Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 44891

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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
Interests: swine nutrition; trace minerals; enzyme additives; amino acids; novel feed ingredients
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutritional values of feed ingredients should be accurately evaluated for sustainable livestock production. Recently, the importance of feed ingredient evaluation has been increased, as non-conventional feed ingredients are widely being used in swine and poultry diets. The scope of the current Special Issue includes energy and nutrient utilization of novel feed ingredients by swine and poultry, effects of a feed ingredient on growth performance, and equations for predicting utilization of energy and nutrients in feed ingredients fed to pigs and chickens. Data from in vitro digestibility experiments for feed ingredients are also welcome. Additionally, novel procedures for determining nutritional values of feed ingredients are included in the scope of this Special Issue. We invite you to submit original research papers and reviews to expand our knowledge on nutritional values of feed ingredients for swine and poultry.

Prof. Dr. Beob Gyun Kim
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • chicken
  • digestibility
  • feed ingredients
  • growth performance
  • in vitro assay
  • nutrient utilization
  • pig
  • prediction equation

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 262 KiB  
Article
Fermentation of Whole Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) with Different Dry Matter Concentrations: Effect on the Apparent Total Tract Digestibility of Energy, Crude Nutrients and Minerals in Growing Pigs
by Reinhard Puntigam, Julia Slama, Daniel Brugger, Karin Leitner, Karl Schedle, Gabriela Wetscherek-Seipelt and Wolfgang Wetscherek
Animals 2021, 11(5), 1199; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051199 - 22 Apr 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2551
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of sorghum ensiled as whole grains with different dry matter concentrations on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy, crude nutrients and minerals in growing pigs. Whole grain sorghum batches with varying dry matter (DM) concentrations of [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effects of sorghum ensiled as whole grains with different dry matter concentrations on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy, crude nutrients and minerals in growing pigs. Whole grain sorghum batches with varying dry matter (DM) concentrations of 701 (S1), 738 (S2) and 809 g kg−1 (S3) due to different dates of harvest from the same arable plot, were stored in air-tight kegs (6 L) for 6 months to ensure complete fermentation. Subsequently, 9 crossbred barrows (34.6 ± 1.8 kg; (Duroc x Landrace) × Piétrain)) were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square feeding experiment. Diets were based on the respective sorghum grain silage and were supplemented with additional amino acids, minerals and vitamins to meet or exceed published feeding recommendations for growing pigs. The ATTD of gross energy, dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen-free extracts, and crude ash were higher in S1 compared to S3 treatments (p ≤ 0.05), while S2 was intermediate. Pigs fed S1 showed significantly higher ATTD of phosphorus (P) compared to all other groups while ATTD of calcium was unaffected irrespective of the feeding regime. In conclusion, growing pigs used whole grain sorghum fermented with a DM concentration of 701 g kg−1 (S1) most efficiently. In particular, the addition of inorganic P could have been reduced by 0.39 g kg−1 DM when using this silage compared to the variant with the highest DM value (809 g kg−1). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
19 pages, 1610 KiB  
Article
Soybean Oil Replacement by Palm Fatty Acid Distillate in Broiler Chicken Diets: Fat Digestibility and Lipid-Class Content along the Intestinal Tract
by Beatriz Jimenez-Moya, Ana C. Barroeta, Alba Tres, María Dolores Soler and Roser Sala
Animals 2021, 11(4), 1035; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041035 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3593
Abstract
Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) is a by-product of palm oil (P) refining. Its use in chicken diets is a way to reduce the cost of feed and the environmental impact. Its low unsaturated:saturated fatty acid ratio (UFA:SFA) and its high free fatty [...] Read more.
Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) is a by-product of palm oil (P) refining. Its use in chicken diets is a way to reduce the cost of feed and the environmental impact. Its low unsaturated:saturated fatty acid ratio (UFA:SFA) and its high free fatty acid (FFA) level could be partially counteracted by its blending with soybean oil (S). The objective was to assess the effect of replacing S with different levels of PFAD on lipid-class content and fatty acid (FA) digestibility along the intestinal tract and in the excreta of 11 and 35-day-old broiler chickens. Five experimental diets were prepared by supplementing a basal diet with S (S6), PFAD (PA6), two blends of them (S4-PA2 and S2-PA4), or P (P6) at 6%. Replacing S with PFAD did not affect performance parameters (p > 0.05) but negatively affected feed AME, FA digestibility, and FFA intestinal content (p < 0.05), especially in starter chicks. Including PFAD delayed total FA (TFA) absorption (p < 0.05) at 11 days, but at 35 days it did not affect the TFA absorption rate. The use of PFAD blended with S, when FFA ≤ 30% and UFA:SFA ≥ 2.6, led to adequate energy utilization in broiler grower-finisher diets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
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15 pages, 1150 KiB  
Article
Dietary Glutamic Acid Modulates Immune Responses and Gut Health of Weaned Pigs
by Hyunjin Kyoung, Jeong Jae Lee, Jin Ho Cho, Jeehwan Choe, Joowon Kang, Hanbae Lee, Yanhong Liu, Younghoon Kim, Hyeun Bum Kim and Minho Song
Animals 2021, 11(2), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020504 - 15 Feb 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3575
Abstract
Dietary glutamic acid (GLU) is used as a feed additive because of its functional characteristics that may affect the growth performance and health of pigs. This study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary GLU on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune [...] Read more.
Dietary glutamic acid (GLU) is used as a feed additive because of its functional characteristics that may affect the growth performance and health of pigs. This study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary GLU on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune responses, and intestinal health of weaned pigs. A total of ninety-six weaned pigs (8.07 ± 1.17 kg of body weight; 28 days of age) were assigned to two dietary treatments (8 pigs/pen; 6 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (block: body weight): (1) a typical weaner diet (CON) and (2) CON supplemented with 0.5% GLU. The experimental period was for 4 weeks. All data and sample collections were performed at the specific time points during the experimental period. Pigs fed GLU had higher average daily gain and average daily feed intake for the first two weeks and nutrient digestibility than pigs fed CON. In addition, dietary GLU increased villus height to crypt depth ratio, number of goblet cells, and ileal gene expression of claudin family and occludin compared with CON, but decreased serum TNF-α and IL-6 and ileal gene expression of TNF-α. Moreover, pigs fed GLU had increased relative composition of bacterial communities of genus Prevotella and Anaerovibrio and decreased genus Clostridium and Terrisporobacter compared with those fed CON. This study suggests that dietary GLU influences growth performance and health of weaned pigs by modulating nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, ileal gene expression of tight junction proteins and cytokines, immune responses, and microbial community in the gut. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
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13 pages, 1654 KiB  
Article
Effects of Substitution of Corn with Ground Brown Rice on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Gut Microbiota of Growing-Finishing Pigs
by Sheena Kim, Jin Ho Cho, Younghoon Kim, Hyeun Bum Kim and Minho Song
Animals 2021, 11(2), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020375 - 2 Feb 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2866
Abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing corn with brown rice on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, and gut microbiota of growing and finishing pigs. A total of 100 growing pigs (23.80 ± 2.96 kg BW; 10 weeks [...] Read more.
The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing corn with brown rice on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, and gut microbiota of growing and finishing pigs. A total of 100 growing pigs (23.80 ± 2.96 kg BW; 10 weeks of age) were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments (5 pigs/pen; 5 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (block = BW) as follows: corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON) and replacing corn with 50% (GBR50), 75% (GBR75), and 100% (GBR100) of ground brown rice. Each trial phase was for 6 weeks. During the growing period, there were no differences on growth performance and nutrient digestibility among dietary treatments. Similarly, no differences were found on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass characteristics of pigs during the finishing period among dietary treatments. As a result of the beta diversity analysis, microbial populations were not clustered between CON and GBR100 during the growing phase, but clustered into two distinct groups of CON and GBR100 during the finishing phase. In conclusion, brown rice can be added to the diets of growing-finishing pigs by replacing corn up to 100% without negatively affecting growth performance of the pigs; additionally, this may have an effect on changes in pig intestinal microbiota if continued for a long time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
