Evaluation of Sugarcane-Derived Polyphenols on the Pre-Weaning and Post-Weaning Growth of Gilt Progeny.

Gilt progeny (GP) exhibit poorer growth compared with sow progeny (SP), particularly in the pre-weaning and post-weaning period. Late gestation/lactation sow diets and weaner diets were supplemented with 0.5% Polygain (POL), a sugarcane extract rich in polyphenols, to collectively improve GP growth in these periods. Gilts ( = 60) and sows ( = 68, parities 2 and 3) were fed a control or POL diet. Weaned GP ( = 79) and SP ( = 92) born to these dams were also fed either a CON or POL diet. Gilts litters weighed less than sow litters at birth and 21 days ( < 0.001 for both) and were not improved by POL ( = 0.80 and 0.54, respectively). GP were lighter than SP at day 7 and day 14 post-weaning ( < 0.001 for both) and were not improved by the POL diet at these timepoints ( = 0.61 and 0.97, respectively). Plasma interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was increased at weaning despite POL supplementation ( = 0.022) and GP had reduced IL-1β overall ( = 0.021). Overall, POL was unable to improve growth in GP and the attenuated immune response seen in GP could be contributing to their poor growth performance.