Soluble and insoluble fiber blend improves farrowing performance and colostral immunoglobulin concentration in sows without altering fecal microbiota

The aim of this trial was to provide a fibrous supplement in the transition diet of sows to decrease sows' constipation, improve farrowing kinetics, increase colostrum antibodies, and modulate sows' and piglets' microbiota. At day 90 of pregnancy sows were fed a standard gestation diet until farrowing (CON, n = 101) or a standard gestation diet added of 400 g of a fibrous supplement (40 % wheat bran, 25 % lignocellulose, 25 % citrus pulp, and 10 % guar gum) (FIB, n = 101). After farrowing, sows were fed a standard lactation diet, and FIB sows were fed 400 g of the fibrous supplement on top of the feed for five days. Sows from FIB had a lower (p < 0.01) incidence of constipation pre-farrowing and on the day of farrowing. Sows from FIB had a 23 min shorter (p = 0.01) farrowing duration compared to CON-sows. Sows from CON had a higher (p < 0.01) feed intake on days two and three post-farrowing. Both IgG and IgA concentrations were higher in the FIB-supplemented sows (p = 0.01). The fecal microbiome of sows and piglets was similar (p > 0.43) between groups. During the first week of life, piglets born from FIB-sows had decreased (p = 0.04) diarrhea incidence. In conclusion, the benefits of the fibrous supplement were evident in peripartal sows by decreasing farrowing duration and constipation and by increasing the concentration of immunoglobulins in the colostrum. For newborn piglets, the fibrous supplement fed to the sows did not significantly alter the fecal microbiome of sows and their litters. Nevertheless, benefits were observed in their resistance to neonatal diarrhea. Thus, using a fiber supplement in transition diets in farms may ease the management in the farrowing room and improve early-life robustness in piglets, which may decrease medication demands during the first week, contributing to more efficient neonatal care and better overall litter performance.