Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Animal Science

First Advisor

Minor, Radiah C. Dr.

Abstract

A common practice, in the swine industry, is to administer antibiotics in piglet diets to reduce the incidence of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD). However, due to the link between the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, alternatives to using antibiotics that boost natural immunity are being sought. Diets rich in probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotics enhance intestinal health. Since research has shown that a mother’s diet during both gestation and lactation can play an important role in the development of their offspring, a study was designed to investigate whether feeding a probiotic, prebiotic source, or synbiotic diet to sows during lactation or gestation and lactation would enhance the intestinal immune system of their piglets. IgA levels were measured in the milk on the day of farrowing and in the lavage fluid collected from the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of piglets on day 0 (day of weaning) and days 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-weaning. In addition, levels of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10, were measured within the small intestine lavage fluid on the same days. No differences were observed in IgA levels present in the milk on the day of farrowing. Measurements taken on day of weaning suggest that the inclusion of yeast culture and oats may contribute to increased IgA levels in the small intestines of piglets on the day of weaning, but may not contribute to long-term IgA production. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine detected also suggest that yeast culture and oat may contribute to intestinal inflammation. Therefore, the inclusion of yeast culture and oats in the diet of sows may affect IgA production and inflammatory responses within the intestine on the day of weaning.

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