Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for animals, and exists in nature in both inorganic and organic forms. Although organic Se is more bioavailable than inorganic Se, there are inconsistent reports on the effect of organic Se on the reproductive performance of sows. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal organic Se (2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic, HMSeBA) supplementation on reproductive performance and antioxidant capacity of sows, and the long-term effect on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of their offspring with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. The experimental design used in this study was a CRD, forty-five Landrace × Yorkshire sows were randomly allocated to receive one of the following three diets during gestation: control diet (Control, basal diet, n = 15), Sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) supplemented diet (Na2SeO3, basal diet + 0.3 mg Se/kg Na2SeO3, n = 15), HMSeBA supplemented diet (HMSeBA, basal diet + 0.3 mg Se/kg HMSeBA, n = 15). On day 21 of age, male offspring from each group were injected with LPS or saline (n = 6). As compared to control group, maternal HMSeBA supplementation increased the number of total born piglets, while decreased birth weight (p < 0.05). In the first week of lactation, maternal HMSeBA supplementation increased litter weight gain compared with Na2SeO3 group (p < 0.05) and increased the average daily gain of piglets compared with control group and Na2SeO3 group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, maternal HMSeBA supplementation decreased piglet birth interval as compared to control group and Na2SeO3 group (p < 0.05). Besides, plasma GSH-Px activity was higher in the HMSeBA group on farrowing 0 min and 90 min, while MDA concentration was lower on farrowing 0 min, 90 min and 135 min, than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, maternal HMSeBA supplementation increased concentration of SELENOP in colostrum compared with control group (p < 0.05). Further study revealed that LPS challenged HMSeBA group had higher GSH-Px and T-AOC, and lower MDA in weaning piglets compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Taken together, maternal HMSeBA supplementation increased the number of total born piglets, shortened duration of farrowing, improved the antioxidant capacities of sows and their offspring, and improved the growth performance of sucking pigs at first week of lactation. Thus, HMSeBA supplementation during gestation has the potentiality to produce more kilogram of meat.

Thymus and spleen are the main reservoir for T lymphocytes, which can regulate innate immune response and provides protection against pathogens and tissue damage. Oxidative stress, excessive inflammation, abnormal autophagy...

Selenium (Se) is postulated to protect against inflammation in the gut by attenuating oxidative stress. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of maternal 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA), an organic...

Background Replacement gilts are typically fed ad libitum, whereas emerging evidence from human and rodent studies has revealed that time-restricted access to food has health benefits. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of meal frequency on the metabolic status and ovarian follicular development in gilts. Methods A total of 36 gilts (Landrace × Yorkshire) with an age of 150±3 d and a body weight of 77.6±3.8 kg were randomly allocated into one of three groups (n = 12 in each group), and based on the group allocation, the gilts were fed at a frequency of one meal (T1), two meals (T2), or six meals per day (T6) for 14 consecutive weeks. The effects of the meal frequency on growth preference, nutrient utilization, short-chain fatty acid production by gut microbial, the post-meal dynamics in the metabolic status, reproductive hormone secretions, and ovarian follicular development in the gilts were measured. Results The gilts in the T1 group presented a higher average daily gain (+ 48 g/d, P < 0.05) and a higher body weight (+ 4.9 kg, P < 0.05) than those in the T6 group. The meal frequency had no effect on the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, and gross energy, with the exception that the T1 gilts exhibited a greater NDF digestibility than the T6 gilts (P < 0.05). The nitrogen balance analysis revealed that the T1 gilts presented decreased urine excretion of nitrogen (− 8.17 g/d, P < 0.05) and higher nitrogen retention (+ 9.81 g/d, P < 0.05), and thus exhibited higher nitrogen utilization than the T6 gilts. The time-course dynamics of glucose, α-amino nitrogen, urea, lactate, and insulin levels in serum revealed that the T1 group exhibited higher utilization of nutrients after a meal than the T2 or T6 gilts. The T1 gilts also had a higher acetate content and SCFAs in feces than the T6 gilts (P < 0.05). The age, body weight and backfat thickness of the gilts at first estrous expression were not affected by the meal frequency, but the gilts in the T1 group had higher levels of serum luteinizing hormone on the 18th day of the 3rd estrus cycle and 17β-estradiol, a larger number of growing follicles and corpora lutea, and higher mRNA expression levels of genes related to follicular development on the 19th day of the 3rd estrus cycle. Conclusions The current findings revealed the benefits of a lower meal frequency equal feed intake on nutrient utilization and reproductive function in replacement gilts, and thus provide new insights into the nutritional strategy for replacement gilts, and the dietary pattern for other mammals, such as humans.

Various studies have evaluated the relationship between cholecalciferol (vitamin D 3 ) and reproductive performance. This study aimed at investigating the effects of maternal D 3 supplementation during gestation on reproductive performance and antioxidant capacities of gilts and their offsprings. Twenty-three Landrace  Yorkshire gilts were randomly allocated into two groups and fed on one of the following two diets during gestation: control diet or D 3 supplemented diet. It was found that D 3 supplementation had a tendency to increase the number of total born and born alive piglets. Moreover, it elevated serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations in gilts and newborn piglets. Besides, D 3 supplementation improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px, T-AOC and T-SOD) in the blood of gilts, umbilical cord and newborn piglets and piglets' liver, while serum malondialdehyde concentrations of gilts and umbilical cord were reduced in the D 3 group. In addition, D 3 supplementation upregulated the expression of antioxidant related genes in the placenta and piglets' liver. In conclusion, D 3 supplementation during gestation might improve antioxidant capacities in gilts, placenta and in newborn piglets. Therefore, D 3 supplementation has the potential to enhance the reproductive performance of gilts. HIGHLIGHTSD 3 supplementation has a significant role in the nutrition of gilts. Maternal D 3 supplementation during gestation increased the number of born and born alive piglets. Maternal D 3 supplementation during gestation improved the antioxidant capacities of gilts, placenta and newborn piglets.