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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1445216

Effects of supplemental feeding of Chinese herbal mixtures to perinatal sows on reproductive performance, immunity, and breast milk quality of sows

Provisionally accepted
Xuelei Duan Xuelei Duan Xiao Wang Xiao Wang Zhaonian Li Zhaonian Li Chenggong Liu Chenggong Liu Lu Zhang Lu Zhang Yongzhan Bao Yongzhan Bao Wanyu Shi Wanyu Shi *Xinghua Zhao Xinghua Zhao *
  • Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of supplementary feeding with Chinese herbal 25 mixtures on perinatal sows, focusing on their reproductive performance, immunity and breast milk 26 quality. Sixty healthy pregnant sows (Large white, 4 parities) were randomly allocated into five 27 treatment groups (n =12 per group): the control group received a basal diet, the TRT1 group received 28 a basal diet supplemented with 2 kg/t Bazhen powder (BZP), while the TRT2, TRT3, and TRT4 29 groups received a basal diet supplemented with 1 kg/t, 2 kg/t, and 3 kg/t Qi-Zhu-Gui-Shao soothing 30 liver and replenishing blood powder (QZGSP), respectively. The trial lasted for a duration of 5 31 weeks, commencing from day 100 of gestation and concluding on day 21 postpartum. The results 32showed that supplemental feeding of 2 kg/t and 3 kg/t QZGSP to periparturient sows significantly 33 improved reproductive performance to different degrees, as evidenced by the shortened farrowing 34 intervals and increased average daily feed intake and milk yield. Supplemental feeding of 2 kg/t 35 and/or 3 kg/t QZGSP significantly elevated levels of IL-4, IL-10, IgG, and IgA in sow serum while 36 reduced levels of TNF-ɑ and IL-1β in sow serum. In addition, supplemental feeding of 2 kg/t and 3 37 kg/t QZGSP to perinatal sows significantly increased the protein and fat content in colostrum and 38 milk. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data in colostrum and milk microbiota 39 revealed that supplemental feeding of QZGSP to perinatal sows is influenced the composition of 40 colostrum and milk composition in sows. Specifically, at the genus level, a decrease in the relative 41 abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus was observed in the TRT3 42 and/or TRT4 groups on day 0 of lactation. The findings from this study indicate that supplemental 43 feeding of 2 kg/t and 3 kg/t QZGSP significantly improved the reproductive performance, immunity 44 and milk quality in sows. Therefore, QZGSP is a beneficial feed additive for perinatal sows.

    Keywords: gestation and lactation on reproductive performance, Immunity, Chinese herbal mixtures, Reproductive performance, breast milk

    Received: 07 Jun 2024; Accepted: 25 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Duan, Wang, Li, Liu, Zhang, Bao, Shi and Zhao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Wanyu Shi, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
    Xinghua Zhao, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.