0
Fourteen sows were randomly assigned to two treatment diets (0% CLA n=6 or 2% CLA n=8) beginning on day 85 of gestation. Diets were fed as gestation rations from day 85 through day 112 and as lactation rations (LRs) from day 112 until weaning at day 17 of lactation. A total of seventy-eight piglets weaned from sows receiving 0% or 2% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-supplemented rations from day 85 of gestation through lactation were allocated to nursery diets (ND) according to their dam's lactation ration (LR) as follows (1) 0%-0% (0% CLA LR: 0% CLA ND, n=17); (2) 0%-2% (0% CLA LR: 2% CLA ND, n=17); (3) 2%-0% (2% CLA LR: 0% CLA ND, n=23); and (4) 2%-2% (2% CLA LR: 2% CLA ND, n=21). At 28±2 days of age all piglets received an oral Escherichia coli K88+ (enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, ETEC) challenge and were subsequently monitored for scour development and overall health until 36±2 days of age, after which blood and tissue samples were collected.
Piglet BW was not affected by dietary CLA supplementation to LR (P>0.05). However, by day 36 piglets receiving 2% CLA-supplemented ND were significantly lighter (P<0.05) than piglets receiving control diets. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were not affected by CLA supplementation. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) was higher for piglets weaned from 2% CLA-supplemented sows from day 17 to 28 (P<0.05), otherwise ADFI was unaffected by dietary CLA supplementation (P>0.05). The development of scours was less severe in piglets weaned from 2% CLA-supplemented sows at 8, 24, 48 and 56 h after ETEC challenge (P<0.05). Intestinal coliform and lactic acid bacteria populations post challenge were not affected by CLA supplementation. However, cecal ammonia-N was numerically greater in 0%-0% piglets compared to the other treatment groups, and the total volatile fatty acid production was numerically lower in 0%-0% and 0%-2% piglets compared to 2%-0% and 2%-2% piglets. In addition, piglets weaned from 2% CLA-supplemented sows had increased serum immunoglobulin A (P<0.001) and G (P<0.05) levels and reduced (P<0.05) intestinal mucosal inflammation compared to piglets weaned from control sows.
It is concludede that, supplementing sow rations with CLA may be a practical strategy for enhancing passive immune transfer and improving the immune status and overall gut health of nursery piglets.
R Patterson, ML Connor, DO Krause and CM Nyachoti. 2008. Animal, 2 (9):1303-1311
