https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0831-4077
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Łukasz Grześkowiak, José Joaquín Cerón, Marina Lopez-Arjona, Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, Johannes Schulze Holthausen, Philip Krüsselmann, Cornelia C Metges, Björn Kuhla, Wilfried Vahjen, Jürgen Zentek, Eva-Maria Saliu, Dietary fiber and weaning age affect stress and immune markers in saliva of sows and their offspring, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 102, 2024, skae312, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae312
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Abstract
Diet, especially the intake of dietary fiber, and weaning practices may influence pig wellbeing. This study assessed changes in salivary stress and immune markers in sows and their offspring fed either hay (HAY) or sugar beet pulp (SBP), either fine (F) or coarse (C), during gestation and lactation. The effect of weaning age (conventional—CW, late—LW) on these markers was also evaluated. Saliva was analyzed for chromogranin A (CgA), cortisol, alpha-amylase, oxytocin, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and adenosine deaminase (ADA). CgA was higher at CW versus LW in sows fed SBP-F (P = 0.038). Alpha-amylase was higher in sows fed HAY-C at CW versus LW (P = 0.005) and in sows fed SBP-C at LW versus CW (P = 0.096). CgA and oxytocin were higher in sows fed SBP-F at CW versus LW (P = 0.038 and P = 0.017, respectively). ADA was higher in sows fed SBP-C versus HAY-C (P = 0.035) at LW and at LW versus CW in sows fed SBP-C (P = 0.002). Piglet salivary CgA was higher at CW versus LW in HAY-F (P = 0.002) and SBP-F (P = 0.031). Oxytocin was higher at CW versus LW in piglets fed HAY-F (P = 0.006). Piglet salivary IgA was higher in HAY-C versus HAY-F at CW (P = 0.010) and at LW versus CW in piglets fed HAY-F (P = 0.021). ADA was higher in piglets fed SBP-F versus HAY-F (P = 0.053) at CW and SBP-F versus SBP-C (P = 0.042) at LW. Dietary fiber type, weaning age, and to a lesser extent grinding degree affect stress and immune markers in pigs. These findings highlight the impact of diet and weaning practice on pig welfare.
Lay Summary
This study explored how diet, specifically dietary fiber, and the timing of weaning affect the wellbeing of pigs. The sows and their offspring were fed two types of fiber: low-fermentable hay and high-fermentable sugar beet pulp, in either fine or coarse form. Conventional weaning with late weaning of piglets was also compared. Salivary stress and immune markers of the sows and their offspring were evaluated. The results of this study suggest that high-fermentable sugar beet pulp fiber influences immune function in pigs, and late weaning reduces stress. These insights could help improve the health and wellbeing of pigs through tailored dietary and weaning practices. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of these interventions.
