Boosting Piglet Health: The Power of Betaine and Yeast

The world of pig farming is always looking for ways to improve the health and productivity of sows, especially when they are under heat stress. A recent study focused on the effects of adding betaine and yeast to the diets of sows that had given birth multiple times. The goal was to see how these supplements affected the sows' performance, the composition of their milk, and the overall health of their litters. The study involved 192 sows, divided into four groups based on their diet and the number of times they had given birth. The diets included a control diet, a diet with betaine, a diet with yeast, and a diet with both betaine and yeast. The results showed that betaine helped reduce the neck temperature of the sows, which is a good sign of how well they are handling heat stress. Sows that had given birth more than five times and were fed betaine or yeast produced more milk than those in the control group. This is important because more milk means healthier and bigger piglets. However, sows that were fed both betaine and yeast experienced more protein loss in their bodies. This could be a concern and needs further investigation. Betaine, whether given alone or with yeast, also led to larger litters at weaning for sows that had given birth more than five times. These litters were not only bigger but also heavier, which is a positive sign of their overall health and growth. Additionally, these sows weaned litters that gained weight more quickly each day. The study also looked at the fatty acid profile of the milk. Primiparous sows, or those giving birth for the first time, had higher levels of certain fatty acids when fed yeast. Sows that had given birth more than five times and were on the control diet had higher concentrations of specific fatty acids compared to sows in other parity groups. This suggests that the supplements can change the nutritional content of the milk, which could affect the piglets' growth and health. The bottom line is that adding betaine and yeast to the diets of lactating sows can improve milk production and litter performance, especially for those that have given birth multiple times. These supplements also change the fatty acid profile of the milk, which could have additional benefits for the piglets. However, the increased protein loss in sows fed both supplements is a point of concern that needs to be addressed.