Soluble and insoluble fiber blend improves farrowing performance and colostral immunoglobulin concentration in sows without altering fecal microbiota.

Fiber supplementation in sow transition diets reduces constipation, shortens farrowing, and increases colostral antibodies.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a soluble and insoluble fiber blend (wheat bran, lignocellulose, citrus pulp, and guar gum) supplemented at 400g daily during the transition period in sows. The study included 202 sows (101 control, 101 treatment) fed the supplement from day 90 of gestation through five days post-farrowing. Treatment sows demonstrated significantly lower pre-farrowing and farrowing-day constipation incidence, 23-minute shorter farrowing duration, and elevated colostral IgG and IgA concentrations compared to controls. Feed intake differed post-farrowing, with control sows consuming more on days 2-3. Importantly, fecal microbiota composition remained similar between groups in both sows and piglets. Piglets from supplemented sows exhibited reduced diarrhea incidence during the first week of life. The findings suggest fiber supplementation during the peripartal period improves reproductive efficiency and colostral quality without substantially modifying the microbiome, potentially reducing medication requirements in neonatal piglets and enhancing overall litter performance.

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