# Reproductive Performance and Milk Composition of Sows Fed Diets Supplemented with an Immunomodulator

## TL;DR

This study found that adding an immunomodulator to sows' diets improved litter weights and slightly changed milk composition, but did not affect reproductive rates.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the effects of an immunomodulator on sow lactation and milk composition in a controlled setting.

## Key findings

- Sows fed OG had greater litter weights at birth, weaning, and during lactation.
- OG supplementation reduced sow weight loss during lactation.
- Milk lactose increased slightly, while protein content decreased with OG.

## Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a commercially available product in reproducing pigs that has been demonstrated in dairy cows to increase milk yield and milk composition. The results herein demonstrated no effect on sow prolificacy but did demonstrate changes in milk composition and greater litter weight born, litter weight weaned, and litter weight gain.

A cooperative study involving 189 litters from 114 sows (initial BW of 200.8 ± 37.1 kg) at two experiment stations was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with OmniGen-AF (OG) (Phibro Animal Health Co., Teaneck, NJ, USA), a nutritional product formulated to improve immune function of animals, on sow reproductive performance and milk composition. Dietary treatments were (1) corn–soybean meal-based control diets or (2) control diets supplemented with OG at 0.75% (~9 g of OG/100 kg BW/d). Supplementation of diets with OG resulted in lesser (p < 0.05) BW changes of sows during lactation (−12.1 vs. −8.2 kg). Litter sizes for control and OG-fed sows were similar, but sows fed OG-based diets had greater (p < 0.05) litter weight for total born (18.3 vs. 19.3 kg) and weaned (63.2 vs. 67.0 kg) and lactation litter gain (47.8 vs. 50.7 kg). Lactation feed intake for the controls and OG-fed sows (5.32 vs. 5.52 kg/d, respectively) did not differ. Supplementing diets with OG increased lactose content (5.78 vs. 5.84%; p = 0.05) and reduced protein content (4.77 vs. 4.68%; p = 0.04) in sow milk. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with OG at 0.75% reduced weight loss during lactation and improved litter weights with marginal effects on the milk composition of sows.