PSIV-A-10 - Effects of Canola Meal Inclusion in Gestation and Lactation Diets with or Without Probiotic on Sow Performance, Milk Composition and Piglet Performance

Abstract: The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of high dietary canola meal (CM) inclusion in gestation and lactation diets with or without probiotic supplementation on sow and litter performance and milk composition. Seventy-five sows were randomly allotted 1 of 3 diets to give 25 replicates per treatment. Diets consisted of a corn and soybean meal (SBM) control (CTRL) or the CTRL diet with SBM replaced by 300g/kg CM and fed with (CM+) or without (CM-) probiotic ActisafÒ Sc 47 supplementation. Sows BW and backfat thickness were determined on d 80 and 111 of gestation, d 1 post-farrowing, and at weaning on d 21. Milk samples were collected on d 1 and d 21 post-farrowing to determine milk composition. Piglets were weighed on d 0 and at weaning. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 for a randomized complete block design. Dietary treatment had no effect on sow performance, milk crude protein and lactose oligosaccharide composition, piglet ADG and weaning weight, and piglet survivability (P > 0.10). Sows fed CM- diet tended to fewer (P = 0.07) weaned piglets compared to sows fed CTRL diet, but no difference was found between sows fed the CM+ and CTRL diets (P > 0.10). At weaning, milk fat content for sows fed with CM+ diet was higher (P < 0.05) and tended to be higher (P = 0.09) compared with those fed the CTRL and the CM- diet, respectively. In conclusion, including 300g/kg CM in gestation and lactation sow diets supported similar sow and piglet performance as those the control diet, without affecting piglet survivability at weaning. Also, probiotic supplementation in CM diet increased sow milk fat content at weaning.