l-Arginine supplementation for pregnant and lactating sows may improve the performance of piglets: A systematic review.

The objective was to conduct a systematic review to clarify the effects of l-arginine supplementation in pregnant and lactating sows on plasma hormone levels, milk production and composition, the body condition of sows and piglet performance. In April 2023, an online search and a systematic search were performed in the following databases: Embase, Scopus, SciELO, Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct. The combinations of keywords used were sow and arginine and lactation; sow and arginine and lactating; sow and arginine and gestation; sow and arginine and gestating; sow and arginine and pregnancy; sow and arginine and reproduction; piglet and arginine; and sow and arginine and mammary gland.

Low crude protein formulation with supplemental amino acids for its impacts on intestinal health and growth performance of growing-finishing pigs.

Background: Low crude protein (CP) formulations with supplemental amino acids (AA) are used to enhance intestinal health, reduce costs, minimize environmental impact, and maintain growth performance of pigs. However, extensive reduction of dietary CP can compromise growth performance due to limited synthesis of non-essential AA and limited availability of bioactive compounds from protein supplements even when AA requirements are met. Moreover, implementing a low CP formulation can increase the net energy (NE) content in feeds causing excessive fat deposition.

Benzoic Acid Combined with Essential Oils Can Be an Alternative to the Use of Antibiotic Growth Promoters for Piglets Challenged with F4.

Benzoic acid (BA) and essential oils (EOs) (thymol, 2-methoxyphenol, eugenol, piperine, and curcumin) are being studied to minimize the impairment of gastrointestinal functions in weanling piglets. This study evaluates the effects of combining BA and EO on the performance and intestinal health of piglets challenged with F4 (1 mL, 10 CFU/mL). In total, 270 weaned piglets were used in a randomized block design with six treatments: positive control, with 40 mg/kg colistin (PC); negative control, without the growth promoter (NC); negative control +5 g/kg benzoic acid (BA); negative control +2 g/kg combination of BA+EO (BA+EO2); negative control +3 g/kg combination of BA+EO (BA+EO3); negative control +4 g/kg combination of BA+EO (BA+EO4).

Season effects on the suckling behavior of piglets.

The suckling behavior of piglets was evaluated in summer and winter, using 21 sows of the same genetic line. Data were collected in July (winter) and in January (summer). The experimental design was a randomized complete block (age of piglets) in a 2x2 factorial scheme, with season of the year (winter and summer) and shift (day, from 06 h to 1h:59min and night from 18h to 05h:59min) as factors.

L-arginine supplementation during the final third of gestation improves litter uniformity and physical characteristics of neonatal piglet thermoregulation.

The study assessed the effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation from days 85 to 115 of gestation on sow performance, litter quality, piglet physiology and survival variables in the first 24 hr of life. Twenty multiparous sows, with a history of hyperprolificacy (more than 14 piglets per litter), were used. A completely randomized experimental design was used, consisting of two treatments: feed supplemented or not with 1% L-arginine from days 85 to 115 of gestation.

Variability of piglet birth weights: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of litter size and supplementation of functional amino acids on the piglet birth weight variability through of a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus and SciELO are the main used databases and were searched in January 2019 by using the following keywords and their combinations: within-litter birth, weight variability, piglets, litter size, sow, amino acids, gestation, uniformity, CV and/or SD. Of the 64 pre-selected articles, only articles presenting the coefficients of variation and/or standard deviations according to the litter size and different levels of amino acid supplementation in the sow diets during gestation were selected.

Effectiveness of citrulline and N-carbamoyl glutamate as arginine precursors on reproductive performance in mammals: A systematic review.

The use of functional nutrients has been proposed to reduce the occurrence of intrauterine growth retardation in animals at birth in several mammalian species. The objective of this study was to verify the effectiveness of citrulline and N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) dietary supplementation as arginine precursors for mammalian species, and the effects on fetal development through a systematic review. The search for studies was performed during August 2018 in the PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus databases.

Effects of maternal artificial vocalization on hyperprolific lactating sows and piglets behavior.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the behavioral patterns and performance of lactating sows and their litters under the effect of artificial vocalization. Twenty-eight sows and their litters were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial scheme (artificial vocalization x lactation week). The behavior of the animals was monitored during 24 hours on the 7th and 15th days of lactation, analyzing the number, interval, and frequency of nursings.

Relative bioavailability of l-lysine sulfate is equivalent to that of l-lysine HCl for nursery piglets.

Supplementary l-lysine sources include l-lysine HCl and l-lysine sulfate. l-Lysine sulfate contains at least 50% l-Lys and other components as residues from the fermentation process, other amino acids, and other organic and inorganic substances, being an alternative to l-Lys HCl. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative bioavailability (RBV) of l-Lys sulfate in comparison with l-Lys HCl and its effects on performance, blood parameters, intestinal functionality, and the apparent total tract digestibility in nursery piglets.

Vascularization of broad ligament of uterus and its relationship with fetal and placental development in gilts.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of vascular architecture of broad ligament of the uterus on fetal and placental development in gilts. Fifteen gilts DB-90 (DanBred) were divided into three groups according to gestational age at slaughter (50, 80, and 106 days). After slaughter, fetuses and placentas were collected, weighed, and measured.