Improved sows reproductive performance with cellular antioxidant supplementation during weaning to estrus

Feb 13, 2019

Reporting from the 51st Swine Research Days (Paris)

New research presented at the 51st Swine Research Days (Journées de la Recherche Porcine) in Paris, showed how a supplement containing vegetal superoxide dismutase (SOD) and selenium yeast as primary cellular antioxidants, benefits sows reproductive performance¹. In the trial presented, the sows supplemented during the weaning-to-estrus interval showed improved return to estrus and farrowing rates in the subsequent cycle. In addition, they gave birth to more piglets, with significantly more born alive piglets and less stillborn piglets (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Sows average reproductive performance in the control (n=241) and cellular antioxidant (n=188) groups

Fernando BRAVO DE LAGUNA, R&D Swine Project Leader, who presented the study, explains:

“Hyperprolific sows are subject to important oxidative stress and previous study² had already shown that sow supplementation with cellular antioxidants during the weaning-to-estrus interval could improve piglets’ maturity and litter homogeneity at birth. This complementary study also proves that piglets’ quality at birth is improved and that sow’s reproductive performance is enhanced. Supplementation with cellular antioxidants during the weaning-to-estrus interval clearly appears as a good practice in high productive sows.”

1. Barbé F., Bravo De Laguna F., Chevaux E., Koehne C., Saornil D., Korzekwa M., 2019. Effet d’une supplémentation en antioxydants sur les performances de reproduction des truies. 51eme Journées de la Recherche Porcine, Paris.
2. Le Treut Y., Sacy A., Chevaux E., Guillou D., Desbordes F., 2013. Effet de la distribution d’antioxydants primaires et secondaires à la truie en période de sevrage-oestrus sur les caractéristiques des porcelets à la naissance. Journées Rech. Porcine, 45, 75-76.