Dietary fiber and weaning age affect stress and immune markers in saliva of sows and their offspring.

ABSTRACT: Diet, especially the intake of dietary fiber, and weaning practices may influence pig wellbeing. This study assessed changes in salivary stress and immune markers in sows and their offspring fed either hay (HAY) or sugar beet pulp (SBP), either fine (F) or coarse (C), during gestation and lactation. The effect of weaning age (conventional-CW, late-LW) on these markers was also evaluated. Saliva was analyzed for chromogranin A (CgA), cortisol, alpha-amylase, oxytocin, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and adenosine deaminase (ADA). CgA was higher at CW versus LW in sows fed SBP-F (P = 0.038). Alpha-amylase was higher in sows fed HAY-C at CW versus LW (P = 0.005) and in sows fed SBP-C at LW versus CW (P = 0.096). CgA and oxytocin were higher in sows fed SBP-F at CW versus LW (P = 0.038 and P = 0.017,

SUBMITTER: Grzeskowiak L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11537797 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature