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Dietary supplementation with arginine (Arg) or glutamine (Gln) has been considered as an option to improve nursing performance in reproductive sows. This study investigated whether a low-level supplementation of Arg or Gln or a blend of both could modify milk nutrients and improve piglets' growth beyond weaning. Seventy-two multiparous sows were assigned to four groups: one group fed a control diet, three treatment groups fed the control diet supplemented with either 0.35% Arg, 0.35% Gln, or both, from day 108 of gestation until weaning at day 26 of lactation. Immediately after birth, the litters were cross fostered to 13 piglets and monitored until 2 wk after weaning. Sows body condition and litter growth were assessed. Colostrum and milk samples were collected for nutrient analyses. Plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) around weaning were determined in sows and two representative piglets per litter. Supplementing Gln or the combination of Arg and Gln had no effect on the parameters studied. Arg supplementation increased weaning weight, while decreasing the variation of piglet weights 2 wk after weaning. There was no correlation with plasma IGF-1 since the hormone was not altered in sows or piglets. The colostral concentration of fat tended to increase in the Arg-group, whereas protein, lactose, energy, and polyamine concentrations remained unaffected. Milk samples obtained on day 12 and 25 of lactation were not influenced by dietary treatment. The data indicate that there might be a window of opportunity, explicitly at the onset of lactation, for dietary intervention by maternal dietary Arg supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of precision feeding in sows depends on a precise estimation of its potential benefits. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of precision feeding and feed intake during gestation on gilt performances during two gestation cycles. Four isoenergetic treatments were compared: two constantconcentration feeding strategies (0.53% Lys DIS), one with constant feed intake (FF; flat feeding) and the other variable (BF; "bump feeding", with decreased feed intake before 90 days of gestation, then greater feed intake until parturition), and two precisionfeeding strategies based on the InraPorc model, one by parity (APP) and the other considering the body weight of the gilt at breeding (API). A total of 333 gilts were followed from breeding to weaning for two gestation and lactation cycles. Body weight and backfat depth were measured at breeding, 90 days of gestation, parturition, and weaning. Feed consumption was monitored daily. Litter variables were measured as birth and weaning weight, mortality, and overall gain. A mixed model was used to analyze differences between the four treatments using the sow as the experimental unit. Results showed that APP gilts gained more body weight during the gestation than FF gilts (65.1 vs 61.7 kg; P = 0.01) but no difference remained at the end of lactation (P > 0.10). Mobilization of backfat depth was more important during lactation in the APP group compared with FF and BF treatments (3.4 vs 2.9 mm; P = 0.03). BF and APP gilts had greater total birth litter weight than API gilts (400 g and 600 g greater, respectively), with FF gilts being intermediate (P = 0.02). However, the effect faded out with no difference on weaning weight and overall lactation gain weight (P > 0.10). The APP gilts had more weaned piglets than BF or FF gilts (+0.6 piglet, P = 0.01). During the second cycle, API sows gained more body weight during gestation than FF sows (58.8 vs 55.7 kg; P = 0.05). Yet, no significant difference was observed at the end of lactation. For the backfat depth, API sows had greater backfat depth during gestation than FF sows (1.83 vs 1.1 mm; P = 0.05) and a greater mobilization during lactation (2.68 vs 2.0 mm; P = 0.08). No effect was seen on litter mortality. In the same way, no significant effect was observed in the litter performances (P > 0.1). Initial results from this study seem to show a benefit of precision feeding for gilts, but with less effect for their second parity. However, no clear benefit was observed from the bump feeding strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment aimed to determine if Trp metabolism and growth responses to dietary Trp are modulated by dietary niacin (B3) in weanling piglets. Piglets weaned at 3 wk of age were distributed 1 wk later (7.6 kg of BW, SEM = 0.1) in 52 pens of 2 animals each. Pens were assigned to factorial dietary treatments with 2 additions of B3, 15 mg/kg (LB3) vs. 45 mg/kg (HB3) and 2 additions of Trp, 0 mg/kg (-Trp) vs. 1 mg/kg (+Trp) for Trp to Lys ratios of 0.16 vs. 0.24, respectively. Growth performance was recorded every week from 4 to 10 wk of age. Fasting blood samples were taken at 4, 6, 8, and 10 wk of age. From 4 to 10 wk of age, ADFI tended to be greater (P = 0.10) in HB3 than in LB3 (1,031 vs. 1,003 g, SEM = 7), and this was reflected (P = 0.06) by ADG (642 vs. 623 g, SEM = 7). No treatment effect was observed on plasma Trp or kynurenine (Kyn), an intermediate metabolite of Trp catabolism. The response of plasma nicotinamide (Nam), a product of Trp catabolism and an indicator of B3 status, to dietary B3 differed according to