0
Salicylic acid is a colourless crystalline organic acid broadly used in organic synthesis. Functional roles of organic acid include improving nutrient digestibility, intestinal health, growth performance as well as preservative property. This research, aimed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation of salicylic acid on performance and blood metabolites in lactating sows and suckling piglets. Sows weighing 208.5 ± 18.34 kg and their neonates were used. From day 114 of gestation to the 21st day of lactation (weaning), ten multiparous sows (n = 5/treatment) (Landrace x Yorkshire) were assigned randomly into one of two treatments: Control (basal diet) and treatment (Control + 0.05% salicylic acid). The body weight of the sow was measured before day 114 of pregnancy, after farrowing, and at weaning (day 21) to determine the body weight loss. The survival rate and the average daily gain of the pigs was measured. From each sow, 5 mL of blood were collected from the jugular vein at the initial, after farrowing, and last day of the experiment. Three piglets per sow were also (5 mL) bled.
There was no significant difference in the body weight, backfat thickness, backfat loss, and body condition score in salicylic acid treated sows compared to sows fed the control diet. However, the body weight of sows was dramatically reduced by an average of 16 kg from farrowing to weaning time. The dietary inclusion of salicylic acid in the sow diet slightly improved the survival rate and showed a higher body weight in piglets. However, there was no significant difference in red blood cell, Fe, hematocrit, and Hb concentrations between the control and treatment sows' groups, but the total iron-binding capacity was significantly reduced in sows from the treatment group compared with the control group from the beginning to weaning. Furthermore, the dietary addition of salicylic acid on sows’ diet from early lactation increased the birth weight and total iron-binding capacity of neonates at the end of the trial.
In conclusion, a positive effect was observed in piglets. However, there was no significant difference observed in the reproductive performance of sows.
Muhizi S, Cho S, Palanisamy T, Kim IH. Effect of dietary salicylic acid supplementation on performance and blood metabolites of sows and their litters. Journal of Animal Science and Technology, 2022; 64(4), 707. https://doi.org/10.5187%2Fjast.2022.e25
