Abstract Piglets are born with limited energy reserves and early energy supplementation could increase piglet’s growth performance. This study evaluated the efficacy of an energy supplement, administered to piglets during the first three days of life, on growth, survival, behavior, and gut microbiota (GM) composition. Twenty-two sows and their litters were assigned to two groups balanced by parity and body condition score: (1) Energetic (ENER: piglets received a daily 2 mL dose of the energetic product during the first three days of life) ; and (2) Control (CTR: untreated). Piglets were weighed after birth (d1) and classified by body weight class (BWC): low (LBW: 1200 g), normal (1200–1700 g), and high (HBW: 1700 g). Colostrum was sampled at farrowing for chemical composition and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG) quantification. Piglet weight was recorded at d1, d2, d3, d6, d28, and d38 and used to calculate average daily gain (ADG) across different time ranges. Piglet mortality was calculated between d1–d3, d1–d6, and d1–d28. Piglet behavior was observed at d1, d2, d3, and d6. Piglet feces were sampled at d6 for GM analysis through sequencing of the V3–V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Enriched genera were identified using the LEfSe algorithm. Statistical analyses were carried out using RStudio v4. 4. 2. Differences were considered statistically significant if P ≤ 0. 05 and trends if 0. 06 P ≤ 0. 10. Sow groups were homogeneous, as they did not differ in colostrum chemical or immunological composition. The interaction between treatment and BWC tended to affect ADG during d1–d3 and d1–d28 (p 0. 10) ; ENER improved ADG uniformity among different BWCs. ENER piglet mortality across all time ranges was significantly higher than in the CTR group (p 0. 001). The “standing” and “approaching the mother” behaviors at d2 were less frequent in the ENER group than in the CTR group (p 0. 05), whereas “total positive behaviors” at d3 were more frequent (p = 0. 05). At d6, ENER piglets displayed fewer active behaviors and spent less time lying near a heat source compared with the CTR group (p 0. 05). The GM of ENER piglets was enriched in Blautia (pₐdj = 0. 006, LDAₛcore = 3. 51) and Phascolarctobacterium (pₐdj = 0. 03, LDAₛcore = 3. 46), whereas the potentially pathogenic Desulfovibrio (pₐdj = 0. 03, LDAₛcore = 3. 67) and Bartonella (pₐdj = 0. 002, LDAₛcore = 3. 02) were more abundant in CTR (p 0. 05), suggesting that early energy supplementation may promote a more favorable GM profile. In conclusion, the early administration of an energetic product could help reduce growth differences among piglets of different BWCs. However, considering the increased mortality and behavioral alterations, the supplement should be administered only to piglets requiring an energy boost.
Trevisi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.