Dietary silymarin ameliorating reproductive and lactation performance of sows via regulating body antioxidant and metabolism

ObjectiveThe experiment was conducted to explore the effects of silymarin on reproductive and lactation performance, serum antioxidants, and body metabolism of sows.

MethodsSixty pregnant sows (85 d, Large × Landrace) with similar genetic background, body condition, and parity were randomly divided into three groups, and each group has 20 individually housed sows. The sows in the control group (CG) were fed with basal diet, and those in the experimental group A (EGA) and B (EGB) were fed with basal diet containing 250 and 500 mg/kg silymarin, respectively. The experiment lasted 46 days from day 85 of gestation to the end of lactation (weaning on day 17 ).The milk composition and serum biochemical parameters were determined by a milk composition analyzer and a blood biochemical analyzer, respectively. Serum antioxidant indexes and plasma hormone levels were measured using the biochemical kits. The gas chromatograph was applied to detect the fecal short chain fatty acids.

ResultsCompared with the CG, the total feed intake (TFI) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the urea content in regular milk tended to increase (P = 0.095) in the EG. The serum malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were decreased on day 90 of gestation and the day of farrowing (P < 0.01), and the serum contents of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) tended to increase on day 17 of lactation (P = 0.099) compared with the CG. Compared with the CG, the serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations in the EG tended to increase on day 90 of gestation (P = 0.062), and the content of serum total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) reduced on day 17 of lactation (P < 0.01). Compared with the CG, plasm D-lactic acid content was decreased (P < 0.05), and the plasma prostaglandin (PG) level tended to increase (P = 0.088) in the EG on the day of farrowing and day 17 of lactation. Compared with the CG, fecal isobutyric acid concentration in the EG significantly decreased on the day of farrowing ( P < 0.05).

ConclusionAdding 250 – 500 mg/kg silymarin to diets from the late gestation to the end of lactation could improve reproductive and lactation performance of sows via the regulation of nutrient metabolism and serum antioxidant.