How important is food structure when cats eat mice?

Feeding whole prey to felids has shown to benefit their gastrointestinal health. Whether this effect is caused by the chemical or physical nature of whole prey is unknown. Fifteen domestic cats, as a model for strict carnivores, were either fed minced mice (MM) or whole mice (WM), to determine the effect of food structure on digestibility, mean urinary excretion time (MUET) of 15N, intestinal microbial activity and fermentation products. Faeces samples were collected after feeding all cats a commercially available extruded diet (EXT) for 10 d before feeding for 19 d the MM and WM diets with faeces and urine collected from day 11 to 15. Samples for microbiota composition and determination of MUET were obtained from day 16 to 19. The physical structure of the mice diet (minced or not) did not affect large intestinal fermentation as total SCFA and branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA), and most biogenic amine (BA) concentrations were not different (P > 0·10). When changing from EXT to the mice diets, the microbial community composition shifted from a carbolytic (Prevotellaceae) to proteolytic (Fusobacteriaceae) profile and led to a reduced faecal acetic to propionic acid ratio, SCFA, total BCFA (P < 0·001), NH3 (P = 0·04), total BA (P < 0·001) and para-cresol (P = 0·08). The results of this study indicate that food structure within a whole-prey diet is less important than the overall diet type, with major shifts in microbiome and decrease in potentially harmful fermentation products when diet changes from extruded to mice. This urges for careful consideration of the consequences of prey-based diets for gut health in cats.

Cellular senescence in kidney biopsies is associated with tubular dysfunction and predicts CKD progression in childhood cancer patients with karyomegalic interstitial nephropathy.

Karyomegalic interstitial nephropathy (KIN) has been reported as an incidental finding in patients with childhood cancer treated with ifosfamide. It is defined by the presence of tubular epithelial cells (TECs) with enlarged, irregular, and hyperchromatic nuclei. Cellular senescence has been proposed to be involved in kidney fibrosis in hereditary KIN patients. We report that KIN could be diagnosed 7-32 months after childhood cancer diagnosis in 6/6 consecutive patients biopsied for progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown cause between 2018 and 2021. The morphometry of nuclear size distribution and markers for DNA damage (γH2AX), cell-cycle arrest (p21+, Ki67-), and nuclear lamina decay (loss of lamin B1), identified karyomegaly and senescence features in TECs. Polyploidy was assessed by chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In all six patients the number of p21-positive TECs far exceeded the typically small numbers of truly karyomegalic cells, and p21-positive TECs contained less lysozyme, testifying to defective resorption, which explains the consistently observed low-molecular-weight (LMW) proteinuria. In addition, polyploidy of TEC was observed to correlate with loss of lysozyme staining. Importantly, in the five patients with the largest nuclei, the percentage of p21-positive TECs tightly correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate loss between biopsy and last follow-up (R2 = 0.93, p < 0.01). We conclude that cellular senescence is associated with tubular dysfunction and predicts CKD progression in childhood cancer patients with KIN and appears to be a prevalent cause of otherwise unexplained CKD and LMW proteinuria in children treated with DNA-damaging and cell stress-inducing therapy including ifosfamide. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

An overview of nutritional factors in the aetiopathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis in great apes.

The main cause of mortality in great apes in zoological settings is cardiovascular disease (CVD), affecting all four taxa: chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), bonobo (Pan paniscus), gorilla (Gorilla spp.) and orangutan (Pongo spp.). Myocardial fibrosis, the most typical histological characterisation of CVD in great apes, is non-specific, making it challenging to understand the aetiopathogenesis. A multifactorial origin of disease is assumed whereby many potential causative factors are directly or indirectly related to the diet, which in wild-living great apes mainly consists of high-fibre, low-carbohydrate and very low-sodium components. Diets of great apes housed in zoological settings are often different compared with the situation in the wild. Moreover, low circulating vitamin D levels have recently been recognised in great apes housed in more northern regions. Evaluation of current supplementation guidelines shows that, despite implementation of different dietary strategies, animals stay vitamin D insufficient. Therefore, recent hypotheses designate vitamin D deficiency as a potential underlying factor in the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis. The aim of this literature review is to: (i) examine important differences in nutritional factors between zoological and wild great ape populations; (ii) explain the potential detrimental effects of the highlighted dietary discrepancies on cardiovascular function in great apes; and (iii) elucidate specific nutrition-related pathophysiological mechanisms that may underlie the development of myocardial fibrosis. This information may contribute to understanding the aetiopathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis in great apes and pave the way for future clinical studies and a more preventive approach to great ape CVD management.

