and antibiotic treated pigs. We furthermore included 176 additional pigs from six different RWA farms which were sampled at the slaughterhouse as an endpoint to substantiate the cohort as well as for evaluation of intra-farm variability. The results showed a clear effect of age in both the microbiome and resistome composition from early life up until slaughter. As a function of antibiotic treatment, however, we observed a small but significant divergence between treated and untreated animals in their microbiome composition immediately following treatment, which disappeared before 8 weeks of age. The effect on the resistome was evident and an effect of treatment could still be detected at week 8. In animals sampled at the slaughterhouse, we observed no difference in the microbiome or the resistome as a result of treatment status but did see a strong effect of farm origin. Network analysis of co-occurrence of microbiome and resistome data suggested that some resistance genes may be transferred through mobile genetic elements, so we used Hi-C metagenomics on a subset of samples to investigate this. We conclude that antibiotic treatment has a differential effect on the microbiome vs. the resistome and that although resistance gene load is increased by antibiotic treatment load, this effect disappears before slaughter. More studies are needed to elucidate the optimal way to rear pigs without antibiotics.

Phytogenic Bioactive Compounds in the Diet of Lactating Sows, Litter Performance, and Milk Characteristics.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of phytogenic supplementation in the feed of lactating sows on the performance parameters of sows and suckling piglets. Ninety-three lactating sows of commercial lines (sows TN70) were distributed in a completely randomized design. The treatments adopted were a control diet without phytogenics (control) and a control diet with phytogenic supplementation in the feed. Performance parameters and the behaviors of sows and piglets were evaluated, in addition to milk composition and the biochemical parameters of the animals. The use of phytogenics did not affect the feed intake or tissue mobilization of the sows. However, it improved the production and quality of milk and reduced the possibility of light piglets at weaning by 22.16 percentage points. Regarding biochemical parameters, phytogenics improved animal recovery in the lactation period, as proven by an increase in the serum concentration of total protein and urea. Sows that received phytogenics exhibited increased behaviors of inactivity (3.16%), breastfeeding (1.15%), and water consumption (0.95%). In conclusion, using phytogenics in the feed of lactating sows improves the performance of the litters without affecting the body condition of the sows, with increased milk production and enhanced protein and lactose concentration.