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9 pages, 218 KiB  
Article
Ileal Digestibility and Total Tract Retention of Phosphorus in Inorganic Phosphates Fed to Broiler Chickens Using the Direct Method
by Su Hyun An, Jung Yeol Sung and Changsu Kong
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2167; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112167 - 20 Nov 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2488
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine and compare the phosphorus (P) utilization of inorganic phosphates fed to broiler chickens using the direct method. On day 15 of age, six hundred forty 15-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens (initial body weight = [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to determine and compare the phosphorus (P) utilization of inorganic phosphates fed to broiler chickens using the direct method. On day 15 of age, six hundred forty 15-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens (initial body weight = 399 ± 38 g) were assigned to five experimental diets with 16 birds per cage in a randomized complete block design. The experimental diets consisted of four semi-purified diets containing monocalcium phosphate, monodicalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, and tricalcium phosphate as the sole P sources. Additionally, a P-free diet was prepared to measure basal endogenous P loss. Chromic oxide was added to the experimental diets as an indigestible index. Excreta were collected per cage on days 17 to 18 of age, and all birds were asphyxiated with carbon dioxide on day 19 of age for ileal digesta collection. The cage was an experimental unit, and the number of replications per each treatment was eight except for the tricalcium phosphate treatment (n = 4). There was no interaction observed between the P source and the collection site (ileal digestibility vs. total tract retention). Phosphorus utilization differed (p < 0.05) among inorganic phosphates and the ileal digestibility of P was greater (p < 0.05) than the total tract retention. In conclusion, the standardized ileal digestibility of P in inorganic phosphates ranged from 56.7% to 89.8% and ileal digestibility was greater than the total tract retention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
11 pages, 276 KiB  
Article
Effects of Copra Meal Inclusion Level in Growing-Finishing Pig Diets Containing β-Mannanase on Growth Performance, Apparent Total Tract Digestibility, Blood Urea Nitrogen Concentrations and Pork Quality
by Jae-Cheol Jang, Dong Hyuk Kim, Jin Su Hong, Young Dal Jang and Yoo Yong Kim
Animals 2020, 10(10), 1840; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101840 - 9 Oct 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3982
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of copra meal (CM) inclusion level on the growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations, and pork quality of growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing β-mannanase. Eighty crossbred pigs with average [...] Read more.
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of copra meal (CM) inclusion level on the growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations, and pork quality of growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing β-mannanase. Eighty crossbred pigs with average body weight (BW) of 27.22 ± 0.09 kg were allotted to five dietary treatments with four pigs per pen and four replicates per treatment based on sex and BW. The dietary treatments were: (1) NC: negative control, corn-soybean meal (SBM) based basal diet, (2) PC: positive control, basal diet + 0.10% β-mannanase (800 IU/ kg diet), (3) CM6: PC diet with 6% CM inclusion, (4) CM12: PC diet with 12% CM inclusion, and (5) CM18: PC diet with 18% CM inclusion in a three-phase feeding program (growing: 0–6 weeks, finishing I: 7–9 weeks, and finishing II: 10–12 weeks). The quadratic responses were observed in the BW at six weeks (p < 0.05), ADG in the growing phase (0–6 weeks; p < 0.05), and ADFI in the finishing phase with a tendency (7–12 weeks; p = 0.06) as the inclusion level of CM increased. However, the BW at 12 weeks (linear, p < 0.05 and quadratic, p = 0.06), the overall ADG (0–12 weeks; linear and quadratic, p < 0.05), and the G:F ratio in the finishing (7–12 weeks; linear, p < 0.05) and overall (0–12 weeks; linear, p < 0.05) phases decreased with increasing levels of CM in the diets. The ATTD of crude protein (linear, p < 0.05), crude fiber (linear, p < 0.05), and ash (linear, p < 0.05) decreased linearly as the inclusion level of CM increased. The BUN concentrations increased linearly with increasing levels of CM in the diets at 12 weeks of the experiment (p < 0.05). As the inclusion level of CM increased, TBARS value at d 3 post-mortem (linear, p = 0.07) tended to increase, whereas initial loin pH at 1 h post-mortem decreased (linear and quadratic, p < 0.05) with no difference in ultimate loin pH at 24 h post-mortem. These results indicated that CM inclusion up to 12% in the growing-finishing pig diets with β-mannanase did not affect growth performance, nutrient utilization, and pork quality whereas 18% CM inclusion to the diets could negatively impact nutrient digestibility, BUN concentrations, and thereby growth performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
10 pages, 348 KiB  
Article
