Put more in your piggy bank with Pichia
Results demonstrate a positive impact on sow reproductive performance.
Published in Feedstuffs, June 2022
Authors: Sarah Cooper, Morgan Thayer and Clémentine Oguey
Profitability in swine production depends on efficiency achieved by the operation. Producers, nutritionists and veterinarians are thereby motivated to investigate novel technologies that can help boost productivity and efficiency. Such technologies include non-drug specialty feed ingredients that help to maintain animals in optimal physiological status and consequently provide productivity benefits.
For farrow-to-finish or feeder pig producers, litter size and weaned pig output are economic parameters of critical importance. Any favorable impacts of a cost-effective, specialty feed ingredient on these parameters would be advantageous for elevating efficiency and profit potential.
P.guilliermondii is a novel yeast with unique morphology, structure and consequent activity. A series of three key peer-reviewed studies involving P. guilliermondii have been performed in sows over the past several years in both research and commercial facilities in the US and Europe, and more recently, a meta-analysis was fulfilled.
Results demonstrate that supplementing the gestation and lactation diets of sows and gilts with an inactivated Pichia guilliermondii-based specialty feed ingredient promotes improved sow reproductive parameters related to fecundity and piglet vitality.
Pichia supplementation initially demonstrates an impact on sow reproductive performance in a university research facility 2,3
An initial study was set up by the University of Arkansas in their research facilities. It involved 98 Dekalb- Monsanto Line GPK 35 gestating sows and gilts. Within 24 hours of breeding, the sows and gilts were assigned to one of three dietary treatment groups based on body weight and parity. The dietary treatments included 1 – a basal diet (control, 0%), 2 – the basal control diet supplemented with 0.1% P. guilliermondii, or 3 – the basal control diet supplemented with 0.2% P. guilliermondii
These dietary treatments began at breeding and were fed consistently through gestation and lactation. The sows and gilts were housed in individual gestation stalls and provided approximately 2.3 kg (5 lbs) of feed per day with ad libitum access to water. On day 110 of gestation, the sows and gilts were moved to individual farrowing crates. Following farrowing, the sows and gilts were started on a lactation diet, offered ad libitum, with the same supplementation as added in gestation until weaning, at 21 days after farrowing. Cross-fostering was performed within treatment groups and completed by 24 hours post-farrowing.
Notable results in this study included:
More pigs born and weaned
Sows and gilts supplemented with P. guilliermondii farrowed 6.7 – 7.5% more live pigs compared to animals receiving no supplementation (P < 0.01). Significantly more pigs were weaned per litter amongst the sows and gilts that received P. guilliermondii supplementation, compared to those sows and gilts not receiving any P. guilliermondii supplementation (P < 0.01).
Improvements in reproductive parameters with Pichia supplementation also demonstrated in a commercial facility4
To validate these results with P. guilliermondii supplementation seen in the research facility at the University of Arkansas, a study involving Purdue University was performed several years later in a 10,000-sow breed-to-wean commercial facility.
The study involved 606 PIC 1050 sows and gilts. Once confirmed pregnant at day 35 post-breeding, animals were moved into a group-housing facility and allocated to one of two dietary treatment groups, receiving either a basal gestation diet with no P. guilliermondii supplementation (0%, control), or the basal diet with 0.15% P. guilliermondii supplementation. The supplementation was consistent throughout gestation and lactation.
During gestation, animals were fed approximately 2.3 kg (5 lbs) of feed per day and had ad libitum access to water.
On day 112 of gestation, sows and gilts were moved to individual farrowing crates and started on a lactation diet, fed ad libitum with the same supplementation previously received in gestation, throughout the lactation period until weaning, 19 days after farrowing. Cross-fostering to equalize litter size was done within 12 hours of farrowing.
Results similar to those seen in the research facility study, were also noted in this study:
More pigs born and weaned
Sows and gilts supplemented with P. guilliermondii farrowed a greater number of live piglets, compared to those receiving no supplementation (P < 0.05)
Moreover, the number of pigs weaned to P. guilliermondii-supplemented pigs was higher than the number weaned from control animals (P < 0.01; Figure 2).
Similar results seen with Pichia supplementation in sows in Europe 5
A total of 51 gilts and sows were involved in this study in an experimental facility in France. Once pregnancy was confirmed at day 29 post-breeding, the animals were placed in group housing and each pen was randomly allotted to either a basal control diet (0%) or the control diet supplemented with 0.1% of P. guilliermondii. This supplementation was consistent throughout gestation and lactation. Animals were fed approximately 2.8 kg (6 lbs) per day during gestation and had ad libitum access to water.
