The effect of spineless cactus intake (Opuntia ficus-indica) on blood glucose (BG) levels in lactating sows and its impact on daily and total feed intake (dFI−1 and TFI, respectively), body weight loss (BWL), and weaning-estrus interval length (WEI) were evaluated. Thirty-four hybrid (Yorkshire × Landrace × Pietrain) sows in lactation phase were used. Sows were divided into two groups: G1 (n = 17) where they received commercial feed and G2 (n = 17) provided with commercial feed plus an average of 2.0 ± 0.5 kg spineless cactus, based on a sow’s body weight. The variables evaluated were BG, dFI−1, TFI, BWL, and WEI. Statistical analysis was performed by using a fixed and mixed model methodology, under a repeated measurements experiment. Group effects were found on all analyzed variables (P < 0.05). The BG was lower in G2 (55.2 and 64.5 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively), compared to that in G1 (70.9 and 80.1 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively) (P < 0.05). G2 showed better performance than G1 for dFI−1, BWL, and WEI (P < 0.05) whose averages were 5.5 ± 1.8 kg, 7.4 ± 4.5%, and 5.3 ± 1.2 days, respectively. Averages for these variables in G1 were 4.7 ± 1.5 kg, 16.8 ± 4.6%, and 6.1 ± 1.6 days, respectively. Intake of spineless cactus reduced BG levels in lactating sows, generating greater dFI−1, lower BWL at the end of lactation, and a lower WEI.

The regulation of sows’ metabolic state during the gestation-lactation transition is a requirement for a higher feed intake in lactation, an important aspect in improving animal welfare in current swine production systems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of different cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) levels in the diet of gilts during late gestation and lactation on their biochemical parameters and voluntary feed intake during lactation. From day 85 of gestation until weaning, 40 gilts were divided into four groups: GNC (group with no cactus) with a basal diet (BD) only, G1C; group with 1% inclusion of cactus plus BD, G2C; group with 1.5% inclusion of cactus plus BD, and G3C; group with 2% inclusion of cactus plus BD. The dietary cactus supplementation increased the gilts’ feed intake (by 1.04 kg/day on average) during lactation and reduced their weight loss (4.3%) at weaning. The glucose concentrations were higher (range 73.0–83.9 mg/dL) in the GNC. The GNC had the highest triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations at day 100 of gestation. G3C had the highest osteocalcin concentration at day 100 of gestation. The highest feed intake and lowest glucose concentration were achieved with a cactus consumption of 1.04% in lactating gilts.

The effect of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) added to the diet of lactating (21 days of lactation) sows on voluntary feed intake, and its impact on the productive and reproductive post-weaning performance was evaluated. Data collected of 72 farrowings from 37 hybrid sows were analyzed during 12-month period. The sows were divided into two groups: (i) control group (CG; n = 18 sows), sows fed only with commercial feed, and (ii) experimental group (EG; n = 19 sows), sows fed with commercial feed plus cactus supplement. The variables evaluated were blood glucose (BG), daily feed intake (DFI) and total feed intake (TFI), loss of body weight (LBW), weaning-estrus interval (WEI), and subsequent litter size (SLS). Data analysis was carried out using fixed effects models. A nested effect was found for farrowing number (FN) into of group and an interaction group × season on the analyzed variables (P < 0.001). EG observed lower levels of BG with 47.0 ± 7.9 mg dL⁻¹ pre-prandial and 56.1 ± 5.9 mg dL⁻¹ post-prandial at the 10th day of lactation (P < 0.05). DFI and TFI were higher in the sows of the EG independently of the FN and season (P < 0.05). No differeces were observed on the nested effect of FN into group on the levels of BG (P < 0.05). Autumn showed the higher TFI: 121.4 kg⁻¹ sow⁻¹ (P < 0.05). Sows from CG 3rd farrowing and from EG 4th farrowing observed higher LBW (13.8 and 6.9%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Summer showed a higher LBW with 12.7% for CG and 8.2% for EG (P < 0.05). EG showed a lower WEI (5.5 days) and greater SLS up to 1.8 piglets more depending upon the season (P < 0.05). The lactating sow’s diet supplemented with cactus can counterbalance the negative effects of lactational hypophagia due to reduction on levels of BG during lactation and an increase on DFI and, therefore, improves performance of LBW, WEI, and SLS.