Harmonica consensus, controversies, and future directions in radiotherapy for pediatric Wilms tumors.

Radiotherapy (RT) is essential for multimodality treatment of pediatric renal tumors, particularly in higher-risk and metastatic disease. Despite decades of use, particularly for Wilms tumor, there remain controversies regarding RT indications, timing, dose, and targets. To align global management, we address these issues in this international HARMONIsation and CollAboration (HARMONICA) project. There are multiple knowledge gaps and opportunities for future research including: (1) utilization of advanced RT technologies, including intensity-modulated RT, proton beam therapy, combined with image-guided RT to reduce target volumes; (2) impact of molecular biomarkers including loss of heterozygosity at 1p, 16q, and 1q gain on RT indications; (3) mitigation of reproductive toxicity following RT; (4) promotion of RT late effects research; and (5) support to overcome challenges in RT utilization in low- and middle-income countries where 90% of the world's children reside. Here, we outline current status and future directions for RT in pediatric renal tumors.

Long-term nephrotoxicity in irradiated pediatric kidney tumor survivors: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Nephrotoxicity can occur as a side effect after treatment for kidney tumor in childhood. The use of radiotherapy (RT) has a potential additional effect. METHODS: A systematic electronic literature search that combined childhood kidney cancer with different treatments and nephrotoxicity terms was performed in EMBASE. Studies were included based on the reporting of nephrotoxicity occurrence after treatment for kidney tumor during pediatric age, with 75% of participants being under the age of 25 years at the time of diagnosis, and having been treated with any type of kidney surgery, chemotherapy, and/or RT. RESULTS: A pooled analysis did not show significant difference in estimated glomerular filtration rate between the group of patients who received RT compared with the group treated without RT (SMD -0.11 [95% CI -1.07-0.84] p = .733). CONCLUSION: The current literature suggests that the use of RT does not have a significant impact on the decline of kidney function as independent factor.

Detailed whole-body nutrient analysis identifies differences in feeding ecology between related fish species: The case of Orestias native Andean killifish in Lake Titicaca.

Body nutrient profiles in ecological studies allow for relating the nutritional status of consumers and their effects on the movement and retention of elements in ecosystems, as well as reflecting feeding conditions and habitat quality. This study compared the detailed whole-body nutrient composition (macronutrients, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids) of two omnivorous natives Orestias killifish from Lake Titicaca (Orestias agassizii and Orestias luteus, Valenciennes), the largest lake in the Andes, as an indirect tool to understand differences in their feeding ecology. Although both species are usually described as omnivorous fish, both have amphipods (Hyalella spp) as their main food source. Our results showed that both killifish had a comparable macronutrient composition, and the mineral concentrations of Mg, P and Ca (reflecting bony structures) differed between them. Many of the saturated fatty acids were significantly lower in O. luteus, and O. agassizii had higher concentrations of cis-vaccenic acid (18:1n11 (cis)), supporting the idea of a higher algal contribution to the diet of this fish. The lower histidine and higher taurine concentrations in O. agassizii compared with O. luteus (independent of body size) may reflect its ubiquitous behaviour and plasticity. This study shows how whole-body nutrient analysis can identify differences in feeding ecology and feeding behaviour between related species.

Diet and stomach characteristics of feral piglets (Sus scrofa): Implications for farmed piglets.

