Effects of increasing dietary arginine supply during the three first weeks after weaning on pig growth performance, plasma amino acid concentrations, and health status.

A total of 425 weaned pigs (Exp. 1: 225 pigs [5.8 ±â€…0.9 kg]; Exp. 2: 200 pigs [6.1 ±â€…1.2 kg]) were used to determine the optimal dietary standardized ileal digestible (SID) arginine (Arg) level in early nursery diets based on growth and health responses. The basal diet in Exp.1 was formulated to meet SID Arg recommendation (0.66%; NRC, 2012) and in Exp. 2, SID Arg was set to simulate current industry practices for feeding nursery pigs (1.15 %). Basal diets were supplemented with 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, and 1.2% of l-arginine to provide five levels of dietary SID Arg. Experimental diets were fed during phases I (days 0 to 7) and II (days 8 to 21) with common diets until market. Feed disappearance and body weight (BW) were measured on days 7, 14, 21, and 43. Final BW was recorded at first removal of pigs for market. Pen fecal score was assigned daily from days 0 to 21. Plasma immunoglobulin A (IgA) was determined on days 0, 7, and 14 and amino acids (AAs) concentration and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) on days 0 and 14. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to determine the linear and quadratic effects of dietary Arg. Optimal SID Arg was determined by fitting the data with piecewise regression, using growth performance as the primary response variable. In Exp. 1, dietary Arg linearly increased (P < 0.1) BW, average daily gain (ADG), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) ratio on day 21, as well as reduced (χ2 = 0.004) the percentage of pigs that lost weight (PLW) in week 1 by 29%. Dietary Arg resulted in linear improvement (P = 0.082) of ADG for the overall nursery period and quadratic improvement (P < 0.1) of final BW at marketing. In Exp. 2, dietary Arg linearly increased (P < 0.05) ADG and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in week 1, BW and ADFI (P < 0.1) on day 14, as well as reduced (χ2 ≤ 0.001) PLW in week 1. From days 0 to 21, G:F was improved quadratically (P < 0.1). Dietary Arg linearly increased (P < 0.1) ADG and BW on day 43. Dietary Arg supplementation decreased the incidence (χ2 < 0.05) of soft and watery feces during the first weeks after weaning and lower concentration of plasma IgA on days 7 and 14. Dietary Arg linearly and/or quadratically influenced plasma AA concentrations (P < 0.05), including an increase in Arg, Leu, Phe, Val, citrulline, ornithine, and PUN concentrations. Overall, weaned pigs exhibit optimal nursery growth performance and health when provided with dietary SID Arg ranging from 1.5% to 1.9%. This dietary range contributes to a reduction in the occurrence of fall-back pigs and improvements in final BW at marketing.

The effects of creep feed composition and form and nursery diet complexity on small intestinal morphology and jejunal mucosa-specific enzyme activities after weaning in pigs.

