Addition of calcitic seaweed in the diet of sows positively affects the number of live-born piglets and milk parameters

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the effects of maternal dietary calcitic seaweed (CSW) on performance and blood metabolites of sows, and on performance, blood metabolites, intestinal microbiota, and parameters of gastrointestinal tract and bone of litters. On d 21 (post-insemination), non-pregnant sows were removed from the trial, remaining 19 sows in control group (without CSW) and 16 sows receiving CSW. Then, a total of 35 sows were allocated in a randomized block design with two treatments: control diet with calcitic limestone plus dicalcium phosphate (CTL) or CTL plus 0.4% CSW. In gestation, sows were fed twice a day (07:00 and 15:00 h) to reach an intake of 2.5 kg animal−1 day−1 divided into two equal meals. On parturition day, sows were offered only 0.5 kg feed animal−1. Throughout lactation, sows were fed three times a day (≅7 kg animal−1 day−1). All diets were provided as mash. Results suggested that sows fed CTL had litters with lower body weight at birth compared with those fed CSW. Sows fed CSW had 14.28% more live-born piglets and lower stillborns. Piglets from sows fed CSW showed greater calcium concentration on d 14 after birth than those from sows fed CTL. Sows fed CSW showed better milk chemical composition and an increase of 27.16% in milk production compared with those fed CTL. Piglets from sows fed CSW had an increase in cecum content in the Enterobacteriaceae count. This study showed that adding 0.4% CSW in the diet of pregnant and lactating sows as an organic calcium source positively influences the number of live-born piglets and the percentage of stillborns. In addition, milk composition and production are also improved without affecting piglets’ biological response.