Evaluation of the diet of the pig (Sus scrofa) in natural settings may provide new views on diet optimization for growth and development of commercially raised piglets under farm conditions. A field study was conducted to gain insight in the diet and stomach characteristics of feral piglets. Forty animals (body weight: 4.6 ± 1.37 kg) were collected from the Bahía Samborombón (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Stomachs were weighed after storage in formalin and the particle size distribution of their contents was determined by wet sieving. Diet items present in their stomachs were classified and their proportional weight and relative abundance was calculated. Based on their dentition, 5, 16 and 19 piglets were approximately 1, 3-6 and 6-16 weeks of age respectively. Vegetable matter (mainly 'leaves and stems') was predominantly present in 39 animals. It represented on average 83 ± 36.4% of total stomach contents by weight. The stomachs of 12 piglets contained curd and represented on average 16 ± 35.1% by weight. Other diet items were less abundant or absent. The proportion of stomach particles retained were 24%, 13%, 22%, 13% and 28% for sieves with mesh sizes of 2000, 1000, 420, 210 and <210 µm respectively. For comparison, we used data of farmed piglets of similar age and fed a nutrient-dense, finely ground diet. Feral piglets' relative empty stomach weights increased with age (p < 0.050), whereas this was not the case for farmed piglets. Relative stomach contents weight increased significantly with age only for farmed piglets (p < 0.050). We infer from our data that feral suckling piglets consumed a variety of non-milk items, mainly consisting of vegetable material with a coarse particle size from their first week in life onwards. Their diet is associated with an enhanced stomach development compared to those of farmed piglets.

DIGESTIVE AND FEEDING BEHAVIOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAPPET-FACED VULTURES (TORGOS TRACHELIOTOS) AND GRIFFON VULTURES (GYPS FULVUS) EX SITU.

Appropriate diets for ex situ wildlife are essential for animal health and welfare and yet ex situ facilities are often constrained by feed ingredient availability when attempting to replicate natural diets. In obligate carnivores such as vultures, digestive strategies are likely to have evolved alongside feeding behaviors, which may differ between even sympatric species. To begin to understand the digestive strategies of two Old World vulture species (lappet-faced vulture Torgos tracheliotos, n = 3, and griffon vulture Gyps fulvus, n = 4) of similar body size but divergent feeding habits, their feeding and digestion strategies on a diet of whole rats were compared. The food intake, color of excreta, excreta consistency, and carbon and nitrogen excretion were measured. Mean retention time of the digesta was analyzed using titanium dioxide as an inert marker in a diet of chicken carcass. Lappet-faced vultures consumed significantly greater quantities of food than griffon vultures and were less selective. Lappet-faced vultures primarily produced brown excreta while griffon vultures primarily produced green excreta, with much higher carbon and nitrogen concentrations. The consistency of excreta and the mean retention time did not differ between the species but may have been too variable to detect differences. A strong positive correlation was found between food intake per metabolic weight and the proportion of brown excreta, and both were negatively correlated with green excreta, as well as excreta concentrations of nitrogen and carbon. These findings align with their reported feeding ecology, with lappet-faced vultures showing adaptations to less-digestible carcass material compared with griffon vultures. Despite their similar size and overlapping natural habitat, these results suggest a need for differentiated feed provisioning for these species when under human care.

Amelioration of ammonia-induced intestinal oxidative stress by dietary Clostridium butyricum in giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii).

The use of Clostridium butyricum in crustacean aquaculture for anti-abiotic stress is yet unknown. Feeds were formulated containing 0, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg Clostridium butyricum (2 × 107 CFU/g), respectively. The giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) were fed for 8 weeks in triplicate. The results showed that C. butyricum-supplemented groups improved growth performance significantly with the optimum level at 610 mg/kg. Ammonia stress reduced hemolymph glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations while dietary C. butyricum significantly increased hemolymph glucose and total protein levels after the ammonia challenge. Ammonia stress increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, and the treatments supplemented with C. butyricum had considerably enhanced levels of iNOS and NO after stress. Treatment with C. butyricum increased the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide anion, with the 125 mg/kg treated groups having the extreme value. Furthermore, C. butyricum-treated groups reduced the expression of HSPs after ammonia stress while the ammonia stress induced the expression of HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90. Dietary C. butyricum elevated the expression of peroxiredoxin-5 and toll in response to ammonia stress. The results indicate that dietary supplementation with 125-500 mg/kg of C. butyricum (2 × 107 CFU/g) improved biochemical and antioxidant features as well as intestinal immunity of M. rosenbergii under ammonia challenge by activating the toll signal pathway.