Fifty-six litters from first-parity sows standardized to 12 piglets were used to determine the effects of creep feed composition and form and the provision of low- or high-complexity nursery diets on the evolution of small intestinal histomorphology and jejunal mucosa-specific enzyme activities postweaning. At 5 d of age, litters (initial bodyweight [BW] 2.31 ± 0.61 kg) were assigned to one of four creep feeding regimens (n = 14): 1) commercial creep feed (COM), 2) liquid milk replacer (LMR), 3) pelleted milk replacer (PMR), or 4) no creep feed (NO). At weaning (21 d of age), six pigs per litter were provided a HIGH- (contained highly digestible animal proteins) or LOW- (contained corn and soybean meal as main protein sources) complexity nursery diet (n = 7). At 21, 28, and 59 d of age, two pigs per pen (one castrated male and one female) were euthanized, and ileal and jejunal segments for histomorphological measurements and jejunal mucosal scrapings were collected to determine specific mucosa enzyme activities. At weaning, pigs provided COM had a greater ileal absorptive capacity (M) than LMR or NO, which were not different (14.1 vs. 10.4 and 10.5 ± 0.9 µm2; P < 0.05); PMR was intermediate. On days 28 and 59, M was not different among pigs regardless of creep feed treatments. Pigs fed LOW had reduced jejunal villus height (VH; P < 0.001) and M (P < 0.001) on day 28 vs. day 21. The VH and M were not different for pigs fed HIGH or LOW by the end of the nursery period. For all dietary treatments except COM-HIGH and COM-LOW, jejunal mucosal maltase-specific activity was not different between days 21 and 28 of age but greater on day 59 (P < 0.05). For pigs that received COM-HIGH, maltase-specific activity was not different between days 21 and 28 but greater on day 59 than day 28 (P < 0.05). For pigs that received COM-LOW, maltase-specific activity was not different between days 21, 28, and 59. Regardless of creep or nursery treatment, sucrase-specific activity was the greatest on day 59, followed by days 21 and 28 (P < 0.001), and lactase-specific activity was greater on day 21 than on days 28 and 59 (P < 0.001), which were not different. Therefore, pigs that provided LOW diet had greater villus atrophy and reduced M during the first week after weaning vs. pigs that provided HIGH, regardless of creep feeding regimen, but were able to recover by the end of the nursery period.

After weaning, the piglet digestive tract must adapt in order to effectively break down and absorb nutrients derived from plant-based ingredients, contributing to the postweaning growth lag. Feeding strategies applied both preweaning and postweaning with the intent to assist in intestinal adaptation have been developed; however, little work has been done examining the interaction between creep and nursery feeding strategies on intestinal histomorphology and jejunal mucosa-specific enzyme activities after weaning. In the current study, piglets that provided creep feed with higher starch content had greater jejunal mucosa maltase-specific enzyme activity and ileal absorptive capacity at weaning. However, these parameters were still negatively affected by weaning, regardless of nursery feeding strategy. Additionally, nursery diets with greater inclusion of soybean meal to replace animal protein sources (low complexity) exacerbated reductions in jejunal absorptive capacity. Conversely, by the end of the nursery period, there were no differences in intestinal histomorphology and jejunal mucosa-specific enzyme activities, regardless of creep or nursery feeding program. Therefore, exposing piglets to starch during creep feeding and reducing the inclusion of soybean meal in nursery diets improved intestinal morphology and mucosa disaccharidase activity directly following weaning, but benefits did not extend to the end of the nursery period.

The effect of creep feed composition and form on pre- and post-weaning growth performance of pigs and the utilization of low-complexity nursery diets.

Fifty-six litters from first-parity sows standardized to 12 piglets were used to determine the effects of creep feed composition and form on pre- and post-weaning pig growth performance and the utilization of low-complexity nursery diets. At 5 days of age, litters (initial body weight [BW] 2.31 ± 0.61 kg) were assigned to one of four creep feeding regimens (n = 14): 1) pelleted commercial creep feed (COM), 2) liquid milk replacer (LMR), 3) pelleted milk replacer (PMR), or 4) no creep feed (NO); creep feeds contained 1.0% brilliant blue as a fecal marker. Individual piglet BW and fecal swabs were collected every 3 ± 1 days during the creep-feeding period. The latter was to identify piglets that regularly consumed creep feed via the visual appearance of blue dye in the feces. At weaning (21 ± 2 days of age), six pigs per litter with median BW that consumed creep feed were placed on either a HIGH- (contained highly digestible animal proteins) or LOW- (contained corn and soybean meal as the main protein sources) complexity nursery diet (n = 7) in a three-phase feeding program over 39 days. On day 8, two pigs per pen were sacrificed to collect organ weights and digesta. The LMR disappeared at the greatest rate (average 37.7 g/pig/d; dry matter-basis) versus COM and PMR (10.6 and 10.3 ± 1.5 g/pig/d, respectively; P < 0.001). Litters that received LMR had the greatest proportion of pigs with blue fecal swabs throughout the creep feeding period (85.0 vs. 54.9 and 63.0% ± 0.4% for COM and PMR, respectively; P < 0.05) and LMR piglets had greater BW at weaning versus all other treatments (6.32 vs. 6.02, 5.92, and 5.67 ± 0.14 kg, for LMR, COM, NO, and PMR, respectively; P < 0.001). Overall, pigs given LOW (vs. HIGH) diets in the nursery period had reduced average daily gain (25.1 vs. 27.7 ± 0.4 g/kg BW; P < 0.001), gain:feed (0.75 vs. 0.81 ± 0.02; P < 0.001), and exit BW (21.2 vs. 24.4 ± 0.6 kg; P < 0.001); no carryover effects of creep feeding program were observed. Creep feed regimen had limited effects on nutrient digestibility of nursery diets but the apparent ileal digestibility of organic matter tended to be less at 28 days of age for pigs that received the LOW nursery diet (64.2 vs. 68.8% ± 2.5%; P = 0.076). Providing supplemental nutrition during the suckling period via LMR improved piglet BW at weaning, which did not correspond to improved post-weaning growth performance, regardless of nursery diet complexity.

