1343
A standardized blend of capsicum oleoresin, cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol improves performance of lactating sows
The main concern in sow farming is to optimize progeny performance during suckling and minimize fertility concerns. In monogastric animals, a standardized blend of capsicum oleoresin, cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol (XT, XTRACT® 6930, Pancosma) was shown to positively affect fat digestibility and immune modulation. Therefore, given these modes of action, XT should be beneficial to the performance of lactating sows. As scarce information is available on this matter, a study was designed to evaluate the effect of XT supplementation on performance of sows raised under commercial conditions. A total of 428 sows were randomly allocated from 15 days before farrowing until piglets’ weaning to one of the two treatments: CT: basal diet and XT: basal diet supplemented with 100 g/t XT. Animals had ad libitum access to feed and water. Sows’ ADFI during gestation and lactation, backfat loss during lactation and weaning to Estrus interval were individually recorded. Piglet birth weight, number of piglets born alive, mummies and weaned, and piglets weights at birth and weaning were evaluated per sow. Results were statistically analyzed by ANOVA, using the treatment, the parity and their interaction as fixed effects. Results showed that XT did not affect sow ADFI during gestation and lactation, backfat loss, the numbers of piglets born alive and mummies, and piglets’ weight gain during suckling (P > 0.28). However, the interaction treatment*parity had a significant impact on lactation ADFI (P < 0.05). More specifically, XT increased ADFI during lactation of primiparous sows compared to CT (+4.1%, P < 0.05). XT supplementation tended to increase the number of piglets weaned per sow (+0.2 piglets/sow, P = 0.09) and to reduce pre-weaning mortality (-15.8%, P = 0.09). Finally, XT significantly decreased the weaning to Estrus interval by 2.2 days (P= 0.04). There results suggest that XT has the potential to improve sow performance during lactation under commercial conditions, through more piglets weaned per litter and improved fertility.
Keywords:
phytonutrients, sow performance