Probiotics alleviate constipation and inflammation in late gestating and lactating sows

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Gut Microbiome Research
• Reproductive Physiology

Background:

• Constipation and systemic inflammation in late pregnant and lactating sows lead to health issues and impact piglet survival.
• The precise mechanisms by which probiotics alleviate these conditions and enhance gut motility are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on constipation, inflammation, and piglet growth in late-pregnant sows.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms involving gut microbiome and metabolic changes.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with 74 sows allocated to probiotic or control groups.
• Analysis of sow serum inflammatory markers (IL-4, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-12p40, TNF-α).
• Assessment of piglet growth performance, sow gut bacteriome and phageome, and fecal/serum metabolites.

Main Results:

• Probiotic treatment significantly reduced sow constipation and modulated serum inflammatory cytokine profiles.
• Significant increases in piglet daily gain and weaning weight were observed in the probiotic group.
• Probiotic administration altered gut microbial composition and diversity, increasing beneficial bacteria and specific metabolites like fecal butyrate and acetate.

Conclusions:

• Probiotic supplementation effectively alleviates constipation and systemic inflammation in late-pregnant sows.
• The benefits are associated with favorable shifts in the gut microbiome, enhanced metabolic potential, and improved piglet growth.
• This study provides mechanistic insights into probiotic efficacy in swine reproduction and health.