The Impact of Maternal and Piglet Low Protein Diet and Their Interaction on the Porcine Liver Transcriptome around the Time of Weaning.

Maternal diet during early gestation affects offspring phenotype, but it is unclear whether maternal diet during late gestation influences piglet metabolism. We evaluated the impact of two dietary protein levels in sow late gestation diet and piglet nursery diet on piglet metabolism. Diets met or exceeded the crude protein and amino acid requirements. Sows received either 12% (Lower, L) or 17% (Higher, H) crude protein (CP) during the last five weeks of gestation, and piglets received 16.5% (L) or 21% (H) CP from weaning at age 3.5 weeks. This resulted in a 2 × 2 factorial design with four sow/piglet diet treatment groups: HH and LL (match), HL and LH (mismatch). Piglet hepatic tissues were sampled and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined by RNA sequencing. At age 4.5 weeks, 25 genes were downregulated and 22 genes were upregulated in the mismatch compared to match groups. Several genes involved in catabolic pathways were upregulated in the mismatch compared to match groups, as were genes involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation. The results show a distinct interaction effect between maternal and nursery diets, implying that sow late gestation diet could be used to optimize piglet metabolism.

Antibody responses to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, influenza A virus, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae from weaning to the end of the finisher stage in fourteen groups of pigs in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory diseases are among the most important factors affecting swine farm productivity in Canada. The objectives of this study were to investigate antibody responses to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), influenza A virus (IAV), and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) from weaning to the end of the finisher stage on a subset of commercial swine farms in Ontario, Canada, and to examine the association between nursery diet and antibody responses. RESULTS: Overall, older pigs were more likely to test seropositive for PRRSV and less likely to test seropositive for M. hyopneumoniae (p <  0.001). Pigs were more likely to test seropositive for IAV at weaning and the end of the grower and finisher stages compared to the end of nursery (p <  0.001). Pigs that were seropositive for IAV were more likely to test seropositive for both PRRSV and M. hyopneumoniae (p <  0.001). Two, 9, and 4 groups that had more than 20% of pigs seropositive to PRRSV, IAV, and M. hyopneumoniae, respectively, from the end of nursery to the end of finisher were classified as seropositive. Pigs fed a plant-based (low complexity) diet during nursery were more likely to be seropositive for PRRSV (p <  0.001) but there were no significant differences in seropositivity to IAV or M. hyopneumoniae due to nursery diet complexity. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides information regarding changes in serum antibody in pigs across different stages of production and highlights periods of vulnerability. Additionally, these findings may encourage further research into the effects of nursery diet complexity on disease susceptibility and immune response.