treatments (interaction Trp x B3, P < 0.01) with values of 1.4, 3.3, 4.1, and 5.3 µM (SEM = 0.1) in LB3-Trp, HB3-Trp, LB3+Trp, and HB3+Trp, respectively. At 11 wk of age, postprandial blood samples were collected from 6 piglets per treatment for measurements of Trp and insulin metabolism. Postprandial plasma Trp (96.4 vs. 72.2 µM, SEM = 3.4) and Kyn (1.7 vs. 1.3 µM, SEM = 0.1) were greater (P < 0.01) in +Trp vs. -Trp. Postprandial plasma Nam was greater (P < 0.01) in +Trp vs. -Trp (3.4 vs. 1.9 µM, SEM = 0.3) and in HB3 vs. LB3 piglets (3.4 vs. 1.9 µM, SEM = 0.3). Postprandial peaks and areas under curves of C-peptide and glucose were not affected by treatments. However, for insulin, the postprandial peak was lower in +Trp vs. -Trp piglets in the LB3 group (interaction Trp x B3, P < 0.05); values were 1.3, 1.0, 0.7, and 1.0 nM (SEM = 0.1) in LB3-Trp, HB3-Trp, LB3+Trp, and HB3+Trp, respectively. The peak value of the molar ratio insulin:Cpeptide was lower (P < 0.02) in +Trp vs. -Trp piglets (0.56 vs. 0.73, SEM = 0.05). The responses observed on growth performance and plasma Nam suggest that the LB3 level was suboptimal. According also to plasma Nam, it appears that supplemental dietary B3 can attenuate Trp oxidation toward niacin metabolites. Postprandial profiles of insulin and C-peptide indicate that Trp action is exerted on insulin clearance rather than on insulin secretion in piglets, without apparent consequences on glucose utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a calculation of diets covering the pig's requirement and to avoid the waste of valuable nutrients without impact on zootechnical performance, the knowledge about the nutrient contents and their availability of the used feedstuffs, is a prerequisite. From the perspective of sustainability, higher usage of industrial by-products would be desirable to reduce the strong competition for food between human and pig nutrition. Hence, the aim of the present study was to test the effect of high amounts of wheat middlings in pig diets under consideration of the net energy system on zootechnical and slaughter performance of fattening pigs. Four dietary treatments differing in energy- (corn/barley/wheat middlings) and protein source (soybean meal /rapeseed meal / DDGS) were conducted, resulting in one high dietary crude protein treatment (soybean meal) and three reduced dietary crude protein treatments (rapeseed meal, low wheat middlings and high wheat middlings). Animals receiving the high wheat middlings diet showed a significantly lower daily feed intake (-13.6%) compared to the diet including rapeseed meal (p<0.0001). The rapeseed meal diet declined the feed to gain ratio (+8.6%) compared to the other treatments (p<0.05). The average daily gain was numerically greater for pigs receiving the high protein diet (+6.4%; p<0.1) compared to the other treatments. No differences between treatments were recorded for the investigated slaughter parameters. Specific slaughter parameters showed the highest Pearson correlation coefficient with the daily net energy intake. The observed differences regarding zootechnical performance parameters can be explained by unbalanced nutrient contents between the different experimental diets. The net energy system appears to be the most precise tool for an energy estimation of fattening pig diets. An accurate knowledge of the nutrient contents and availability of the feedstuffs is a prerequisite to optimize balanced diets for fattening pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branched chain amino acids (BCAA), valine (Val), isoleucine (Ile) and leucine (Leu) share the same metabolic pathways. An excess of Leu stimulates the catabolism of Val and Ile that may lead to a decrease in piglet growth performance. The objective of this study is to quantify the response of piglets to dietary Val and the influence of Leu and Ile on this response through a meta-analysis approach. A total of 16 articles published between 2001 and 2018, including 23 experiments and 126 treatments were used. Multiple regression models were fitted with the MIXED procedure of Minitab software with the random effect of the experiment. The Y variables were Average Daily Gain (ADG), Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). The main X variable was the Standardized Ileal Digestible Val (ValSID) and the other ones were Leu (LeuSID) and Ile (IleSID). The response of ADG, ADFI and FCR to ValSID was curvilinear (P< 0.001: ADG, R2 = 0.93%; ADFI, R2= 0.97%; FCR, R2=0.93%). Results showed that increasing dietary LeuSID reduced ADG and ADFI (P< 0.05) but also that the response of piglets to ValSID was stronger in high LeuSID diet (P < 0.05; Interaction ValSIDxLeuSID; ADG and ADFI). Based on these models, increasing dietary ValSID from 7 to 8.5g/kg generates in wheat-based diets (10 g/kg of LeuSID) an improvement of ADG of 4.7% and ADFI of 2.5% compared to 7.4% for ADG and 5.2% for ADFI in corn-based diets (14 g/kg of LeuSID). The response of ADG, ADFI and FCR to ValSID was not modified by IleSID. This study showed that ADG, ADFI and FCR are improved with increasing dietary Val and this effect was modulated by dietary Leu content except for FCR. Results can help piglet nutritionists to optimize dietary Val levels based on other BCAA content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]