Maternal supplementation with konjac glucomannan and κ-carrageenan promotes sow performance and benefits the gut barrier in offspring
Feng Gao, Yongqing Du, Hai‐Yang Liu, Hongwei Ding, Wentao Zhang, Zhongyu Li, Baoming Shi
Abstract
This research aims to investigate the effects of dietary konjac glucomannan and κ-carrageenan (SF) on sow performance and suckling piglet gut barrier. Thirty-four sows in late gestation (parity 2–5) were selected at random and grouped into two treatments. The control group (Con group; n = 17) was fed the basal diet; the SF group was fed the same diet supplemented with 0.25% konjac glucomannan + 0.25% κ-carrageenan (SF group; n = 17). The results showed that sows fed the SF diet had a higher feed intake during lactation than the Con group ( P < 0.05), and the levels of neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) ( P = 0.006) and acetylcholine enzyme (AChE) ( P < 0.05) significantly increased. The fecal microbial analysis indicated that the SF diet had a higher abundance of Subdoligranulum, Holdemanella , and Succinivibrio at the genus level, and the acetate level was significantly increased ( P < 0.05). Moreover, SF lowered the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in milk ( P < 0.05). Regarding suckling piglets, maternal supplementation with SF reduced jejunal IL-6 protein levels in suckling piglets ( P < 0.05). In the colon of the piglet, the SF group up-regulated protein levels of occludin ( P < 0.05), and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) (0.05 ≤ P < 0.10), and claudin 4 (CLDN4) (0.05 ≤ P < 0.10) protein levels tended to be up-regulated. Consequently, supplementation of SF in sow diets positively affects lactation feed intake and maternal microflora. Furthermore, the maternal effect improves the jejunum and colon barriers of suckling piglets.