The effect of creep feed and diet complexity on growth performance in suckling and weaned pigs / Efecto de la dieta de pre-iniciación y su complejidad sobre el crecimiento de cerdos lactantes y destetados / Efeito da dieta pré-iniciada e sua complexidade no crescimento de porcos lactantes e desmamados

Abstract Background: Creep feed is offered to suckling piglets to introduce solid feed and provide extra nutrients in late lactation. However, the effect of creep feed is inconsistent; there is little information about the effect of creep diet complexity on piglet performance. Objective: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of creep feed and its complexity on growth performance of suckling and weaned pigs. Methods: In Exp. 1, eight litters (average 19.9 ± 1.1 d of age; initial piglet weight: 6.74 ± 1.2 kg) were allotted to two dietary treatments considering breed, litter size and weight, as follows: no creep feed (n=3) and creep feed (n=5; offered for 8 days before weaning). At weaning (d 28 of age), the pigs were divided into three treatments (6 pigs/pen, 3 replicates; initial body weight: 9.66 ± 0.34 kg) balanced by gender, body weight, and breed, as follows: creep feed eaters, creep feed non-eaters, and no creep feed. In Exp. 2, two different types of creep feed were offered to suckling piglets (initial piglet weight: 3.79 ± 0.55 kg) in seven litters from d 12 of age (average 12.0 ± 1.3 d of age) to weaning (d 25 of age). Treatments were: HCF (n=4): highly-complex creep diet containing 3% fish meal, 2.4% blood meal, and 15% whey; and 2) LCF (n=3): lowly-complex creep diet without the mentioned ingredients. At weaning, only eater pigs were divided into 2 treatments (6 pigs/pen, 3 replicates; initial body weight: 7.53 ± 0.97 kg) balanced by gender, breed and body weight as follows: HCF eaters and LCF eaters. In both experiments, creep feed was mixed with 1% Cr2O3 to measure fecal color for eater/non-eater categorization and the pigs were fed a common nursery diet for 21 days. Results: In both experiments, there were no differences on piglet weaning weight and overall nursery growth performance among the treatments. In Exp. 2, the creep feed intake and percentage of eaters per litter were not different between the HCF and LCF treatments, whereas the HCF eaters tended to have a greater average daily gain (p=0.08) and gain to feed ratio (p=0.09) than the LCF eaters during d 7-14 postweaning. Conclusion: Creep feed did not affect overall piglet growth in suckling and nursery phases, but its complexity might affect pig growth in the early nursery phase.

