Increased Consumption of Methionine By Piglets Fed with DL-Met or OH-Met Strengthens Piglets’ Ability to Cope with LPS-Induced Inflammatory Stress during Post-Weaning Period

The objective of this study was to determine whether an LPS-induced inflammatory stress might be attenuated by increased consumption of methionine either as DL-Met (DLM) or OH-Met (HMTBA) in both lactating sows and weaned piglets. Sows received during the last month of gestation and lactating period, three treatments: a control diet at the requirement in TSAA (0.52% and 0.60% of Met+Cys, respectively for gestation and lactation periods) and two treatments supplemented with DLM or HMTBA at 25% above the requirement. Results on sows and piglets during the lactation were presented in a separate paper (See Abstract n°#21279). Piglets were weaned at 21d and received three weaned diets according to the sows’ treatments: a control diet at the requirement in TSAA (CON-P) and two treatments supplemented with either DLM (DLM-P) or HMTBA (HMTBA-P) at 25% above the requirement. Dietary content of Met+Cys in the CON-P diet was 0.88%. After 2 weeks of feeding, 20 male piglets from each treatment were selected according to their body weight for a 2 x 3 factorial design that included dietary treatments (CON-P, DLM-P and HMTBA-P) and immunological challenge (saline and LPS) at d 35. Growth performance of piglets were measured at d 35, 49 and 63 respectively. At d 35, piglets’ body weights were significantly higher in the HMTBA-P group (8.47 ± 0.38 kg) than in the CON-P (7.66 ± 0.24 kg). Body weight of the DLM-P group (8.25 ± 0.27 kg) was intermediate and was not significantly different than both the CON-P and the HMTBA-P. Feed intake and feed to gain ratio during the 21-35 d period was not significantly different between treatments. The LPS significantly affected piglet’s performance in all groups. However, HMTBA-P and DLM-P fed piglets showed the highest body weights following the LPS challenge at d 49 and d 63, in comparison to the CON-P. Body weight gain and feed to gain ratio were the best in piglets fed the HMTBA-P treatment during and after LPS stress (P < 0.05). HMTBA is known to be better transsulfurated than DLM, thus leading to more glutathione in comparison to DLM. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that the better growth performance observed with HMTBA under LPS stress might be related to the better antioxidant status. Consequently, these results pointed out the better ability of piglets fed with HMTBA through maternal supplementation and during the post-weaning period to cope with an inflammatory stress.