PSVII-11 Effects of a synbiotic (probiotic+prebiotic) on the reproductive efficiency of multiparous sows

Sow longevity plays an important role on the profitability of any sow operation in economically and efficiently producing pigs. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of a synbiotic (Biomin® PS, BIOMIN America Inc.) containing multi-strain live probiotic strains (Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Lactobacillus reuteri) and a prebiotic (fructo-oligosaccharaide) on sow reproductive performance. A total of 24 sows (4th and 5th parity) were divided evenly into 2 groups and fed either a control diet or a synbiotic diet during the gestation (starting on d 35 of gestation) at 1 kg/MT and lactation until weaning of piglets at 0.5 kg/MT. Daily sow feed intake was also measured during the lactation period. Sow BW was recorded pre-farrow (d 110 of gestation) and at weaning (d 21 of lactation). Piglet BW was recorded after cross-foster and on d 21 of lactation. Data were analysed using MIXED model in SAS. No significant difference was observed in sow feed intake. Relatively lower weight loss (14%) was observed during lactation in sows fed synbiotic (-24.3 kg/sow) in comparison to control fed sows (-28.4 kg/sow), although not statistically significant. A positive trend (P < 0.10) was observed with synbiotic fed sows having lower still-borns (-50%), increased number of piglets weaned per sow (+0.94 piglet/sow) and litter weight gain (+7.24 kg/litter) compared to control sows during lactation. Weaned litter weight was also increased (P < 0.05) with synbiotic feeding (78.5 kg/sow) in comparison to control (66.5 kg/sow). Overall, supplementation of the synbiotic formulation increased the sow reproductive performance by increasing weaned litter weight and number of pigs weaned while numerically lowering sow weight loss during lactation. Supplementation this synbiotic could be considered as part of sow feeding programs to improve sow reproductive efficiency.