Dietary supplementation with Pichia guilliermondii in gestation

Dietary supplementation with Pichia guilliermondii yeast product during gestation and lactation improves sows’ body condition and litter performance

 

Abstract

 By Janvier, E. Oguey, C.,  Samson, A.

Sows’ prolificacy increased tremendously over the past decades, thereby inducing lighter weight piglets at birth and increasing pre-weaning mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate if a whole cell inactivated Pichia guilliermondii (Pg) yeast product could improve the body condition of the sows and the performance of their litters through a modulation of the immune system in sows and piglets. A total of 51 gilts and sows were randomly allotted to either a control diet (Con) or a diet supplemented with 0.1% of Pg yeast from breeding to weaning (21 d). The optimal level of 0.1% of Pg yeast was defined in previous studies. Sow body condition and litter performance were analysed with ANOVA models considering the effects of diet, batch of sow, parity, backfat at breeding, and the interactions. Pre-weaning mortality and proportion of lightweight piglets were analysed with Chi-squared test. Average daily feed intake did not differ significantly between the two groups in gestation and lactation (P > 0.10). Weight gain was significantly higher for the overall reproductive cycle for the Pg sows compared to the Con sows (P = 0.05) and backfat loss was significantly lower (P = 0.05). The number of piglets born alive was significantly higher for the Pg group compared to the Con group (15.2 and 14.6 respectively, P = 0.02). The proportion of piglets weighing less than 0.8 kg at birth tended to be reduced in the Pg group compared to the Con group (P = 0.07) and mortality during the suckling period was significantly reduced (P = 0.03), resulting in more piglets being weaned from these sows. Finally, Pg supplementation of sows during gestation and lactation improves sows’ body condition, which could favour future reproductive parameters, and optimize litter performance at birth and weaning.