PSIII-20 Dietary Forsythia suspensa extract supplementation in sows during late gestation improves reproductive performance, colostrum composition, antioxidant status, and immune function of sows and piglets

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) supplementation in sows during late gestation on reproductive performance, colostrum composition, antioxidant status and immune function [NSFC 31772612]. Forty Yorkshire × Landrace gestating sows (average parity of 3.28 ± 0.61; average body weight of 240.16 ± 6.81 kg) were assigned to 2 treatments with 20 sows per treatment based on body weight, back fat thickness and parity. From d 85 of gestation to farrowing, sows were supplemented with a control diet (corn-soybean meal basal diet, CON), and a FSE diet (basal diet + 100 mg / kg FSE). The results showed that sows fed FSE had increased (P < 0.05) litter weight, fat and protein contents in colostrum compared with CON. Dietary FSE supplementation in sows could increase (P < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase contents, and decrease (P < 0.05) the content of malondialdehyde in colostrum, and increase (P < 0.05) the contents of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in serum of their offspring compared with CON. Additionally, sows fed FSE could also increase (P < 0.05) the content of immunoglobulin A in serum of their offspring compared with CON. Sows fed FSE had decreased (P < 0.05) content of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and increased (P < 0.05) content of IL-10 in serum and colostrum of sows, and decreased (P < 0.05) contents IL-6 and IL-8 in serum of their offspring compared with CON. Sows fed FSE showed increased (P < 0.05) content of glucose in colostrum and decreased (P < 0.05) content of serum urea of their offspring compared with CON. In conclusion, dietary FSE supplementation in sows during late gestation could improve litter weight, colostrum fat and protein contents, antioxidant status, immunoglobulin, inflammatory cytokines of sows and piglets.