Dietary Synbiotic Supplementation Alters Reproductive Performance, Plasma Biochemical Parameters, Fecal Microbiota Composition, and Metabolite Levels in Pregnant and Lactating Sows

Synbiotic ingestion could improve the gut microbiota balance which is associated with the reproductive performance and their metabolism in sows. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary synbiotic supplementation on reproductive performance, plasma biochemical parameters, and fecal microbiome composition and metabolite levels in pregnant and lactating sows. Compared to the control group, synbiotic supplementation increased the piglet survival rate and decreased colostrum somatic cell number; synbiotic or antibiotic supplementation improved plasma lipid metabolism. Synbiotic supplementation increased the fecal Simpson and Shannon indices, and Coprococcus, Clostridium, and Ruminococcus abundance on day 105 of pregnancy, while decreased Desulfovibrio and Herbaspirillum abundance on day 21 of lactation as compared to that in the other two groups. Spearman analysis showed a positive correlation between Ruminococcus abundance and bioamine level on day 105 of pregnancy; but a negative correlation between Desulfovibrio abundance and butyrate level on day 21 of lactation. These findings suggest that dietary synbiotic supplementation has improved reproductive performance and lipid/nitrogen metabolism by altering gut microbiota composition and abundance in pregnant and lactating sows.