Effects of Opuntia ficus-indica in the diet of primiparous sows on the metabolic profile during late gestation and lactation and feed intake during lactation.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Opuntia ficus-indica L. (OFI) on the metabolic profile of primiparous sows during late gestation and lactation, and its impact on voluntary feed intake (VFI) during lactation. From day 85 of gestation to weaning, 32 sows were divided into four feeding schemes (n = 8 sows/scheme): Basal diet (BD) without OFI supplementation; Test scheme I, BD during gestation and BD + OFI during lactation; Test scheme II, BD + OFI during both gestation and lactation, and Test scheme III, BD + OFI during gestation and BD during lactation. Blood samples were obtained during gestation (day 85 and 100) and lactation (day 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21) to determine plasma glucose, insulin, triglycerides, leptin, osteocalcin, ghrelin and agouti-related protein (AgRP). VFI was higher (20% higher than that of controls) in sows that received dietary OFI during lactation (p < .05). The concentration of plasma glucose was lower in sows that consumed OFI than sows fed the conventional diet (p < .05). Plasma insulin concentrations were higher in sows that consumed OFI, than in sows that did not (p < .05). Triglyceride concentrations during gestation, farrowing and lactation were also lower in sows that consumed OFI (p < .05). OFI intake caused lower plasma concentrations of leptin during lactation (p < .05). Osteocalcin was higher in sows that consumed OFI versus controls (p < .05): 8.6% and 13.4% during gestation and lactation respectively. From day 3 of lactation, sows that consumed OFI had higher concentrations of ghrelin (p < .05). The concentration of plasma AgRP was higher (p < .05) in sows that consumed OFI versus controls: 3.1% and 14.2% in gestation and lactation respectively. We concluded that OFI intake by primiparous sows during late gestation and lactation favourably modulated the factors that caused insulin resistance and increased sow performance.