Effect of Replacing Dietary Corn with Broken Rice on Goose Growth Performance, Body Size and Bare Skin Color
by Xiaoshuai Chen, Haiming Yang, Lei Xu, Xiaoli Wan and Zhiyue Wang
Animals 2020, 10(8), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10081330 - 1 Aug 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2556
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of replacing dietary corn with broken rice (BR) on goose growth performance, body size and bare skin color. In total, 240 28-day-old healthy male Yangzhou goslings with similar body weight (BW) were randomly divided into five groups, with [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effect of replacing dietary corn with broken rice (BR) on goose growth performance, body size and bare skin color. In total, 240 28-day-old healthy male Yangzhou goslings with similar body weight (BW) were randomly divided into five groups, with six replicates per group and eight geese per replicate. The control group was fed with a corn-soybean meal. The BR25, BR50, BR75 and BR100 groups had 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of corn replaced with BR, respectively (corresponding to 15.95%, 31.88%, 47.63% and 62.92% of BR in the feed, respectively), each with constant metabolizable energy (ME) to crude protein (CP) ratio (ME/CP). At 28, 42, 56 and 70 d, BW and feed intake for each pen were measured. Blood was collected, and body size and bare skin color were evaluated at 70 d. The results showed that different BR replacement proportions had no effect on BW at 42, 56 or 70 d or on average daily feed intake (ADFI) or average daily gain (ADG) from 28 to 42 d (p > 0.05) but BR50 and BR75 decreased the feed/gain ratio (F/G) from 28 to 42 d (p < 0.05). From 42 to 56 d, BR75 and BR100 geese had a lower ADFI than the control geese (p < 0.05), and BR75 and BR100 geese had a lower F/G than the BR25 geese (p < 0.05). Group BR50, BR75 and BR100 geese had a lower ADFI from 56 to 70 d than the control geese (p < 0.05). From 28 to 70 d, BR50, BR75 and BR100 groups had a lower ADFI (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the control and BR25 groups had a higher flipper score than the BR50, BR75 and BR100 groups (p < 0.05), and the control group had a higher flipper score than the BR25 group (p < 0.05). All BR groups reduced the bill scoring (p < 0.05). Different BR replacement proportions did not negatively affect serum biochemical variable at 70 d (p > 0.05). Overall, under these conditions, BR can totally replace corn in goose diets, and we recommend 75% replacement of corn with BR from 28 to 70 d. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
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Review

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50 pages, 1644 KiB  
Review
Measures Matter—Determining the True Nutri-Physiological Value of Feed Ingredients for Swine
by Gerald C. Shurson, Yuan-Tai Hung, Jae Cheol Jang and Pedro E. Urriola
Animals 2021, 11(5), 1259; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051259 - 27 Apr 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5636
Abstract
Many types of feed ingredients are used to provide energy and nutrients to meet the nutritional requirements of swine. However, the analytical methods and measures used to determine the true nutritional and physiological (“nutri-physiological”) value of feed ingredients affect the accuracy of predicting [...] Read more.
Many types of feed ingredients are used to provide energy and nutrients to meet the nutritional requirements of swine. However, the analytical methods and measures used to determine the true nutritional and physiological (“nutri-physiological”) value of feed ingredients affect the accuracy of predicting and achieving desired animal responses. Some chemical characteristics of feed ingredients are detrimental to pig health and performance, while functional components in other ingredients provide beneficial health effects beyond their nutritional value when included in complete swine diets. Traditional analytical procedures and measures are useful for determining energy and nutrient digestibility of feed ingredients, but do not adequately assess their true physiological or biological value. Prediction equations, along with ex vivo and in vitro methods, provide some benefits for assessing the nutri-physiological value of feed ingredients compared with in vivo determinations, but they also have some limitations. Determining the digestion kinetics of the different chemical components of feed ingredients, understanding how circadian rhythms affect feeding behavior and the gastrointestinal microbiome of pigs, and accounting for the functional properties of many feed ingredients in diet formulation are the emerging innovations that will facilitate improvements in precision swine nutrition and environmental sustainability in global pork-production systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
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22 pages, 1341 KiB  
Review
Nutritional Potentials of Atypical Feed Ingredients for Broiler Chickens and Pigs
by Olufemi Oluwaseun Babatunde, Chan Sol Park and Olayiwola Adeola
Animals 2021, 11(5), 1196; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051196 - 21 Apr 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7420
Abstract
Diets play an important part in monogastric nutrition. This is because diets are comprised of various feed ingredients that supply energy and nutrients required by broiler chickens or pigs for normal growth and development. The main feed ingredients used for formulating diets for [...] Read more.
