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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2017, Vol. 16 Issue (03): 648-655    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61426-0
Animal Science · Veterinary Science Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Dietary arginine supplementation in multiparous sows during lactation improves the weight gain of suckling piglets
ZHU Cui1, 2, GUO Chang-yi1, GAO Kai-guo1, WANG Li1, CHEN Zhuang2, MA Xian-yong1, JIANG Zong-yong1, 2

1 Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (South China), Ministry of Agriculture/Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, P.R.China

2 Agro-Biological Gene Research Center, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, P.R.China

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Abstract  This study investigated the effects of dietary arginine (Arg) supplementation, just during lactation, on sow and litter performance, plasma concentrations of metabolites and hormones, and milk yield and composition in multiparous sows.  Thirty-one sows were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments supplemented with 0.0 (control, n=10), 0.5% (n=10), or 1.0% (n=11) L-Arg-HCl, respectively.  Experimental diets were provided to the sows from d 3 to 21 of lactation.  Plasma and milk samples were collected at d 14 and 21 of lactation.  The average daily gain (ADG) of piglets from sows fed diets supplemented with 0.5 or 1.0% L-Arg-HCl at d 3 to 14 of lactation, were higher than that of controls (P<0.05).  Maternal supplementation with 1.0% L-Arg-HCl also increased ADG of piglets between d 3 and 21 of lactation than that of the controls (P<0.05).  There was no significant effect of supplementation on average daily feed intake (ADFI), body weight loss, and backfat thickness loss of lactating sows.  Supplementation with 0.5 or 1.0% L-Arg-HCl had a trend towards increasing milk yields and milk fat contents (0.05<P<0.10); milk protein and lactose were unchanged.  Supplementation with 1.0% L-Arg-HCl increased plasma concentrations of prolactin and insulin in sows at d 14 and 21 of lactation, and plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and nitric oxide (NO) in sows at d 21 of lactation, when compared to the controls (P<0.05).  Supplementation with 1.0% L-Arg-HCl increased IGF-1 and spermine in milk at d 14 of lactation, relative to the controls (P<0.05).  Plasma Arg concentrations at d 14 and 21 of lactation, as well as plasma NO level and milk IGF-1 at d 21 of lactation, were increased, while plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentration at d 14 and 21 of lactation was decreased, by supplementation with 0.5 or 1.0% L-Arg-HCl when compared to the controls (P<0.05).  Collectively, dietary supplementation of multiparous sows with Arg, just during lactation, is beneficial for enhancing litter weight gain but the complete mechanism remains to be determined and may involve in the maternal endocrine changes and milk polyamines contents.
Keywords:  arginine      lactating sows      hormone      suckling piglets      milk composition      polyamines  
Received: 25 April 2016   Accepted:
Fund: 

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial supports provided by the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-36), the Hundred Outstanding Talents Training Program at Guangdong Province, China, the Special Program for Guangdong Research Institutions’ Innovation and Construction, China (2012B060600005), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (2015A030310332), and the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province, China (2013B050800016).

Corresponding Authors:  JIANG Zong-yong, Tel: +86-20-87596262, Fax: +86-20-87503358, E-mail: jiangz28@qq.com   
About author:  ZHU Cui, E-mail: juncy2010@gmail.com

Cite this article: 

ZHU Cui, GUO Chang-yi, GAO Kai-guo, WANG Li, CHEN Zhuang, MA Xian-yong, JIANG Zong-yong . 2017. Dietary arginine supplementation in multiparous sows during lactation improves the weight gain of suckling piglets. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16(03): 648-655.

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