Arginine supplementation in the feed of gestating sows

Abstract

The high prolificacy achieved by the genetic improvement of sows has resulted in decreased birth weights and uniformity of litters, as well as increased prenatal and preweaning mortality. Amino acids, such as arginine, are essential for the proper development of the placenta and the swine fetus. Their role include regulating angiogenesis, vascular development, and therefore potentially placental vascularization, providing a greater supply of nutrients and oxygen from the sow to the fetuses. The objective of the trial was to evaluate the effects of dietary l-arginine supplementation on the reproductive and productive performance of gestating sows from days 30 to 60 and days 80 to 114 of gestation. Forty-eight pluriparous sows with two to six parities were divided into two different treatments with a total of 24 replicates per treatment. The treatments consisted of a control diet without l-arginine supplementation (CON) and a diet with top-dressed supplementation of 1.0% l-arginine (ARG). Blood samples were collected from the sows on days 30, 60, 90, and 114 of gestation to determine the plasma concentrations of albumin, creatinine, and urea. Sows were weighed 24 h after farrowing and at weaning to calculate body weight loss during lactation. Piglets were individually weighed at birth before the first feeding and at weaning. Supplementation of the diet with l-arginine during gestation affected (p = 0.025) the plasma concentrations of triglycerides at 60 days, but it did not impact the albumin, creatinine, and urea's concentrations at 30, 60, 90, and 114 days of gestation. However, the concentrations of creatinine differed (p = 0.006) for gestational periods. The average weight of piglets born alive was greater (p = 0.0485) for ARG compared to CON and the other performance and reproductive characteristics did not differ. The percentage of piglets born weighing over 1.81 kg was greater (p < 0.05) for sows fed ARG than in CON fed sows. l-arginine supplementation in the feed of gestating sows increased the average weight of piglets born alive and the percentage of piglets with a birth weight above 1.81 kg, reduced the concentration of triglycerides at 60 days of gestation, and the gestational period had effect about the creatinine concentrations.