reproductive performance

Effects of soybean hulls in diets fed to late gestating and lactating sows on lactational performance and pig growth performance

Soybean hulls (SBH) are a co-product of soybeans and provide a considerable amount of fiber, which helps with satiety and reduces stereotypic behaviors. The chemical composition of SBH is determined by the efficacy of the dehulling process, and the fiber in SBH may include varying levels of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, proteins and minor extractives. Dietary fiber is considered good for gestating sows, but it is not known if the use of soybean hulls as the main source of fiber will also result in greater performance of lactating sows. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that addition of 8 or 16% soybean hulls to diets for lactating sows would improve reproductive performance and immunity of lactating sows compared with sows fed diets based on corn-soybean meal and no soybean hulls. 

Keywords: 
Soybean hulls, Fiber, reproductive performance, Sows, Pigs
Authors: 
Martins, Ibagon, Lee, Stein
Publication Type: 
Research Reports

Reducing dietary crude protein for gestating and lactating sows reduces daily nitrogen retention, but reproductive performance is not impacted by diet protein concentration

Ibagon, Jimena A., Su A Lee, Hans H. Stein. 2026. Reducing dietary crude protein for gestating and lactating sows reduces daily nitrogen retention, but reproductive performance is not impacted by diet protein concentration. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 7:125 

Keywords: 
crystalline amino acids, nitrogen balance, reproductive performance, Sows, Soybean meal
Authors: 
Ibagon, Lee, Stein
Publication Type: 
Peer-reviewed journal articles

Reproductive performance and immune status of sows fed diets containing Olextra 1200 during lactation

The olive oil tree (Olea europaea L.) contains hydrophilic and lipophilic bioactive compounds, which include flavones, phenolic acids, phenolic alcohols, secoiridoids, and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. These bioactive compounds have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, and therefore, olive-derived plant bioactive compounds may reduce chronic inflammation and intestinal integrity in pigs. Therefore, olive-derived plant bioactive compounds, such as Olextra 1200, may improve health and prevent disease by inhibiting B cell activation and cytokine expression. However, there is a lack of data demonstrating effects of olive extracts on reproductive performance of sows and their offspring. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation of Olextra 1200 increases reproductive performance as well as the immune status of sows.

Keywords: 
Lactating sows, olive-derived plant bioactive compounds, reproductive performance
Authors: 
Acosta, Espinosa, Stein
Publication Type: 
Research Reports