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Simple Summary: One of the main problems in the sows' farrowing sector is related to the health of their piglets and environmental impact as well. Hemp seed oil, characterised by an excellent polyunsaturated fatty acid profile and a favourable n-6:n-3 ratio, can contribute positively to enriching sow diets in essential fatty acids that are beneficial to health. Our study highlights that a higher n-3 fatty acids intake by sows fed diet-based hemp seed oil determines a fluctuation in the plasma concentration of major sows and their offspring's immune markers (IgA, IgG, IgM). The suckling piglets receive significant Ig and essential fatty acids via maternal secretion. A milk intake with an ameliorated n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid composition reduces the diarrhoea frequency of piglets. Enteric methane, known as a greenhouse gas indicator, can be impacted positively as well. New potential predictors for enteric methane, such as feed intake, n-6:n-3 ratio, linolenic fatty acids, and lean meat can be considered. Throughout the lactation period, milk fatty acids and plasma immunoglobulins fluctuate significantly. This study shows the effects of dietary hemp seed oil on the milk composition, blood immunoglobulins (Ig), and enteric methane (E-CH4) production of primiparous sows, and their offspring's response at three time points. A bifactorial experiment was conducted for 21 days (d) on 18 primiparous sows (195 ± 3 days old). The sows were fed two diets: (i) a control diet (SO) based on soybean oil (1.6%), with an 18.82 n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratio; (ii) an experimental diet (HO) based on hemp seed oil (1.6%), with a 9.14 n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio. The milk contained an elevated level of linoleic acids (LA), n-3 FA, and especially alpha-linolenic acids (ALA), while the n-6:n-3 ratio declined using hemp oil. The Ig concentration was higher in colostrum than in milk. In the first few hours, the IgG in the plasma of piglets was more than double that of maternal plasma IgG (+2.39 times). A period effect (p < 0.0001) for IgG concentration in the plasma of piglets was recorded (40% at 10 d, respectively 73% lower at 21 d than 12 h after parturition). However, the sow diet did not affect Ig (p > 0.05). The frequency of diarrhoea declined after about 7 d. The value of the rate of diarrhoea was 6.2% lower in the PHO group. We found a 4.5% decline in E-CH4 in the HO group. Applying multiple linear regression, feed intake, n-6:n-3 ratio, ALA, and lean meat were potential indicators in estimating E-CH4. In conclusion, sow dietary hemp seed oil increased lean meat %, milk EFA, and milk IgM. Significant changes in the other dependent variables of interest (body weight, plasma Igs in sows and offspring, E-CH4 production) were not recorded. There was reduced diarrhoea which shows that EFA could play a therapeutic role in the incidence of diarrhoea and in lowering of E-CH4 emission in sows and progeny. All dependent variables were significantly altered at different time points, except for fat concentration in milk and sow plasma IgG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the widespread raising of swine in farms becomes a serious problem in terms of the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), having an environmental impact. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different diets on growth parameters changes in physical size, carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and microclimate monitoring. For 28 days, 7 TOPIGS sows (average initial body weight, BW ~ 205.09 kg) were allotted in two dietary treatments: control (C diet, 1.6% soybean oil) and experimental (E diet), (with 1.6% hemp oil). The type of oil differed by their fatty acids (FA) composition. Sows were individually weighed, P2 backfat thickness was determined by ultrasound and morphometric measurements of body size were taken three times during lactation. The CO2 emitted by sows and their litter was calculated. Microclimate parameters were recorded daily. The addition of 1.6% hemp oil in the diet improved sows final body weight and reduced weight loss (P<0.05). A high significant negative Pearson correlation was observed between PUFA intake, and their fraction (Σ n-3, Σ n-6, Linolenic and Linoleic as predominant n-3 and n-6 FA). The proportion of CO2 exhalated by sows fed E diet was significantly lower compared to C diet. The CO2 emission, temperature and relative humidity were affected (P<0.001) by the sows’ physiological status. The results from this study are indicating that the hemp oil inclusion in the sow's diet has a beneficial effect on performance. Further studies are necessary to determine the nutrition impact on environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the dietary hemp seed (HS) influence on sow milk composition and piglets' performances. Ten sows were assigned randomly, to a control group (CL) with classical diets, and an experimental group (HSL) fed with 5% HS. Their litter (N=96) were divided in two groups: HH/CH with 1.5% HS and CC/HC without HS. The HS antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH method, phenolic compound by Folin-Ciocalteu, cannabinoid by colorimetry. Milk and colostrum samples from sow were collected manually. Gas chromatography was used to determine milk fatty acids (FA) composition. Colostrum and sow milk content of protein was determined by biuret reaction and lactose concentration was determined using phosphomolybdenic reagent. The lipid specimen was heated with concentrated sulfuric acid. Then vanillin and phosphoric acid are added to yield a pink coloured product which has been measured at 530 nm and quantified using a triolein standard. Milk yield (MY) was calculated. Average daily gain (ADG) of piglets at 0 to 7 d (days) was higher (P= 0.001) for HC/HH group and tended to be higher for HC/HH group at 0-21 d. Milk yield calculated at peak lactation was > 2.1-fold in HSL group than in CL group. The diets tend to influence milk fat content, whereas the day had a significantly higher influence for protein and