Saccharomyces cerevisiae postbiotics supplementation from gestation to weaning: Impacts on performance and immunity in pigs under low-biosecurity conditions.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation-derived postbiotics (SCFP) on reproductive performance and immunity of sows and their offspring from gestation to weaning in a low biosecurity, small-scale pig production system. Ninety sows were randomly assigned to 3 treatments: a control group (CON; standard basal diet), &#x3b2;-glucan (BG; basal diet + 1.0&#x202f;kg/MT &#x3b2;-glucan 50), and SCFP (basal diet + 2.0&#x202f;kg/MT Diamond V XPC). The diets were provided to sows from the inseminated day until their piglets were weaned and to piglets from 10 days of age until weaning. Reproductive performance of sows was evaluated based on litter size at birth, 24&#x202f;h postpartum, and at weaning; number of stillbirth and mummified piglets per sow; and piglets body weight at birth and at weaning. Blood samples were collected from sows to determine antibody titer against foot and mouth disease (FMD). Maternally derived antibody (MDA) against FMD and Mycoplasma hyopneumonia (M. hyopneumonia) after vaccination were also assessed in the piglets. Dietary supplementation of SCFP and BG in sows had no significant effect on reproductive performance (P&#x202f;>&#x202f;0.05). BG also did not enhance the immune response to FMD vaccination (P&#x202f;>0.05) or the MDA levels of FMD in piglets. However, SCFP supplementation in sows significantly enhanced their immune response to FMD vaccination (P&#x202f;<0.05) but did not influence the passive immunity transfer to piglets. Furthermore, SCFP and BG supplementation in the diets of sows and their piglets did not significantly affect the piglets' immune response following M. hyopneumoniae vaccination. In summary, SCFP and BG showed minimal effects on reproductive performance and piglet immunity, while SCFP selectively enhanced the sows' immune response to FMD vaccination without affecting passive immunity transfer to piglets.