Effect Of Inulin Supplementation In High-Fat Diets On Reproductive Performance And Antioxidant Defense Capacity Of High Weight Loss Sows

Weight loss during lactation influences subsequent reproductive performance of sows. High weight loss during lactation of sows decreases subsequent litter sizes, prolongs the time of weaning-to-oestrus intervals and increases culling rate of sows. Supplementation of sow's gestational diet with fat increases sows" energy intake and body gain, but decreases sow feed intake during lactation. Previous studies have indicated that dietary fiber improved the lactation performance of sows by increasing lactation feed intake. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inulin and fat on the reproductive performance and antioxidant capacity in high lactation weight loss sows. A 2×2 factorial design was used with 5% fat supplementation and/or 1.5% inulin supplementation. A total of sixty high lactation weight loss sows (Average body weight, BW=201.5±2.2 kg; Lactation weight loss, LWL>10%; Backfat thickness, BF<14 mm at mating; Large White*Landrace) sows were allocated randomly to 4 treatments:1) basal group, basal diet,2) bascal+inulin group, basal diet +1.5% inulin,3) high-fat group, basal diet+5% soybean oil,4) high-fat+inulin, basal diet+1.5% inulin+5% soybean oil. The nutritional treatments were added from day 1 of gestation to farrowing. All sows were fed ad libitum with same standard lactation diet during lactation,. The results showed that:1.Dietary inulin supplementation slowed sows'body weight (BW)gain(P?0.05), when dietary fat supplementation accelerated sows'BW gain during gestation (P?0.01) compared with basal diet. Sows'total BW gain during gestation was significantly affected by fat and inulin interaction(P<0.05).2. Dietary fat supplementation during gestation increased the number of total and living litter piglets and increased litter birth weight (P?0.05). Dietary inulin supplementation increased the proportion of piglets weighing 1.0-1.5 kg at farrowing (P?0.01), decreased the proportion of piglets weighing over 1.5 kg at farrowing (P< 0.01) and decreased within-litter birth weight CV (P<0.05).3. Dietary inulin supplementation during gestation shortened the duration of farrowing (P<0.05). Dietary fat combined with inulin supplementation during gestation improvedfecal scores of sows(P?0.05).4. Dietary fat supplementation during gestation decreased sows" average daily feed intake (ADFI) at week 1 and week 2 of lactation (P?0.05), but did not affected sows' ADFI of the whole lactation. There is no effect of dietary inulin supplementation during gestation on sows'lactation ADFI.5.Dietary inulin supplementation during gestation decreased sows' BW loss during lactation (P?0.01). Sows fed high-fat diet during gestation had short weaning-to-oestrus interval compared with sows fed a control diet (P<0.01). Dietary inulin supplementation during gestation increased breeding-weaning BW gain of offspring (P<0.05).6. Piglets from the sows supplemented with inulin gained less individual BW and litter weight gain during lactation (P?0.05) than piglets from sows fed with basal diet Litter weight gain during lactation was affected by fat and inulin interaction (P=0.07).7. Dietary inulin supplementation during gestation decreased fat (P?0.01) and lactose (P?0.05) content of colostrum, when increased lactose (P?0.05) content of milk. Sows fed a high-fat diet had elevated fat (P?0.01), solids not-fat (P?0.05),:protein (P?0.01) and lactose (P?0.01) concentrations in milk, compared with sows fed basal diet. Additionally, fat and inulin interaction had a significant effect on solids not-fat, protein and lactose content in colostrum and milk of sows (P?0.05).8. Sows high fat diet during gestation decreased the activity of serum T-SOD and GSH-Px of sow and piglets (P?0.05). but increased serum MDA concentration of sow and piglets (P?0.05). Dietary inulin supplementation during gestation increased the activity of serum T-SOD and GSH-Px of sow and piglets (P?0.05), but decreased serum MDA concentration in sow and piglets(P?0.05).In summary, the present results indicate that dietary fat supplementation for high lactation weight loss sows (LWL>10%; BF<14 mm at mating) during gestation increases litter size and litter weight, as well as improves sows' body condition, but aggravated serum oxidative stress in sows and piglets. Dietary fiber supplementation during pregnancy improves the within-litter uniformity of piglet birth weight, shortens the duration of farrowing, decreases sows' weight loss during lactation, and enhances the antioxidant capacity of maternal and offspring.