The prolificacy of sows (litter size at birth) has markedly increased, leading to higher post-natal mortality. Heat stress can exacerbate this issue. Arginine plays an important role in several physiological pathways; its effect on gestating sows can depend on the period of supplementation. This study evaluated the effects of arginine supplementation on the productive performance and physiological status of sows during different gestation periods and seasons, using a multi-omics approach. A total of 320 sows were divided into 4 groups over 2 seasons (warm/cold); a control group (CO) received a standard diet (including 16.5 g/d of arginine) and 3 other groups received the standard diet supplemented with 21.8 g/d of arginine (38.3 g/d of arginine) either during the first 35 d (Early35), the last 45 d (Late45) or throughout the entire gestation period (COM). The colostrum was analyzed for nutritional composition, immunoglobulins and metabolomic profile. Urine and feces were analyzed on d 35 and 106 for the metabolomic and microbial profiles. Piglet body weight and mortality were recorded at birth, d 6, d 26, and on d 14 post-weaning. Interactions between arginine and season were never significant. The Early35 group had a lower percentage of stillborn (P < 0.001), mummified (P = 0.002) and low birthweight (LBW) piglets (P = 0.02) than the CO group. The Late45 group had a lower percentage of stillborn piglets (P = 0.029) and a higher percentage of high birthweight piglets (HBW; P < 0.001) than the CO group. The COM group had a higher percentage of LBW (P = 0.004) and crushed piglets (P < 0.001) than the CO group. Arginine supplementation modifies the metabolome characterization of colostrum, urine, and feces. Creatine and nitric oxide pathways, as well as metabolites related to microbial activity, were influenced in all matrices. A slight trend in the beta diversity index was observed in the microbiome profile on d 35 (P = 0.064). Arginine supplementation during early gestation reduced the percentage of stillborn and LBW piglets, while in the last third of pregnancy, it favored the percentage of HBW pigs and reduced the percentage of stillbirths, showing that arginine plays a significant role in the physiology of pregnant sows.

中文翻译：

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两个不同季节不同妊娠期母猪补充精氨酸对生产和代谢组的影响


母猪的繁殖力（产仔数）显着增加，导致产后死亡率更高。热应激会加剧这个问题。精氨酸在多种生理途径中发挥着重要作用；它对妊娠母猪的影响取决于补充的时期。本研究采用多组学方法评估了精氨酸补充对不同妊娠期和季节母猪生产性能和生理状态的影响。总共 320 头母猪在 2 个季节（暖季/冷季）被分为 4 组；对照组（CO）接受标准饮食（包括 16.5 克/天的精氨酸），另外 3 组接受标准饮食，在前 35 天内添加 21.8 克/天的精氨酸（38.3 克/天的精氨酸）（早期 35)、最后 45 天 (晚期 45) 或整个妊娠期 (COM)。分析初乳的营养成分、免疫球蛋白和代谢组学特征。在第 35 天和第 106 天分析尿液和粪便的代谢组学和微生物特征。记录仔猪出生时、断奶后第 6 天、第 26 天和第 14 天的体重和死亡率。精氨酸和季节之间的相互作用从来不显着。 Early35 组的死产 (P < 0.001)、木乃伊 (P = 0.002) 和低出生体重 (LBW) 仔猪 (P = 0.02) 的百分比低于 CO 组。与 CO 组相比，Late45 组的死产仔猪百分比较低（P = 0.029），高出生体重仔猪百分比较高（HBW；P < 0.001）。 COM 组的 LBW (P = 0.004) 和压碎仔猪 (P < 0.001) 百分比高于 CO 组。补充精氨酸可以改变初乳、尿液和粪便的代谢组特征。 所有基质中的肌酸和一氧化氮途径以及与微生物活性相关的代谢物均受到影响。第 35 天的微生物组概况中观察到 β 多样性指数出现轻微趋势（P = 0.064）。妊娠早期补充精氨酸降低了死产仔猪和低出生体重仔猪的比例，而在妊娠的最后三分之一，则有利于高出生体重仔猪的比例，降低了死产仔猪的比例，这表明精氨酸在妊娠母猪的生理机能中发挥着重要作用。