Impact of Gestational and Lactational Live Yeast Supplementation to Sows on Litter Performance, Colostrum and Milk Proteome Profiles

This study investigated the effects of dietary live yeast (LY) supplementation to sows during late gestation and lactation on sow and litter performance indices and colostrum and milk proteome profiles. On Day 77 of gestation, 20 sows were allotted to each of 2 dietary treatments: without (control) or with LY (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation at 0.05% of diet during gestation and 0.1% during lactation. Sow performance was recorded on Days 77 and 112 of gestation and Day 19 of lactation. Litter characteristics were recorded at birth and weaning. Colostrum and milk samples were collected on Days 0, 10 and 18 of lactation for shotgun proteomic analysis. Results showed that there was a higher abundance of immune-associated proteins such as Ig-like domain-containing protein and complement proteins (Complement C8 alpha chain and C1q domain-containing proteins) in the colostrum and IgG heavy chain in Day 10 milk of LY sows than control sows (p < 0.05), whereas the abundance of prostaglandin D synthase was greater in D10 milk of control sows than LY sows (p < 0.05). Additionally, milk fat globule EGF and factor V/VIII domain-containing protein and Niemann-Pick C2 were found to be more abundant in both Days 10 and 18 milk samples from LY sows (p < 0.05). Overall, these results showed that dietary gestational and lactational LY supplementation increased the abundance of immune-associated proteins in colostrum and proteins involved in lipid uptake and processing in mature milk.