Investigating the Effects of Functional Feed on Sow Colostrum and Piglet Gut Microbiomes
Colostrum plays a vital role in determining the health of humans and animals by influencing the development of both the immune system and gut microbiome of infants. Determining the specific bacteria involved in the colostrum microbiome of swine and their response to changes in diet can help in understanding how piglet gut microbiomes are formed. Diet has the potential to impact maternal health and microbiome composition, as well as the health and microbiomes of their offspring. Yeast are functional food additives often used in the pork industry in sow diets. Yeast feed additives are prebiotics hypothesized to improve animal health, by altering their gut microbiomes and immune systems. Therefore, the main goal of this project is to determine the effects of different levels of yeast supplemented in sow diets on colostrum immunoglobulin levels and microbiome composition and to evaluate influence on piglet gut microbiomes at birth. The hypothesis was that higher levels of a live yeast feed additive added to sows’ late gestation diets will increase colostrum immunoglobulin levels and change the composition of colostrum microbiomes and piglet gut microbiomes at birth. To test this hypothesis there were two specific aims: determine the effect of feeding different amounts of a live yeast feed additive on sow colostrum immunoglobulin levels and microbiome composition and determine whether changes in colostrum immunoglobulins and microbiomes are associated with changes in the gut microbiomes of piglets at birth. Results are currently pending, but they will be done by the symposium.