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Hyperprolific sows face significant challenges, including increased susceptibility to dysbiosis and oxidative stress, which impact both their health and the survival of their piglets. Nutrition plays a key role in mitigating these effects, with probiotics emerging as an effective tool to enhance gut health, immunity, and overall performance.
Objective: In this study, we explored the potential of a probiotic supplement containing Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as a dietary additive for sows during gestation and lactation.
Methods: A total of 584 sows were included in the trial, divided into two groups: one receiving a standard diet and the other supplemented with 400 g/ton of the probiotic. Sows followed a structured feeding program with three diet phases: early gestation (1–28 days), mid-to-late gestation (29–90 days), and a shared prepartum-lactation diet (91–115 days). Feed intake, body weight, and backfat thickness in sows were monitored, while piglets were weighed at birth and weaning. In addition, various health and immune parameters were tested, including fecal scores, salivary cortisol levels in sows, and immunoglobulin concentrations in both blood and colostrum. In piglets, ileal histomorphometry was evaluated, along with bacterial counts and myeloperoxidase activity in feces to assess gut health and immune response.
Results: Sows supplemented with probiotics experienced greater weight loss during lactation but produced more milk. While no differences were observed in backfat thickness, feed intake, or reproductive parameters, piglets from probiotic-fed sows had a longer lactation period, higher weaning weights, and required less medication. The probiotic group also had fewer piglet deaths due to crushing. Salivary cortisol levels were higher before farrowing but lower postpartum in probiotic-treated sows, indicating reduced stress. Although colostrum and serum immunoglobulin levels remained mostly unchanged, probiotic-fed sows had increased fecal Bacillus sp. counts. Their piglets showed improved gut health, with lower pathogenic bacteria counts and higher myeloperoxidase activity by day 17.
Conclusion: Overall, adding this probiotic supplement to sow diets positively influenced both maternal performance and piglet health, supporting its use as a valuable nutritional strategy in swine production.
Barbosa AMS, Carvalho MPS, Naves LP, da Motta SAB, Chaves RF, Resende M, Lima D, Hansen LHB, Cantarelli VS. Performance and Health Parameters of Sows and Their Litters Using a Probiotic Supplement Composed of Bacillus subtilis 541 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 516. Animals (Basel). 2024;14(23):3511. doi: 10.3390/ani14233511.