Effects of dietary protein levels during early gestation on reproductive performance, oxidative stress, and placental nutrient transport in sows - 2026
early gestation; Maternal protein; placental function; reproductive performance; sow; Animal Science and Zoology
Abstract :
[en] Early gestation (gestation day 0 to gestation day 30) is a critical window for embryo implantation and placental development. This study evaluated the effects of maternal protein during early gestation on reproductive performance, maternal metabolism, and placental function. Forty-five sows were randomly allocated into three iso-caloric diets containing 12% (low protein, LP), 13.5% (medium protein, MP), or 15% (high protein, HP) crude protein during early gestation. Crystalline amino acids were supplemented to maintain constant ratios of standardised ileal digestible (SID) essential amino acids to lysine. The Lys:NE ratios were 2.66, 2.66, and 2.98 g SID Lys/Mcal NE, respectively. Litter size and live birth rate were not significantly affected (p > 0.05). Sows fed the HP diet exhibited increased serum alanine transaminase (ALT) (p < 0.05), elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (0.05 ≤ p < 0.10), and enhanced catalase (CAT) activity (p < 0.05) at GD 28. The LP group showed higher serum LDL (p < 0.05), HDL, and total cholesterol (0.05 ≤ p < 0.10). No differences were observed in serum glucose, insulin, progesterone (P4), oestradiol (E2) or inflammatory factor levels among groups (p > 0.05). Serum amino acid profiling revealed higher circulating levels of valine, isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine in the HP group (p < 0.05). Placental oxidative stress and nutrient transport were not affected (p > 0.05). Overall, dietary protein within 12%–15% during early gestation did not affect reproductive outcomes or placental function, but influenced maternal oxidative status, amino acid profiles, and lipid metabolism on GD 28.
Disciplines :
Animal production & animal husbandry
Author, co-author :
Zhao, Ying ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre ; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
He, Liyuan; College of Animal science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Institute of science and Technology, Xinxiang, China
Ming, Dongxu; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Gao, Ge; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Schroyen, Martine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Animal Sciences (AS)
Pi, Yu; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Sun, Wenjuan; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Li, Yanpin; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Li, Xilong; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Language :
English
Title :
Effects of dietary protein levels during early gestation on reproductive performance, oxidative stress, and placental nutrient transport in sows
NSCF - National Natural Science Foundation of China
Funding text :
The authors would like to thank all the staff at the farm for their assistance in sample collection. We also thank the researchers who contributed to this study and manuscript. Ying Zhao acknowledges the financial support from the China Scholarship Council [number 202403250107].This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant [number 32272908]. The authors would like to thank all the staff at the farm for their assistance in sample collection. We also thank the researchers who contributed to this study and manuscript. Ying Zhao acknowledges the financial support from the China Scholarship Council [number 202403250107].
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