Supplementing a carbohydrate-rich diet from late lactation to insemination increased glucose and insulin levels in weaned sows, leading to improved subsequent piglet birth weight

Abstract

Premating maternal nutrition is crucial for postweaning follicle growth, thereby influencing piglet birth weight in subsequent litters. The present study investigated the impact of supplementing a carbohydrate-rich premating diet in sows on metabolic hormones, subsequent piglet birth weight and reproductive performance. Sows were distributed into three groups, control (n=42) received standard diets; treatment I (n=41) received the same diets supplemented with 500 g of a carbohydrate-rich premating diet from weaning until insemination; treatment II (n=42) received the same diets supplemented with 500 g of a carbohydrate-rich premating diet from 7 days before weaning until insemination. Blood samples were taken from sows around weaning to measure serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin, and blood glucose after feeding. The study found that sows on a carbohydrate-rich diet (treatment II) had higher postprandial glucose (P<0.05) and insulin levels (P=0.06) than others. This diet did not affect overall reproductive performance, but it did increase piglet birth weight and reduce the number of low-birth weight piglets compared to the control (P<0.001) and treatment I groups (P<0.05). Supplementing a carbohydrate-rich premating diet for 7 days before weaning until insemination enhanced postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations in weaned sows. This dietary intervention led to improved subsequent piglet birth weight and reduced the proportion of low-birth weight piglets.

Keywords: birth weight; glucose; insulin; premating diet; sow.

Fig. 1.

The percentage of piglets weighing below 1,000 g. (A) control (n=490) receiving a standard lactation diet before weaning and a gestation diet after weaning, (B) treatment I (n=509) receiving the same diets but supplemented with 500 g of a carbohydrate-rich premating diet on the day of weaning until insemination, and (C) treatment II (n=393) receiving the same diets but supplemented with 500 g of a carbohydrate-rich premating diet from 7 days before weaning until insemination.