lactose. The n-3-rich diet favours milk deposition of a- linolenic FA (ALA), linoleic FA (LA) and total n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). This led to a significantly lower n- 6:n-3 ratio in milk of HSL group. Docosahexaenoic FA (DHA) increased 1.87 and 2.33-fold at 0-7 d and 0-21 d in HSL group. We can conclude that HS altered beneficially milk FA associated with litter performance. Significantly positively correlated with MY, milk constituents declined in time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to determine whether the increase through diet of the fatty acids (FA) composition in sows colostrum and milk was associated with litter performances and their biochemical profile. The study was conducted in 4 sows TOPIGS (48 litter) allocated into 2 groups: control and Hemp diets. Litters were divided into two dietary treatments: control diet and control plus 2.5% additive based on L acidophilus (50%) and L. Plantarum (50%) bacterial strain. The FAs composition of the colostrum and milk (7 and 21 days) was determined by gas chromatography. The sow and litter biochemical profile was determined with BS-130 automatic analyser. The addition of hemp in feed of Hemp group sows starting the last 10 days of gestation significantly influenced the colostrum and milk composition in polyunsaturated FAs, n-3 and n-6 FAs. In Hemp group a- linolenic FA content in colostrum was 1.4 times higher than in the control group, 1.64 times higher after 7 days of lactation and 1.45times higher after 21 days of lactation compared to control group. The dietary addition of hemp lead to a reduction of ratio n-6: n-3 in milk. This was positive reflected in the litter performances (>3.8% at litter from Hemp group sow compared to C group) and their health. The microbial additive reinforced the positive effects on growth parameters (>20%at litter from Hemp group sow and > 25% at litter from control group respectively). Both sows and piglets serum biochemical parameters were within physiological limit. In conclusion, feed composition can beneficially influence colostrum / milk fatty acids composition in relation to litter performances, biochemical parameters and health. Milk fat quality had positive effects on piglet performance and their health, as shown by the biochemical plasma parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to estimate the nutrient flow in different body fractions, in phase-fed second parity Large White sows after mating and during gestation, by developing a model based on data from previous experiments and on theoretical coefficients. The trial used 16, second parity, pregnant Large White sows selected randomly, with 171 ± 20 kg average initial body weight. After mating, the animals were assigned randomly to 3 homogenous groups: group C, whose dietary compound feed had a protein level according to the norms calculated by mathematical modelling; group L, whose dietary protein level was 10% lower compared to C diet; group H, whose dietary protein level was 10% higher compared to C diet. A total of 4 sows have been slaughtered in the beginning of the trial to determine reference values for the body composition. The different dietary protein level of the three groups was the variable; the feeding norm and the feed intake were changed gradually, but similarly among the groups. The gain of protein was 13.03 kg for group L, 11.67 kg for group C and 12.52 kg for group H. the decrease of the dietary protein level was accompanied by the 4.18% decrease of the energy intake compared to H diet and 2.65% compared to C diet. The protein level increased 1.34 times, 2 days before parturition compared to the post-mating period, with a stronger increase for L diet. Overall body fractions, lipid content was 1.05 times lower in group L, 1.14 times lower in group C and 0.7 times lower in group H. In conclusion, protein restriction can be advantageous in terms of economy, environment protection and production. On the contrary, the surplus of protein may lead to waste and it doesn't justify. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hemp seeds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as other bioactive compounds. Using dietary hemp seeds as late gestation and lactation supplementation for sows and early life supplementation for piglets, we found that the indicators of oxidative status were improved in both sows and offspring. Besides the significant improvement in the antioxidant defense system of the sows, our assessment of dietary intervention resulted in an array of increased antioxidative status markers for their progeny. In addition, this could be translated into increased adaptability to the upcoming weaning stage. This study shows the antioxidant effect of a dietary hemp seed diet rich in ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on oxidative status in sows during late gestation and lactation and their offspring. Ten pregnant sows were divided into two groups and fed either a control diet (CD) or a hemp diet (HD) containing 2% hemp seed meal for a period of 10 days before farrowing and 5% throughout the lactation period (21 d). After farrowing, 16 of their resulting piglets were divided into two groups: control group CD (eight piglets derived from control sows) and HD group (eight piglets derived from HD sows), respectively. Blood collected from sows and piglets at day 1, 7 and 21 was used for the measurement of antioxidant enzymes (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GPx)), nitric oxide production (NO), lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances—TBARS), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma. The results showed a significant improvement in the oxidative status of sows fed HD throughout lactation compared with CD. Similarly, in piglets, HD positively influenced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, TAC and NO levels and significantly decreased lipid peroxidation in plasma until weaning, in comparison with the CD group. This study suggests the potential of hemp seed diet to improve the overall antioxidant status of the lactating sows and their progeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]