The sows were then transferred into the farrowing room one week before farrowing (day 108). From farrowing, a lactation diet was started and increased to ad libitum over a 6-day period, including the same P. guilliermondii supplementation as during gestation, until weaning at 21 days after farrowing. The number of piglets per litter was standardized with cross-fostering within dietary treatment and within 24 to 48 hours after farrowing.
As seen in the US, also in Europe with Pichia supplementation, similar results were seen:
The number of piglets born alive was significantly higher amongst sows and gilts supplemented with P. guilliermondii, compared to control animals (P < 0.05).
The number of pigs weaned from sows and gilts that received P. guilliermondii supplementation was on average 1.1 more than from sows that received no P. guilliermondii (P = 0.1).
The number of piglets born alive was significantly higher amongst sows and gilts supplemented with P. guilliermondii, compared to control animals (P < 0.05).
The number of pigs weaned from sows and gilts that received P. guilliermondii supplementation was on average 1.1 more than from sows that received no P. guilliermondii (P = 0.1).
Consistent impacts of Pichia supplementation in sows validated through meta-analysis
In order to more objectively assess the effects seen when P. guilliermondii is added to the gestation and lactation diets of sows, a meta-analysis was performed6. The above-mentioned three peer-reviewed studies plus an additional five studies – a total of 1,446 sows – were included in the analysis of reproductive performance at birth until weaning.
Consistent impacts of Pichia supplementation in sows validated through meta-analysis
In order to more objectively assess the effects seen when P. guilliermondii is added to the gestation and lactation diets of sows, a meta-analysis was performed 6. The above-mentioned three peer-reviewed studies plus an additional five studies – a total of 1,446 sows – were included in the analysis of reproductive performance at birth until weaning.
The P. guilliermondii supplementation ranged from 0.1% to 0.2% and did not influence the effect of the product on the outcomes. Overall, P. guilliermondii supplementation in the sows was associated with an increased number of piglets born alive per sow (+3.5%, P < 0.01). When considering piglet survival before and after cross-foster, this resulted in more piglets weaned per sow (+5.2%, P < 0.01).
Pichia, Performance, Profit
The beneficial impact of P. guilliermondii supplementation in sows during gestation and lactation on litter size and weaned pig output has been demonstrated consistently across several studies and also assessed through meta-analysis. The modes of action by which P. guilliermondii may impact sow litter size and weaned pig output are yet to be elucidated. It has been well established, however, that stress of various sources, commonplace in sow production, can seriously impact sow reproduction7. It may therefore be the case that P. guilliermondii, through its proposed modes of action, may promote resilience in the sow to overcome stressors, counteracting the negative effects of stress on reproduction.
P. guilliermondii is commercially available as an inactivated specialty feed ingredient. Its inclusion in the gestation and lactation diets of sows and consequent impact on litter size and number of pigs weaned may facilitate improved swine production efficiency and profit.
Not all products are available in all regions. ADM makes no representation or warranty, whether expressed or implied, as to the reliability, or completeness of the information. Uses and claims should be adapted to comply to the current local/ regional regulatory environment. This information does not imply any express recommendations for the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.
References:
1. Peisker M, Stensrud E, Apajalahti J, et al. Morphological Characterization of Pichia guilliermondii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast and their Effects on Adherence of Intestinal Pathogens on Piglet and Chicken Epithelium In-vitro. Journal of Animal Research and Nutrition 2017;2.
2.Bass B, Perez V, Yang H, et Impact of a whole cell yeast product on sow and litter performance. Journal of Animal Science 2012;90:49.
3.Bass BE, Tsai T-C, Yang H, et al. Influence of a whole yeast product (Pichia guilliermondii) fed throughout gestation and lactation on performance and immune parameters of the sow and litter. Journal of Animal Science 2019;97:1671-1678
4.Thayer MT, Garcia RM, Duttlinger AW, et Feeding a whole-cell inactivated Pichia guilliermondi yeast to gestating and lactating sows in a commercial production system. Journal of Animal Science 2020;98:99-100.
5.Janvier E, Oguey C, Samson A. Dietary supplementation with Pichia guilliermondii yeast product during gestation and lactation improves sows’ body condition and litter 15th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs. Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2022.
6.Oguey C, Thayer M, Jones DB, et Meta-analysis of the effects of inactivated Pichia guilliermondii yeast fed to sows on progeny performance
International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs. Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2022.
7. Einarsson S, Brandt Y, Lundeheim N, et al. Stress and its influence on reproduction in pigs: a review. Acta
