The effect of fermented liquid feeding on the faecal microbiology and colostrum quality of farrowing sows.

This study investigated the effects of fermented liquid feed (FLF) on the lactic acid bacteria (LAB):Coliform (L:C) ratio in the faeces of farrowing sows and the quality of sow colostrum. Eighteen multiparous sows were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments for approximately 2 weeks prior to farrowing and for 3 weeks after parturition. The three dietary treatments were dry pelleted feed (DPF), nonfermented liquid feed (NFLF), and fermented liquid feed (FLF). A rifampicin-resistant mutant of Lactobacillus plantarum was used to ferment liquid feed. Coliforms and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the faeces of farrowing sows and piglets were estimated by standard microbiological techniques. Intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) and blood lymphocytes were used to evaluate the mitogenic activity of colostral samples taken at parturition. Results demonstrated that while the LAB population was not significantly affected by dietary treatment, significant differences in coliform population were observed in the sow faecal samples taken 7 days after parturition. Faeces excreted from sows fed FLF had significantly (P < 0.001) lower numbers of coliforms than sows fed NFLF or DF. Piglets from sows fed FLF excreted faeces that were higher in LAB (7.7 vs. 7.3 log10 CFU g (-1); P < 0.01) and lower in coliforms (7.5 vs. 8.1 log10 CFU g (-1); P < 0.001) than faeces from the piglets of DF-fed dams. Colostrum from sows fed FLF had a significantly greater (P < 0.001) mitogenic activity on both intestinal cells (IEC-6) (79326 +/- 3069 CPM) and blood lymphocytes (1903 +/- 204 CPM) compared with colostrum from dry feed fed sows (53433 +/- 1568 and 1231 +/- 61.4 CPM, respectively). The combined effects of enhanced maternal/passive immunity and the reduction in the level of environmental contamination with faecal pathogens, achieved by FLF, may be important in achieving improved health status for both sows and piglets.

Supplementary biotin for sows: effect on claw integrity.

Eighty female pigs were fed, from 25 kg liveweight, either basal diets calculated to provide 32 micrograms available biotin/kg (control diet) or basal diets supplemented with 350 micrograms biotin/kg. Their claws were examined and lesions recorded at 170 days of age and when each of their first four litters was weaned. The incidence of horn 'defects' (superficial bruises, abrasions and cuts in the soft heel) remained at a low level throughout the trial. Neither the number of claws affected with lesions nor the number of lesions per sow differed between treatments at 170 days of age. Between 170 days of age and first weaning the incidence of hoof lesions increased greatly. At first weaning and for the remainder of the trial biotin supplemented sows had significantly fewer claw lesions per sow than controls (P less than 0.05 or greater). The predominant injuries to the foot were cracks which occurred mainly in two associated regions, the heel/toe junction and the heel, and the sidewall and adjacent white-line region of the toe. The differences in foot damage did not result in differences in culling rate. It was concluded that supplemention of the diet of breeding sows with biotin from an early stage of development made a significant contribution to the maintenance of their horn integrity.

Supplementary biotin for sows: effect on reproductive characteristics.

Eighty female pigs were fed from 25 kg liveweight either basal diets calculated to provide 32 micrograms available biotin/kg (control diet) or basal diets supplemented with 350 micrograms biotin/kg. Reproductive performance was studied over four parities. Sows receiving supplementary biotin returned to oestrus 2.9 +/- 1.7 and conceived 6.1 +/- 1.4 days sooner than controls (P less than 0.05). Of those sows receiving supplementary biotin, more returned to oestrus and conceived within 10 days of weaning (83.2 per cent v 74.6 per cent and 80.6 per cent v 71.8 per cent respectively) and fewer were treated for anoestrus (7.3 per cent v 17.0 per cent) than those on the control diet. Supplementing diets increased the annual productivity of sows completing four parities by 1.42 +/- 1.02 pigs/sow/year (P less than 0.05) and increased the total weight of weaner produced/sow/year by 17.3 +/- 7.4 kg (P less than 0.05). It was concluded that the majority of commercial dietary formulations would require supplementation with biotin in order that sows may express their full reproductive potential.

Biotin-supplementation of diets; the incidence of foot lesions, and the reproductive performance of sows.

The effect of biotin supplementation of diets for breeding sows was investigated in a herd where the sows exhibited symptoms resembling those of experimentally induced biotin deficiency. Twenty sows received diets supplemented with 250 mcg D-biotin per kg in pregnancy and 150 mcg D-biotin per kg in lactation. Over a six month period the supplemented sows showed a 28 per cent reduction in the number of foot lesions recorded. Twenty-two control sows showed no reduction in foot lesions. Sows on the supplemented diets produced more piglets at birth than controls, but the differences were not significant. However, second parity supplemented sows did produce significantly more live pigs than controls (1-64 +/- 0-77, P less than 0-05). The weaning to remating interval was significantly reduced from 15-31 +/- 2-85 days in the controls to 6-23 +/- 2-85 days in the supplemented sows (P less than 0-05) and the percentage of sows exhibiting oestrus within seven days of weaning was increased from 56 per cent to 89 per cent.