PSVII-2 Effects of Oxidized Beta-Carotene on Sow Reproduction and Piglet Growth Performance

As reproductive performance of sows in the commercial U.S. sow herd continues to improve, advancing the impact of gestation and lactation diet supplementation is critical. Beginning on d 60 of gestation through lactation, sows (blocked by parity) were assigned to a standard gestation diet (n = 88), or the standard diet supplemented with 80 ppm OxC-beta (n = 90) provided by Avivagen (Ottawa, ON, Canada) to determine if the supplementation of OxC-beta improves sow reproductive performance, litter growth performance, and alters the abundance of immune cells in sows and piglets. Blood samples were taken from a subset of sows (n = 54 per treatment) at the start of the study, at farrowing, and at weaning; and also, on a subset of piglets at birth and weaning. Also, at birth and weaning, 12 pigs (n = 6 per treatment) were euthanized, and livers were collected and subjected to flow cytometry to analyze phagocytic activity of the Kupfer cells. CD335, CD8, and CD4 populations within whole blood were assessed via flow cytometry. Colostrum at farrowing and milk at weaning were collected for analysis of IgG and IgA. Data were analyzed via SAS 9.4 using PROC GLIMMIX. No differences (P > 0.05) between dietary treatments were observed in sow reproductive performance, sow feed intake, wean to estrus interval, or piglet growth performance. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed for vitamin A in the plasma or liver. No immune differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the piglet’s liver and blood nor sow antibodies in colostrum and milk. Subsequent litter information was obtained from the sows, and no differences (P > 0.05) were observed in reproductive performance. Overall, there were no differences in sow reproductive performance, litter growth performance, and the immune system of sows and piglets of sows supplemented OxC-beta.