PSVI-3 - Effect of feeding resistant starch on sow and piglet farrowing performance and blood parameters

Hyperprolific sows can have a long duration of farrowing, negatively impacting piglet survival and vitality. This study’s objective was to assess the effect of a diet containing 6.6% resistant starch (RS) on sow and piglet farrowing performance. We hypothesized that a diet containing RS would decrease sow farrowing duration and improve piglet survival. Forty-two sows were balanced for parity and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: standard lactation diet (n = 21) or diet containing RS (n = 21). Sows were fed their respective diets from approximately 7d prefarrowing throughout lactation. Sow blood was drawn at three time points on d106±1.0 and d113±1.0 of gestation (pre-feeding, 2 and 6 h post-feeding) and during farrowing to measure blood glucose. Piglet umbilical blood (~3/litter; beginning, middle, end of birth order) was collected at birth and analyzed for glucose, lactate, pH, PCO2, PO2, TCO2, HCO3, BE, and sO2. Piglets were visually assessed at birth to score meconium staining. Data collected included farrowing duration, piglet birthing intervals, number of stillborn piglets/litter, sow and piglet weights, piglet mortality, and sow feed and water intake. Average litter sizes post-crossfoster for control and RS were similar, 12.1±0.4 and 11.6±0.4 piglets, respectively. Litter weight gain was similar between control and RS (44.97 vs. 47.54 kg, P = 0.33), respectively. Feeding resistant starch had no effect on number of stillborn piglets or pre-weaning survival (P > 0.75). Farrowing duration (178.9±17.6 min vs 165.2±18.0 min, P = 0.59) and piglet birth intervals (16.57±1.7 min and 14.89±1.8 min, P = 0.51) did not differ between control and RS, respectively. There was difference in sow blood glucose between diets (P = 0.02), day of sample (P < 0.0001), time point (P < 0.0001), and a day by time point interaction (P < 0.0001). Feeding RS to sows prefarrowing can modify sow blood glucose, but did not result in reduced farrowing duration or improved piglet survival.