Benefits of S. boulardii on Sow Health in Heat Stress

Under heat stress conditions, sows tend to limit any metabolic processes that generate heat, such as physical activities and eating. Through multiple mechanisms (Figure 1), decreased appetite and feed intake due to heat stress generally lead to reduced milk production, poorer body condition, and overall lower litter performance in sows. This cascade of effects ultimately impacts both the sows’ health and the growth of their litters.

Figure 1 – Physiological consequences of heat stress on sows.

Did you know?

Sows’ comfort zone: 15/20°C

• Milk production and energy requirements: The energy demands of milk production are substantial, making it essential for sows to have adequate energy reserves. Genetic selection has increased litter size and milk production, leading to higher body energy demands.

Sows with insufficient energy intake will mobilize body stores from fat and muscle to sustain milk production, which can result in excessive weight loss and reduced milk output (De Bettio et al, 2016).

Adequate body condition ensures that sows have sufficient energy reserves to produce high-quality milk, which is essential for the growth and general health of piglets. Better milk production leads to heavier piglets at weaning and improved subsequent litter performance.

Did you know?

The energy requirements for lactating sows are primarily driven by milk production, which can account for 65% to 80% of their total energy needs

• Second litter syndrome (SLS): Lower body reserves mobilization can help limit the risk of SLS in sows. This syndrome is characterized by poorer reproductive performance during their second parity compared to their first. This often includes a lower farrowing rate and reduced litter size. The primary cause is significant weight loss during the first lactation, which negatively impacts the sow’s body condition and subsequent reproductive efficiency (Soede, 2014).

• Sows experiencing SLS are also more likely to have continued reproductive challenges in later parities, potentially leading to early culling. Given that weight loss during lactation is a key factor affecting reproductive performance in second parity sows, any management strategy that increases feed intake in lactation or feed efficiency is likely to enhance their reproductive outcomes.

• Reproductive performance: Sows in adequate body condition at mating have better reproductive performance, including higher conception rates, more piglets born alive, and improved litter performance. (Authement and Knauer, 2023). This is particularly important under heat stress conditions, which can negatively impact reproductive outcomes.

• Health and longevity: Proper body condition helps maintain the overall health and longevity of sows. Sows with lower body condition scores are more likely to experience prolapse and are more susceptible to body lesions such as shoulder or vulva lesions (Authement and Knauer, 2023). Maintaining an appropriate body condition contributes to a longer productive life and reduced culling rates.

A recent field study was conducted on 199 sows divided into two groups: a control group and a treatment group. The treated group received a specific nutritional solution including LEVUCELL SB TITAN at 200g/ton of feed and enzymes, supplemented from five days prior to farrowing until weaning.

• The primary objective was to assess the effect of LEVUCELL SB included in a specific nutritional solution on sows’ performance and its carryover benefits on subsequent litter performance during and after heat stress.
• Throughout the field study period, sows were exposed to varying levels of heat stress, with temperatures inside the facility measured using THI probes.
• The distribution of time spent under different temperature ranges was recorded, with significant portions of time spent in temperatures exceeding 25°C.

Colostrum Quality

The field study revealed that sows in the treated group had better colostrum quality compared to the control group. Brix measurements indicated that 85% of sows in the treated group presented good and very good colostrum samples, compared to only 44% in the control group. This improvement in colostrum quality is crucial for the health and growth of piglets.

Sow Body Condition

Sows in the treated group experienced 33% less weight loss, 17% less fat loss, and 23% less loin loss (Figure 2) compared to the control group. Despite similar feed intake (restricted sows) between both groups, treated sows maintained better body condition, suggesting more efficient utilization of body reserves and feed resources.

Figure 2 – Trial results – Body reserves mobilization in the control and treated groups. Commercial farm, The Netherlands.

By maintaining better sow body condition, the treated sows had a carryover of benefits on litter performance during the following cycle, with an increase of 1.16 piglets born alive per litter. (Figure 3).

Figure 3 – Trial results – Litter performance during cycle 1 and cycle 2 in the control and treated groups. Commercial farm, The Netherlands.Reduced Removed Sows

Thanks to the maintenance of better sow body condition and the improvement in litter performance, fewer sows were removed and were therefore kept for longer (Figure 4).

Figure 4 – Trial results – Removed sows per parity in the control and treated groups. Commercial farm, The Netherlands

The economic breakeven point for sows is not reached until they have reached the third farrowing cycle.

Energy Utilization and Efficiency

The field study hypothesized that the maintained body condition and performance of treated sows could be due to better fiber valorization and reduced inflammation, previously documented and known benefits of the use of LEVUCELL SB. In this field study, sows fed the test feed exported more energy into milk production, while mobilizing less energy from fat and loin deposition. This efficient energy utilization resulted in improved litter performance during the subsequent cycle.

Economic Benefits

Applying the field study results to a 500-sow farm, the expected benefits during a heat stress period include:

The total estimated benefit amounts to €15,500, demonstrating the significant economic advantages of incorporating LEVUCELL SB included in a specific nutritional solution into sow diets during heat stress periods.

The results of this field study underscore the contribution of LEVUCELL SB included in a specific nutritional solution in maintaining sow body condition, colostrum quality, and subsequent litter performance during heat stress.

For more information, visit www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com.