Late Toxicity After 3-Dimensional External Beam Radiotherapy Among Children With Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Radiotherapy has evolved from 2-dimensional conventional radiotherapy (2D-RT) to 3-dimensional planned radiotherapy (3D-RT). Because 3D-RT improves conformity, an altered late health outcomes risk profile is anticipated. Here, we systematically reviewed the current literature on late toxicity after 3D-RT in children treated for cancer. PubMed was searched for studies describing late toxicity after 3D-RT for childhood cancer (below 21 y). Late toxicity was defined as somatic health outcomes occurring ≥90 days after treatment. We identified 13 eligible studies, describing most frequently head/neck area tumors. Included studies reported on crude frequencies of late toxicities including subsequent tumors and conditions of organ systems. Three studies offered a global assessment of the full spectrum of late toxicity; one study compared toxicities after 2D-RT and 3D-RT. Incidence rates were typically not provided. Heterogeneity in study characteristics, small study sizes and short follow-up times precluded multivariable modeling and pooling of data. In conclusion, among the first pediatric cohorts treated with 3D-RT, a broad variety of late toxicity is reported; precise estimates of incidence, and contributions of risk factors are unclear. Continued systematic evaluation of well-defined health outcomes in survivors treated with 3D-RT, including proton therapy, is needed to optimize evidence-based care for children with cancer and survivors.

Optimizing Rapid Recovery After Anterior Hip Arthroplasty Surgery: A Comparative Study of Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block and Local Infiltration Analgesia.

BACKGROUND: Multimodal pain therapy combining analgesics, local infiltration analgesia (LIA) and peripheral nerve blocks, such as fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB), can improve postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting (PONV) and ambulation in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). We hypothesized that addition of FICB would decrease opioid requirements and length of stay (LOS) but could create a motor block. METHODS: This is a single center, prospective, blinded randomized controlled study of 152 patients undergoing elective THA via direct anterior approach from October 2019 till August 2021. Three patient groups were defined: patients receiving only spinal anesthesia (control group, n = 53); spinal anesthesia with LIA perioperatively (n = 50); and spinal anesthesia with FICB on the recovery unit (n = 49). Outcome measures consisted of postoperative pain scores, PONV, length of hospital stay, opioid requirements and mobility. RESULTS: Overall pain scores were low for all patient groups, with a lower pain score for LIA in comparison to the control group until 4 hours postoperatively (P < .05). Length of hospital stay, postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting (PONV) scores and quadriceps muscle strength did not differ significantly between groups. The control group showed higher scores at 12 hours postoperatively in comparison to FICB regarding rehabilitation potential, use of walking aids and activities of daily living (P < .05), but all groups reached the same endpoint 48 hours postoperatively. The LIA and FICB groups required less opioids until 24 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSION: LIA is a beneficial adjuvant therapy to spinal anesthesia in THA patients as it may decrease pain scores and the need for opioid consumption. Adjuvant FICB only provided lower opioid requirements.

Impact of species and their edible parts on the macronutrient and mineral composition of fish from the same aquatic environment, the Gilgel Gibe Reservoir, Ethiopia.

Fish is an important source of easily digestible animal protein and other essential nutrients. It plays a pivotal role in food security and poverty alleviation in developing countries. However, the nations of the global South consume a limited number of fish species. This study aimed to evaluate the macronutrient and mineral composition of Whole fish (Labeobarbus intermedius, Garra quadrimaculata) and fillet (Oreochromis niloticus, Labeobarbus intermedius). A total of 64 fish samples were collected from Gilgel Gibe reservoir, Ethiopia, and analysed for its macronutrient and mineral composition. The proximate composition and mineral contents of fillets and whole body samples were determined. The whole fish showed a much higher fat and ash percentage than the fillets (p < 0.05). The fillets contained a much higher protein concentration than the whole fish (p < 0.05). The higher Ca:P ratios in whole fish compared to fillet in our study confirm the importance for a healthy human skeletal development, especially in diets where Ca is typically lacking. Whole Garra appeared to be containing important trace elements such as zinc and iron, a feature that was not found to the same extent in the whole Labeobarbus. These differences may find its origin in the feeding pattern of these fish species in the reservoir. The advantage of benthic species such as Garra to enrich the human diet with essential minerals may, however, coincide with the accumulation of toxic heavy metals as a potential result of soil erosion.

