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In the present research, two studies were performed to determine the effects of specific botanical compounds (BCs) on the innate feed preference and feed intake of piglets, as follows: Exp. 1 studied the innate feed preferences of post-weaning piglets using a double-choice feeding test. A total of 828 weaned piglets were distributed into 36 pens (23 pigs/pen) and assigned to three dietary pair choice feeding options (n = 12): unsupplemented prestarter diets (reference) versus reference plus D-limonene, trans-anethole, or eucalyptol. Piglets showed a preference for diets with D-limonene (53.8%) and trans-anethole (54.5%), and an aversion to eucalyptol (41.6%) (p &lt, 0.05). Exp. 2 studied whether the prenatal and perinatal exposure to D-limonene, trans-anethole, and eucalyptol influences the feed intake and growth of newly-weaned piglets. Twenty-eight gestating and lactating sows were distributed into two dietary treatments (n = 14): unsupplemented Control diets or Control plus a blend of BCs (BBC, containing D-limonene, trans-anethole, and eucalyptol). D-limonene, trans-anethole, and eucalyptol were transferred into the placental fluid, and D-limonene and trans-anethole into the milk (p &lt, 0.05). Furthermore, weanling piglets (n = 200, Control) and (n = 203, BBC) received the same treatment as their mothers in prestarter diets. The early response after weaning showed that piglets’ post-weaning BW gain was higher in the Control (p &lt, 0.05) group than in those exposed to BBC. In conclusion, prenatal exposure to preferred D-limonene and trans-anethole, or familiarity to eucalyptol did not help to overcome the innate aversion to eucalyptol and its negative effect on weanling piglets’ BW.

Improvement on litter size in hyperprolific sows has decreased piglet’s birthweight and increased newborn mortality. Besides, no significant changes have been reported on the sow colostrum-milk composition. Phytogenic compounds (PC) are phytochemicals that may promote swine health and performance. This study aims to evaluate the effects of PC maternal transfer on reproductive and litter performance, and sows colostrum-milk features. Eighty-one hyperprolific sows were assigned to 3 treatments. Control sows were unsupplemented, whereas treated sows were offered supplemented diets with 1 g/kg of a blend of PC (BPC) during gestation and lactation (GL), or only lactation (L). Maternal transfer of PC into the amniotic fluid and milk were determined by using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Farrowing and litter performance were monitored. Moreover, the colostrum and milk composition, and milk inhibitory activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Candida albicans were determined. Data were analyzed with ANOVA by using the MIXED procedure of SAS, while, Fisher test for milk bacteriostatic activity was performed. Thymol, anethole, linalool, and eucalyptol were transferred via amniotic liquid, whereas, p-cymene, thymol, and anethole were also transferred into the milk (P < 0.05). No differences (P > 0.05) were observed on number of total born piglets (C 17.14, L 17.75, and GL 19.16). However, BPC supplementation increased (P = 0.007) the piglets born alive (C 14.53, L 15.33, and GL 17.60), while reduced (P = 0.031) the newborn piglets BW. Colostrum protein in GL and milk fat contents in L and GL (Table 1) were increased (P < 0.05). Milk of GL showed inhibitory activity (P < 0.05) against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. In conclusion, dietary BPC supplementation during gestation and/or lactation increased the number of piglets born alive, enhanced both the colostrum-milk composition, and the milk inhibitory activity against well-known pathogens.

Background The improvement of sow prolificacy by breeding has increased the number of piglets produced per sow per year. However, intrauterine crowding and/or intrauterine growth restriction typically observed in hyperprolific sows impairs foetal growth which has decreased the average individual birthweight, with a larger proportion of low birthweight (LBW) pigs born per litter with poor gut development and compromised postnatal growth performance. Phytogenic compounds (PC) are plant-derived natural bioactive substances that can be used in livestock production as feed additives to promote animal health and production efficiency. This research aims to study if a specific blend of PC (BPC) supplemented in gestating and lactating hyperprolific sow diets may promote pre- and postnatal maternal effects on performance and oxidative status of sows and their offspring, colostrum-milk features, and piglet gut health-related gene expression and morphology. Forty DanBred hybrid line Landrace x Yorkhire gilts and sows (parities 0–7) were randomly allocated by parity number and body weight into two dietary treatments including unsupplemented Control (n = 20) or Control diets supplemented with 1 g/kg feed of BPC (n = 20) throughout gestation and lactation.Results Several dietary PC from the supplemented BPC were transferred to the placental fluid and milk. The BPC supplementation during gestation enhanced the litter size, antioxidant status, and colostrum protein content of sows. Jejunal histomorphology of neonate piglets, and intestinal-function gene expression related to nutrient transport, antioxidant, innate immune response, and digestion were improved in the BPC group. For both, sows and piglets, plasma antioxidant activity of CAT and SOD enzymes were enhanced. For suckling piglets, jejunal expression of genes related to gut barrier function was improved and piglet weight gain from birth to weaning was enhanced in the BPC group.Conclusions Dietary supplementation of BPC in gestating and lactating diets for hyperprolific sows improves sow’s reproductive performance and colostrum composition, with a significant strength of the antioxidant status of sows and their offspring. The prenatal and postnatal maternal transfer (placental fluid and milk) of BPC to the offspring would influence on the neonatal programming and postnatal of piglet’s gut health, with advantageous effects on piglet’s growth performance.

Phytogenic actives (PA) are plant-derived natural bioactive compounds that may promote livestock health and well-being, as well as improve growth performance and production efficiency. The current study aims to evaluate their effects on sows and their offspring. Eighty-one hyperprolific sows (up to parity 7) were assigned to 3 experimental treatments. Control sows were offered a nonsupplemented diet during gestation and lactation, and treated sows were fed the control diet supplemented with 1 g/kg of a blend of PA (BPA) in lactation (L) or during gestation and lactation (GL). An evaluation was made of placental and milk maternal transfer of these BPA and colostrum–milk features, sows and piglets antioxidant status, reproductive performance (litter size), body weight (BW) changes, weaning-estrus interval, and litter performance. Finally, piglet´s jejunum gene expression was measured. The BPA supplementation during gestation (GL) increased the number of piglets born alive (P = 0.020) and reduced (P 0.05). Dietary phytogenic volatile compounds reached GL placental fluid, and milk of L and GL sows (P