# Supplementation with Tributyrin for Gestating Sows Reduces Stillborn Rate and Increases Litter Birth Weight

## TL;DR

Adding tributyrin to pregnant sows' diets reduces stillbirths and increases litter weight at birth.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates that tributyrin supplementation during gestation improves litter outcomes in sows.

## Key findings

- Tributyrin supplementation reduced stillborn piglets by 35.47%.
- Litter birth weight increased by 10.14% with tributyrin supplementation.
- There was a trend toward more piglets weighing over 1.4 kg and less weight variability.

## Abstract

The search for greater productive efficiency of sows through hyperprolificacy has brought deleterious effects such as long farrowings and less homogeneous litters at birth, as well as a higher incidence of low-weight and low-viability piglets, which can result in fetal lactation and postnatal death. The availability of butyrate, which has important nutritional properties, can benefit the productive performance of pregnant sows by modulating the quality of litters at birth, as well as providing nutritional support for farrowing. This study considered data from one hundred and forty-eight sows supplemented with tributyrin after 35 days of gestation and during lactation. Although the number of piglets born alive and the individual weight of the piglets at birth did not change with the supplementation practiced, the total weight of litters at birth from sows supplemented with tributyrin in the middle and final thirds of the gestational phase was 10.14% higher, and the occurrence of stillborn piglets was reduced by 35.47%. In addition, a trend towards a higher percentage of piglets weighing over 1.4 kg and a lower variation in the weight of the litters from sows supplemented with the organic acid was observed. Therefore, tributyrin supplementation in sows contributes to more homogeneous litters at birth and reduces losses due to stillbirths in prolonged farrowing conditions.

This study evaluated the performance of gestating and lactating sows supplemented with tributyrin from gestation until the end of lactation. Additionally, it assessed the effects of this supplementation on pig growth performance during the nursery phase. A total of 148 commercial-line sows (DB90 Brasil; parity 1–4; initial weight: 201.7 ± 12.2 kg) were used during gestation and lactation, along with 180 weaned pigs. A randomized block design was utilized with two dietary treatments during gestation and lactation, and a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement during the nursery phase. Data on sow body composition and productivity during gestation and lactation, as well as piglet performance during nursery, were collected. Treatment effects and interactions were analyzed using ANOVA with the MIXED procedure of SAS Version 9.0 (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Sows fed tributyrin tended to weigh 3.05 kg more (p = 0.053) and had 6.51% less backfat accumulation prepartum (p = 0.099). Supplementation reduced stillborns by 35.47% (p = 0.032) and increased litter weight at birth by 10.14% (p = 0.018). Additionally, there was a trend toward an 18.73% reduction in weight variability (p = 0.053) with more piglets weighing ≥1.4 kg. Sow and litter performance during lactation were not affected. Piglets from sows supplemented with tributyrin showed a trend for higher feed intake immediately post-weaning (p = 0.056). Tributyrin supplementation during gestation reduced stillborn rates and increased litter weight at birth.