Exploring the functional and metabolic effects of adding garra fish meal to a plant-based broiler chicken diet.

The present study evaluated the metabolic and functional effects of adding garra meal to a broiler chicken diet. Three hundred twenty Sasso-breed day-old chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments with either 0, 10, 20 or 30% garra meal added on top of formulated starter and grower basal diets. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Feed intake and body weight gain increased at the starter and grower phases of broilers with garra meal addition (P < 0.05). Broiler chickens fed 30% garra meal were more efficient in converting feed to body weight and yielded the highest carcass weight (P < 0.05). Crude protein ileal digestibility coefficient was higher with 20% (76.2%), and crude fat with 20 (92.1) and 30% (92.6%) garra meal receiving groups (P < 0.05). The increase in individual and total esterified carnitine concentrations in dried blood spots demonstrated the elevated metabolic rate with garra meal addition (P < 0.05). A better supply of glucogenic substrate to the citric acid cycle was seen with garra meal addition due to the increase of propionylcarnitine to acetylcarnitine ratio (P < 0.05) without any apparent effect on ketogenesis in terms of serum 3-hydroxybutyrylcarnitine to acetylcarnitine ratio. Yet, it likely showed that part of the amino acids from garra meal were used as glucogenic substrate (P < 0.05). Histomorphometry data showed 20% garra meal addition elevated villus height, crypt depth and their ratio in the proximal parts of the small intestine (duodenum and jejunum) with the opposite results observed in the more distal part (ileum) with the highest for the control group (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that garra meal improved broiler performance when added to a plant-based diet and only few parameters warranted for caution when using more up to 30% garra meal addition. Beyond growth performance, garra meal generated a shift to a more efficient digestion, absorption and nutrient metabolism.

Brain tumors: Medulloblastoma, ATRT, ependymoma.

Children with medulloblastoma, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT), and ependymoma are treated with a multidisciplinary approach including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Lower doses of craniospinal irradiation and tumor bed boost together with chemotherapy are the current standard of care for average-risk medulloblastoma in the Children's Oncology Group (COG). The International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) is examining the role of hyperfractionated craniospinal irradiation and chemotherapy in high-risk patients. The recent stratification of medulloblastoma into specific molecular risk groups has prompted both COG and SIOP to reexamine the role of these modalities in these different risk groups to maximize cure rates and minimize long-term complications. Proton therapy has shown lower rates of neurocognitive and endocrine complications compared with photons. Ependymomas are treated with maximal surgical resection and adjuvant radiation therapy. The role of chemotherapy in ependymoma is currently being studied in both COG and SIOP. Likewise, for ATRT the role of different high-dose chemotherapy regimens together with local radiation therapy in infants, or craniospinal radiation in older children, is the current focus of research.

Gliomas, germ cell tumors, and craniopharyngioma.

This report summarizes the current multimodality treatment approaches for children with low- and high-grade gliomas, germinoma, and nongerminomatous germ cell tumors, and craniopharyngiomas used in the Children's Oncology Group (COG) and the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP). Treatment recommendations are provided in the context of historical approaches regarding the roles of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Future research strategies for these tumors in both COG and SIOP are also discussed.

Global pediatric radiation therapy in resource-limited settings.

This report provides a summary of the global burden of childhood cancer morbidity and mortality, which disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries as well as low- and middle-income communities within high-income countries. We review past successes and current challenges to improving clinical pediatric radiotherapy, education, and research in these regions. The Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society Taskforce in Low- and Middle-Income Countries recently outlined specific aims: (a) to increase access and quality of radiotherapy for children and adolescents afflicted with cancer; (b) to enumerate, engage, and educate a global community of providers of childhood and adolescent radiotherapy; and (c) to create evidence establishing the outcomes of setting-specific treatment standards of care when first-world standards are not achievable. This report will improve awareness of these disparities and promote attempts to correct them.

Quality assurance in radiation oncology.

