Effects of Dietary <i>Lonicera flos</i> and <i>Sucutellaria baicalensis</i> Mixed Extracts Supplementation on Reproductive Performance, Umbilical Cord Blood Parameters, Colostrum Ingredients and Immunoglobulin Contents of Late-Pregnant Sows
2024
Chengkun Fang | Xiaopeng Tang | Qingtai Zhang | Qifang Yu | Shengting Deng | Shusong Wu | Rejun Fang
The present study aimed to determine the effects of dietary <i>Lonicera flos</i> and <i>Sucutellaria baicalensis</i> mixed extract (LSE) supplementation during the late-pregnancy period on the reproductive performance, umbilical cord blood hematological parameters, umbilical cord serum biochemical parameters, immune indices, hormone levels, colostrum ingredients, and immunoglobulin contents of sows. A total of 40 hybrid pregnant sows were randomly assigned to the control group (CON; sows fed a basal diet) and LSE group (LSE; sows fed a basal diet supplemented with 500 g/t PE). The results indicated that dietary LSE supplementation significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) the number of alive and healthy piglets and the litter weight at birth, and significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) the platelet counts in umbilical cord blood. Dietary LSE supplementation significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) the levels of prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH), and the content of interleukin 2 (IL-2) in umbilical cord serum. Moreover, immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in the colostrum were increased with PE supplementation (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary LSE supplementation in late-pregnancy sows could improve reproductive performance and colostrum quality, and could also regulate the levels of reproductive hormone in umbilical cord serum.
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