Effects of a Feed Sanitizer in Sow Diets on Sow and Piglet Performance

This study evaluated effects of Termin-8^®, a formaldehyde, propionic acid, and terpene-based feed sanitizer, on the performance, health, and gut microbiome of sows and nursing piglets. One hundred and seven mixed-parity sows were allocated to control diets (n = 53) or diets containing 0.55% sanitizer (n = 54) from day 80 of gestation until approximately day 19 postpartum. Performance metrics, scours, and fecal microbiome composition via 16S rRNA sequencing were assessed. Feed sanitizer supplementation had no significant effects on sow body weight, backfat depth, feed intake, wean-to-estrus interval, litter size or weight at weaning, or piglet diarrhea incidence. However, stillborn pig weight was significantly reduced in the sanitized group (p = 0.010). Gut microbiome changed drastically from gestation to weaning in both groups (R² > 0.20, p < 0.001), but the taxa and functions that fluctuated largely differed in each group. At weaning, both groups exhibited significantly different microbiome compositions (R² = 0.06, p < 0.001). Feed sanitizer in sows did not influence the piglet microbiome. Supplementing formaldehyde-based feed sanitizer to sow diets did not significantly impact overall performance or health but moderately influenced sow gut microbiome composition, warranting further investigation into its potential functional implications.