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984
Oregano essential oil supplementation in gestation and lactation shortened birthing interval in primparous and multiparous sows
A total of 15 gilts and 26 sows (parity 2 – 5) were used to assess the impact of oregano EO (By-O-Reg, Advanced Ag Products) supplementation in gestation and lactation on farrowing characteristics (duration and birth interval), and sow and piglet performance. Females were assigned to one of 2 dietary treatments at breeding [0 or 2 g/d oregano EO supplementation]. Experimental diets were fed throughout gestation and lactation (21 d). Diets were offered once daily in gestation and twice daily in lactation, and oregano EO was added as a top dress with the AM feeding. Diets were formulated to meet or exceed nutrient requirements for sows/gilts in gestation (0.6 % SID Lysine and 3280 kcal ME/kg) and lactation (0.9 % SID Lysine and 3280 kcal ME/kg). Control sows (0 g/d EO) received soy hulls (the carrier for the EO) at 2 g/d. Assessment of sow performance included body weight and backfat (breeding, d110 of gestation, d1 of lactation, and at weaning), and lactation feed intake. Piglets were weighed at birth and at weaning. All farrowings were attended by a trained technician and farrowing duration was determined as the time between birth of the first and last piglets and piglet birth interval was recorded. Data was analyzed as a RCB design with sow as the experimental unit. Sow performance was not affected by EO supplementation: mean body weight was 180.0 ± 8.9 kg and 233.7 ± 5.3 kg at breeding and d110, respectively and lactation feed intake was 7.09 ± 0.35. Gestation length tended to be shorter (P = 0.11) in EO supplemented sows (115.0 vs 115.7 ± 0.3). Farrowing duration (3.5 ± 0.5 hrs) was not influenced by EO supplementation but birthing interval tended to be shorter (P = 0.10) in EO fed sows (14.0 vs 20.2 ± 2.8 min/pig). Born alive (12.8 vs 11.9 ± 0.8), stillborns (0.26 vs 0.40 ± 0.17), piglet birth weight (1.33 vs 1.36 ± 0.03 kg) and piglet weaning weight (7.38 vs 7.26 ± 0.16 kg) were not influenced by maternal EO supplementation. Subsequent rebreeding interval tended to be increased (P= 0.06) in EO fed sows (4.7 vs 4.5 ± 0.1 d). Oregano EO supplementation had little impact on sow and piglet performance but appeared to positively impact birthing interval and gestation length. A shorter birthing interval may reduce the risk of stillborns and limit the need for farrowing assistance.
Keywords: birthing interval, essential oil,sow