Effect of enhanced organic acid supplementation in late gestation and lactation of sows on body weight change, litter performance and wean to estrus interval

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an enhanced organic acid formulation (EOA; Biotronic PX Top3; BIOMIN America Inc., Overland Park, KS) on sow farrowing and lactation performance, sow weight and backfat change, and wean to estrus interval. A total of 18 crossbred (Yorkshire x Chester White) sows were randomly allocated to one of two dietary treatments which consisted of control (CNT) and EOA supplemented (n = 9 per treatment). Treatment diets were fed to sows from d 90 of gestation until weaning. Sow body weight gain from d 90 of gestation through weaning was greater in EOA supplemented sows compared than CNT sows (30.9 vs 18.1 ± 2.3 kg, respectively; P = 0.010). Backfat from d 90 of gestation through weaning tended to be affected by dietary treatment (P = 0.051), where EOA supplemented sows had an increase in backfat compared to CNT sows which had a decrease in backfat (0.091 vs. -0.046 ± 0.037 cm, respectively). Total number of pigs born was greater for EOA sows compared to CNT sows (13.1 vs. 8.7 ± 1.1 piglets, respectively; P = 0.047). However, number of liveborn, stillborn, and mummified piglets did not differ among dietary treatments (P > 0.207). Additionally, litter growth rate did not differ among dietary treatments (P = 0.631). Wean to estrus interval was longer for EOA sows compared to CNT sows (5.4 vs. 4.7 ± 0.1 days, respectively; P = 0.008). The present results indicate that addition of this EOA to sow diets in gestation and lactation may be beneficial to maintaining sow body condition.