Gestation diets containing 15% wheat aleurone improve stress state, postprandial satiety, and performance of sows

Pregnant sows are fed a restricted diet during gestation to avoid different problems associated with farrowing. However, insufficient satiety may result in stress, abnormal behaviour, and decreased performance. Fiber inclusion like wheat aleurone could avoid these negative consequences and contributes to increasing antioxidant capacity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wheat aleurone addition to the diets of sows in gestation on postprandial satiety, stress status, and reproductive performance. A total of 84 mixed-parity Landrace × Yorkshire sows (parity 4.87 ± 1.32; backfat thickness 17.63 ± 3.97 mm) were distributed in 3 different treatments; 1) control diet: diet based on corn, wheat bran, and soybean meal; 2) 15% wheat aleurone diet: included 15% wheat aleurone and 3) 30% wheat aleurone diet: included 30% wheat aleurone. The performance (daily feed intake, backfat thickness, number of weaned piglets and their weight) and behaviour (ethogram) were measured. Additionally, blood, saliva and faecal sampling were taken.

The results showed that, compared with the control diet, sows fed the wheat aleurone diet had a higher serum concentration of peptide YY and glucagon like peptide-1 and a lower concentration of saliva cortisol. Importantly, compared with the control group, only the 15% wheat aleurone group had a higher concentration of the total antioxidant capacity, lower proportions of sitting and stillbirth rates. Accordingly, the production cost per piglet born alive ($6.9 vs. $7.6) or per piglet born healthy ($7.4 vs. $7.9) declined in the 15% wheat aleurone group versus the control group.

Overall, 15% wheat aleurone inclusion in gestation diets contributed to enhancing postprandial satiety, alleviating stress status, and decreasing stillbirth rate of sows. This study provides a reference for the application of wheat aleurone as a partial substitute for conventional feed ingredients to improve sows' reproductive performance.