Diets play an important part in monogastric nutrition. This is because diets are comprised of various feed ingredients that supply energy and nutrients required by broiler chickens or pigs for normal growth and development. The main feed ingredients used for formulating diets for pigs and chickens are comprised of cereals and oilseed meals. Corn and soybean meal (SBM) are mostly used in North America for animal feeds. However, due to geographical locations, availability, and cost, ingredients such as wheat, barley, and canola meal are often used for feeding pigs and chickens. Overdependence on common ingredients such as corn and SBM for decades has resulted in rising costs of animal production. Therefore, the need has risen to examine the potentials of alternative feed ingredients capable of supplying the required energy and nutrients for monogastric animals. Research has been carried out to identify and evaluate several uncommon feed ingredients and their utilization by broiler chickens and pigs. Thus, this review enumerates the nutritional potentials of feed ingredients in 4 main nutritional classes using information from articles in peer-reviewed journals. Feeding practices, advantages, and limitations of using certain uncommon feed ingredients are discussed. In addition, species-specific factors in terms of practical applications are explored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
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25 pages, 441 KiB  
Review
Friend or Foe? Impacts of Dietary Xylans, Xylooligosaccharides, and Xylanases on Intestinal Health and Growth Performance of Monogastric Animals
by Jonathan T. Baker, Marcos E. Duarte, Debora M. Holanda and Sung Woo Kim
Animals 2021, 11(3), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030609 - 26 Feb 2021
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 5062
Abstract
This paper discusses the structural difference and role of xylan, procedures involved in the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS), and their implementation into animal feeds. Xylan is non-starch polysaccharides that share a β-(1-4)-linked xylopyranose backbone as a common feature. Due to the myriad of [...] Read more.
This paper discusses the structural difference and role of xylan, procedures involved in the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS), and their implementation into animal feeds. Xylan is non-starch polysaccharides that share a β-(1-4)-linked xylopyranose backbone as a common feature. Due to the myriad of residues that can be substituted on the polymers within the xylan family, more anti-nutritional factors are associated with certain types of xylan than others. XOS are sugar oligomers extracted from xylan-containing lignocellulosic materials, such as crop residues, wood, and herbaceous biomass, that possess prebiotic effects. XOS can also be produced in the intestine of monogastric animals to some extent when exogenous enzymes, such as xylanase, are added to the feed. Xylanase supplementation is a common practice within both swine and poultry production to reduce intestinal viscosity and improve digestive utilization of nutrients. The efficacy of xylanase supplementation varies widely due a number of factors, one of which being the presence of xylanase inhibitors present in common feedstuffs. The use of prebiotics in animal feeding is gaining popularity as producers look to accelerate growth rate, enhance intestinal health, and improve other production parameters in an attempt to provide a safe and sustainable food product. Available research on the impact of xylan, XOS, as well as xylanase on the growth and health of swine and poultry, is also summarized. The response to xylanase supplementation in swine and poultry feeds is highly variable and whether the benefits are a result of nutrient release from NSP, reduction in digesta viscosity, production of short chain xylooligosaccharides or a combination of these is still in question. XOS supplementation seems to benefit both swine and poultry at various stages of production, as well as varying levels of XOS purity and degree of polymerization; however, further research is needed to elucidate the ideal dosage, purity, and degree of polymerization needed to confer benefits on intestinal health and performance in each respective species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
13 pages, 547 KiB  
Review
Review: Practical Use of n-3 Fatty Acids to Improve Reproduction Parameters in the Context of Modern Sow Nutrition
by Róbert Roszkos, Tamás Tóth and Miklós Mézes
Animals 2020, 10(7), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071141 - 6 Jul 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3426
Abstract
The effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFAs) have been frequently investigated in sows because the profitability of pig production depends mainly on reproduction performance. In feeding trials, different sources and doses of n-3 PUFAs-rich feeds were used with various breeds and [...] Read more.
The effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFAs) have been frequently investigated in sows because the profitability of pig production depends mainly on reproduction performance. In feeding trials, different sources and doses of n-3 PUFAs-rich feeds were used with various breeds and stages of production; however, a discrepancy in the response of n-3 PUFAs on sow reproduction has been observed. According to the results of the previous studies, n-3 fatty acids can postpone the time of parturition, decreasing the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are necessary for uterus contraction during labour. These effects could also be useful during the post-weaning period when low prostaglandin levels are indispensable for embryo survival. The n-3 fatty acids fed during the lactation period secreted in milk, may improve piglet performance. In this review, we will focus on the contradictory results of previous studies concerning practical swine nutrition. The main purpose of the review is to highlight those periods of swine breeding when the use of n-3 fatty acids may be advantageous in case of the deficiency of these essential nutrients. In finding the appropriate dose of n-3 PUFAs in terms of sow nutrition, the n-6 PUFAs levels in the given feeds must be taken into account to ensure that there are no significant reductions in the final n-6/n-3 ratio. Despite the numerous previous field trials, there are no current feeding recommendations available for PUFAs in swine nutrition. Hence, more research is required in different practical feeding situations to certify the assumptions and conclusions of this review. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients for Swine and Poultry)
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