Productive and physiological implications of extra-nutritional feeding of branched-chain amino acids and arginine on lactating sows and offspring

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), including L-leucine (L-Leu), L-isoleucine (L-Ile) and L-valine (L-Val), and L-arginine (L-Arg) play a crucial role in the mammary gland development, secretion of milk and regulation of the catabolic state of lactating sows. This study aimed at evaluating if the supplementation of lactating sows with BCAA (9, 4.5 and 9 g/d/sow of L-Leu, L-Ile, L-Val) and/or L-Arg (22.5 g/d/sow), over the nutritional requirement, can influence the physiological parameters, microbial profile, colostrum and milk compositions and performance of sows and their offspring.