The Children's Oncology Group (COG) has a strong quality assurance (QA) program managed by the Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core (IROC). This program consists of credentialing centers and providing real-time management of each case for protocol compliant target definition and radiation delivery. In the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), the lack of an available, reliable online data platform has been a challenge and the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) quality and excellence in radiotherapy and imaging for children and adolescents with cancer across Europe in clinical trials (QUARTET) program currently provides QA review for prospective clinical trials. The COG and SIOP are fully committed to a QA program that ensures uniform execution of protocol treatments and provides validity of the clinical data used for analysis.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children and adolescents: The EXPeRT/PARTNER diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare pediatric tumor. Collaborative studies performed over the last decades showed improved results compared to historical data, but standardized guidelines for diagnosis and management of pediatric NPC are still unavailable. This study presents a European consensus guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric NPC developed by the European Cooperative Study Group for Pediatric Rare Tumors (EXPeRT). Main recommendations include induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-flurouracil, concomitant chemoradiotherapy in advanced disease, and to consider maintenance treatment with interferon beta (IFN-ß) for selected high-risk patients. Dose adjustments of radiotherapy based on response to induction chemotherapy may decrease the rates of long-term treatment-related complications that affect most of the survivors.

Measuring seasonal and agro-ecological effects on nutritional status in tropical ranging dairy cows.

Despite high numbers of cattle, milk production in many tropical countries such as Ethiopia is very low. Animals are managed traditionally, meaning they mostly depend on seasonal availability of natural pasture, grass, and crop residues with no supplementary feeds. Due to the lack of pasture management, there is overgrazing and soil erosion, and the land still must deal with extremely dry periods. All this has a negative effect on dairy cow productivity. Identification of the specific nutritional deficits would enable targeted interventions to improve milk yield performance, but nutrient and energy intakes are difficult to assess in ranging conditions. The aim of this research was, therefore, to evaluate the nutritional status of ranging dairy cows through blood metabolites, milk yield, and body condition in relation to environmental factors such as agro-ecology and season. The study was performed in a tropical region that is known to be exposed to the above-mentioned situation, the Arba Minch region in the southern Ethiopian Rift Valley. Blood samples were collected from 170 ranging dairy cows in 6 different districts, along a transect extending from the lowlands to the highlands, in both seasons (dry and rainy). Body condition score and milk yield of all cows were also determined for both seasons. Serum urea, creatinine, triglyceride, and nonesterified fatty acid concentrations were quantified spectrophotometrically. Dried serum spots were subject to quantitative electrospray tandem mass spectrometry to estimate changes in nutrient metabolism based on selected free AA and carnitine esters. Based on these measurements, nutritional status varied with season and geographical region. It can also be concluded that extensive metabolite analysis such as mass spectrometry can provide detailed insights, but the simpler spectrophotometric metabolite analysis can estimate the nutritional status of ranging animals.

Faecal pH throughout the reproductive cycle of sows in commercial pig herds.

Despite the importance of swine intestinal health, there are no easy-to-use and cost-efficient methods to evaluate it under field conditions for sows. To provide some indication about intestinal health, pH of faeces could be used but reference values for the currently high-performing commercial sow breeds are missing. In response, faecal pH of healthy sows from three different herds (herd A: 230 sows, herd B: 350 sows, herd C: 500 sows) was measured throughout the reproductive cycle. Within each herd, 10 sows were selected and rectal faeces samples were collected at different time points during the reproductive cycle: day 90 of gestation, day 1, 7, 14 and 21 of lactation, 7 days post-weaning and day 30 of the next gestation. In addition, data on sow body condition (back fat), feed composition and coarseness of the feed were collected. For individual pH measurements, the pH ranged from 6.30 to 7.93. However, for all herds together, the average faecal pH value of the sows throughout the reproductive cycle ranged from 6.89 to 7.15. Also, the variations due to sow and time of sampling during the reproductive cycle were low with coefficients of variation of less than 5%. The results from the pairwise comparisons of the statistical model showed that in the last stages of lactation (i.e., at day 21), significantly lower average pH values (p ≤ .05) are expected when compared to earlier stages of lactation (days 3 or 7), or at day 7 post-weaning or compared to day 30 of the next gestation. Bearing its limitations, our study provided reference faecal pH values from high-performing commercial sows under field conditions and as such they could be used directly in the field. Yet, further research is needed to provide more information on the factors affecting pH values throughout the reproductive cycle of the sow.