Resumen Antecedentes: El alimento de pre-iniciación se ofrece a los lechones lactantes para introducir la alimentación sólida y proporcionar nutrientes adicionales durante la lactancia tardía. Sin embargo, sus efectos son inconsistentes y hay poca información sobre el efecto de la complejidad de la dieta de pre-iniciación sobre el rendimiento de los cerdos. Objetivo: Se realizaron dos experimentos para evaluar el efecto del suministro de pre-iniciador y la complejidad del mismo sobre el crecimiento de lechones y cerdos destetados. Métodos: En el Exp. 1, ocho camadas (promedio 19,9 ± 1.1 d de edad; peso inicial: 6,74 ± 1,2 kg) se asignaron a dos tratamientos con base en raza, tamaño de camada, y peso, de la siguiente manera: sin suministro (n=3) y con suministro de pre-iniciador (n = 5; ofrecido durante 8 días antes del destete). Al destete (d 28 de edad) los cerdos se dividieron en 3 tratamientos (6 cerdos/corral y 3 réplicas; peso inicial: 9,66 ± 0,34 kg) balanceados por género, peso y raza, de la siguiente manera: consumidores de pre-iniciador, no consumidores de pre-iniciación, y sin suministro de pre-iniciación. En el Exp. 2 se ofrecieron dos tipos diferentes de pre-iniciador a los cerditos lactantes (peso inicial del lechón: 3,79 ± 0,55 kg) en siete camadas desde el día 12 de edad (promedio 12,0 ± 1,3 días de edad) hasta el destete (día 25 de edad). Los tratamientos fueron: HCF (n=4): dieta de pre-iniciación de alta complejidad conteniendo 3% de harina de pescado, 2,4% de harina de sangre y 15% de suero de leche; y 2) LCF (n=3): dieta de pre-iniciación de baja complejidad, sin esos ingredientes. Al destete, solo los cerdos que consumieron pre-iniciador se dividieron en 2 tratamientos (6 cerdos/corral, 3 repeticiones; peso corporal inicial: 7,53 ± 0,97 kg) balanceados por género, raza y peso, de la siguiente manera: consumidores de HCF o de LCF. En ambos experimentos el pre-iniciador se mezcló con Cr2O3 al 1% para medir el color fecal y categorizar los consumidores/ no consumidores, y los cerdos se alimentaron con una dieta común de iniciación durante 21 días. Resultados: En ambos experimentos no hubo diferencias en el peso al destete de los lechones y el rendimiento general de crecimiento en re-cría entre tratamientos. En el Exp. 2, la ingesta de pre-iniciador y el porcentaje de cerdos consumidores por camada no fueron diferentes entre los HCF y LCF, mientras que los consumidores de HCF tendieron a tener mayor ganancia diaria (p=0,08) y mayor relación ganancia/alimento (p=0,09) que los consumidores de LCF durante los días 7-14 pos-destete. Conclusión: el pre-iniciador no afecta el crecimiento general de los lechones en las fases de lactancia y re-cría, pero la complejidad de la dieta podría afectar el crecimiento de los cerditos al inicio de la re-cría.

Resumo Antecedentes: A alimentação por fluência é oferecida aos leitões para introduzir alimentos sólidos e fornecer nutrientes extras no final da lactação. No entanto, o efeito ainda é inconsistente e há poucas informações sobre o efeito da complexidade da dieta de fluência no desempenho dos leitões. Objetivo: Dois experimentos foram conduzidos para avaliar o efeito da alimentação por fluência e a complexidade da dieta no desempenho do crescimento de porcos em aleitamento e desmame. Métodos: Em Exp. 1, oito ninhadas (média de 19,9 ± 1,1 d de idade; peso inicial do leitão: 6,74 ± 1,2 kg) foram distribuídos em 2 tratamentos com base na raça, tamanho e peso da ninhada, da seguinte forma: ausência de ração (n=3) e ração por creep (n=5; oferecido por 8 dias antes do desmame). No desmame (d 28 anos de idade), os porcos foram divididos em 3 tratamentos (6 porcos/caneta, 3 repetições; peso corporal inicial: 9,66 ± 0,34 kg) balanceados com gênero, peso corporal e raça, como a seguir: comedores de ração, creep feed não comedores, e creep feed. Em Exp. 2, foram oferecidos dois tipos diferentes de ração para leitões (peso inicial dos leitões: 3,79 ± 0,55 kg) em sete ninhadas de 12 anos de idade (média 12,0 ± 1,3 dias) até o desmame (25 anos). Os tratamentos foram: HCF (n=4): dieta de fluência de alta complexidade contendo 3% de farinha de peixe, 2,4% de farinha de sangue e 15% de soro de leite; e 2) LCF (n=3): dieta de fluência de baixa complexidade sem esses ingredientes. No desmame, apenas os porcos comedores foram divididos em 2 tratamentos (6 porcos/caneta, 3 repetições; peso corporal inicial: 7,53 ± 0,97 kg) balanceados com gênero, raça e peso corporal da seguinte forma: comedores de HCF e comedores de LCF. Em ambos os experimentos, a alimentação fluida foi misturada com 1% de Cr2O3 para medir a cor fecal para categorização de comedor/ não comedor e os porcos foram alimentados com uma dieta comum durante 21 dias. Resultados: Nos dois experimentos, não houve diferenças no peso ao desmame dos leitões e no desempenho geral do crescimento do viveiro entre os tratamentos. Em Exp. 2, o consumo de ração por creep e a porcentagem de comedores por ninhada não foram diferentes entre os tratamentos de HCF e LCF, enquanto os comedores de HCF tenderam a ter um maior ganho médio diário (p=0,08) e uma taxa de ganho para alimentação (p=0,09) do que os comedores de LCF durante d 7-14 pós-desmame. Conclusão: A alimentação por fluência não afetou o crescimento geral de leitões nas fases de amamentação e viveiro, mas a complexidade da dieta pode afetar o crescimento de leitões na fase inicial do viveiro.

Gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in femur and vertebra tissues of the hypovitaminosis D kyphotic pig model.

The hypovitaminosis D kyphotic pig provides a reliable model to study the initiation of bone lesions caused by maternal vitamin D (D) deficiencies. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP; specifically, MMP9 and MMP13) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are important in endochondral ossification and are potentially regulated by D. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is interrelated with D homoeostasis and bone mineralisation. Relative mRNA expression of MMP9, MMP13, VEGF and FGF23 was measured in pig femur and vertebra. Sows (n 37) were fed diets with 0 (-D), 8·125 (+D) or 43·750 (++D) µg D3/kg throughout gestation and lactation. At weaning (3 weeks), pigs were fed diets with 0 (-D) or 7·0 (+D) µg D3/kg, each with 75 and 95 % (LCaP) or 150 and 120 % (HCaP) of the Ca and P requirements. Pigs at birth (n 27), 3 weeks (n 27) and after the nursery period (7 weeks; n 72) were euthanised for analysis. At 3 weeks, femur MMP9 expression of pigs produced by +D or ++D sows was reduced (P<0·05) to 0·5-fold and VEGF expression to 0·4-fold compared with pigs from -D sows. At 7 weeks, MMP9 expression was reduced (P<0·05) to 0·45-fold in femur and 0·58-fold in vertebra from pigs produced by +D or ++D sows compared with pigs from -D sows. Pig femur VEGF expression was reduced to 0·75-fold in pigs produced by ++D sows. MMP9 and VEGF mRNA expression offer potential markers for the initiation of bone lesions in the hypovitaminosis D kyphotic pig model.

Serum and tissue 25-OH vitamin D3 concentrations do not predict bone abnormalities and molecular markers of vitamin D metabolism in the hypovitaminosis D kyphotic pig model.

The hypovitaminosis D kyphotic pig provides a model to study maternal vitamin D (D) carryover on gross and molecular characteristics of bone abnormalities in offspring. Excess maternal D is proposed to protect offspring under nutritional challenges from developing bone abnormalities. Relationships between D sufficiency parameters and bone abnormalities were characterised. Sows (n 37) were fed diets with 0 (-D), 8·125 (+D) or 43·750 (++D) µg D3/kg throughout gestation and lactation. At weaning (3 weeks) pigs were fed diets with 0 (-D) or 7·0 (+D) µg D3/kg, each with 75 and 95 % (LCaP) or 150 and 120 % (HCaP) of the Ca and P requirements. Pigs were euthanised before colostrum consumption at birth (n 27), 3 weeks (n 27) or after the nursery period (7 weeks, n 71) for tissue analysis. At 7 weeks, differences due to maternal D were detected (P≤0·05) in pig growth, serum parameters and mRNA expression regardless of nursery diet. Prevalence of kyphosis in pigs at 13 weeks was affected by maternal D, but not prevented by only HCaP or +D nursery diets. Increased (P≤0·05) serum 25-OH-D3 concentrations in sows fed +D or ++D diets were not reflected by similar magnitudes of 25-OH-D3 in colostrum, 18-d milk, or serum and tissue concentrations in pigs. The mode of action by which maternal dietary D influences development of skeletal abnormalities warrants further investigation.