Early life programming of pigs' intestinal microbiota, intestinal functioning and hepatic metabolism by maternal wheat bran supplementation

The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota plays many roles on the host’s health, acting as a barrier against pathogens and influencing the development and maturation of the mucosa, important for host’s immunity. Microbial colonization occurs pre- and postnatally, via maternal transfer i.e. by milk and by the contact with sows faeces. Hence, the early establishment of a beneficial gastrointestinal microbiota in piglets was investigated by supplementing the sows with wheat bran that we consider as a prebiotic (rich in non-starch polysaccharides). Sows were fed either a wheat bran-enriched diet (25% in gestation, 14% in lactation) either a control diet. Piglets were suckling during 4 weeks, receiving a standard creep feed containing no pre- or probiotic from the second week until weaning. The direct effect of wheat bran on the fecal microbial composition of the sow has been analyzed as well as the chemical composition and immunoglobulins content of the colostrum and milk. Sows and piglets growth performances have been recorded at different time points to verify that wheat bran doesn’t impair performances. At weaning, piglets have been euthanized and the impact of the maternal treatment was investigated at different levels: growth performances, ileal and colonic microbiota, intestinal physiology and immunological response and metabolism. A second animal experiment will be performed next year including a metabolic challenge by giving half of the piglets a high-energy diet post-weaning.