Transfer of Antioxidant Capacity Through Placenta and Colostrum: β-Carotene and Superoxide Dismutase Collaboratively Enhance Integrated Breeding of Sows and Piglets

Sows and piglets face heightened oxidative stress during gestation and lactation, yet strategies to simultaneously mitigate these challenges remain underexplored. This study investigated the effects of β-carotene and superoxide dismutase (SOD) supplementation on 140 Landrace × Yorkshire sows (parity 3-5) randomly assigned to (1) a control; (2) long-term low-dose treatment (25 mg/kg β-carotene, 4 mg/kg SOD, or both) throughout gestation-lactation; or (3) short-term high-dose treatment (100 mg/kg β-carotene, 14 mg/kg SOD, or both) administered 7 days pre/post-weaning and farrowing. Our data indicate that the antioxidants enhanced the productive performance of both sows and piglets, with the most pronounced effect observed in the long-term, low-dose combined administration of β-carotene and SOD. The composite antioxidants significantly improved the systemic antioxidant capacity in sows, while concurrently reducing the cortisol and lipopolysaccharide concentrations in the serum. This enhancement contributed to elevations in serum progesterone and prolactin levels at day 40 of gestation and farrowing, respectively, ultimately increasing the number of weaned piglets and decreasing the backfat loss. In addition, the compound antioxidants improved the serum antioxidant indices of piglets, increased the growth hormone concentrations, and improved the litter weight gain. Mechanistically, the placental upregulation of <i>CAT</i>, <i>GPX1</i>, and <i>GLUT3</i>, alongside Claudin1, Occludin, and ZO-1 expression, underpinned improved nutrient transport and barrier function. These findings demonstrate that β-carotene and SOD synergistically transfer antioxidant capacity via placental and colostrum pathways, offering a viable strategy for integrated sow-piglet management.