Sows with increased blood glucose during late gestation may have decreased feed intake in lactation. Supplying dietary fibre to the sow reportedly modulates blood glucose and improves feed intake. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) on the regulation of blood glucose and productive performance in lactating sows. Data from 52 hybrid sows were analysed. The sows were divided into two groups, namely a control group (CG), that is, sows fed conventionally; and an experimental group (EG), that is, sows fed commercial feed plus cacti. Blood glucose in late gestation, and feed intake, milk production and milk quality, development of the piglet, energy balance, post-weaning body weight balance and the interval from weaning to oestrus were recorded. Preprandial blood glucose was 55.9 mg per dL in EG and 71.4 in CG. Sows on EG had greater daily feed intake and lower negative energy balance (5.4 kg/day and -2.8 MJ/day) than those on CG (4.5 kg/day and -9.4 MJ/day). Sows fed EG produced more milk (8.6 L/day) than those on CG (8.1 L/day). The quality of milk produced and the weaning weight of piglets were similar for the two groups. Body weight balance after weaning was greater for sows fed EG, 3.5% versus -1.5% in those fed CG. The weaning to oestrus interval was 0.6 days less for sows fed EG than those fed CG. Feeding cactus to lactating sows regulated blood glucose, which improved most of their productive indicators.Keywords: cactus, dietary fibre, energy balance, hypophagia, piglet

Se evaluó el efecto de la adición de nopal (Opuntia ficus- indica) a la dieta de cerdas lactantes sobre la producción y calidad de la leche. 22 cerdas hibridas (Yorkshire x Landrace x Pietrain), próximas al parto fueron seleccionadas al azar, con las que se formaron dos grupos (G): G testigo (GT) (n=11) cerdas que recibieron alimento balanceado ad libitum y G experimental (GE) (n=11) cerdas que recibieron 1% d^-1 de nopal cerda^-1 (con respecto al peso corporal de la cerda antes del parto) más alimento balanceado ad libitum durante 21 días de lactación. Las variables evaluadas fueron: producción láctea en los días 6, 10 y 15 postparto, así como los porcentajes de: lactosa, proteína y grasa en leche en los días 3, 11 y 17 de lactación. La información recabada se analizó mediante la metodología de mediciones repetidas y las diferencias entre grupos se obtuvieron a través de medias de mínimos cuadrados. No se encontró efecto de grupo sobre la producción láctea (P = 0.4904). Sin embargo, el pico de producción láctea fue al 15^vo día de lactación: 9.1 y 8.7 kg de leche para GE y GT, respectivamente. Los promedios (%) generales de los componentes físico-quimicos de la leche: lactosa (6.6±0.57), proteína (4.5±0.40) y grasa (7.9±1.6) no fueron afectados por el grupo (P>0.05). La adición de nopal a la dieta de cerdas lactantes no modifica la producción ni los componentes físico-químicos (proteína, lactosa y grasa) de la leche de las cerdas lo que asegura el desarrollo del lechón del nacimiento al destete (21 días de edad).

El objetivo fue determinar la productividad, costos de producción y costo-beneficio de dos esquemas de alimentación (EA) para cerdas lactantes: 1) alimentación convencional (EAC) y, 2) alimentación convencional más nopal (EAN). Se evaluaron 116 partos de cerdas hibridas: 58 partos de cerdas sometidas al EAC (n=17 cerdas) y 58 partos de cerdas bajo el EAN (n=17 cerdas). Se evaluó: glucosa sanguínea (GS), consumo de alimento diario (CAd-1), pérdida de peso corporal (PPC), intervalo destete-estro (IDE), porcentaje de servicios repetidos (PSR), días no productivos (DNP) y tamaño de camada subsiguiente (TC). El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante modelos de efectos fijos (MIXED SAS®) y la evaluación económica bajo la metodología del análisis costo-beneficio. Las cerdas sometidas al EAN presentaron mejor (P<0.05) comportamiento en las variables evaluadas: menores niveles de GS preprandial (55.5 ± 2.31 mg dL-1), mayor CAd-1 (5.3 ± 0.17 kg d-1); menor: PPC (6.0 %), IDE (144 h), PSR (12.4 %) y DNP (36.0 días) y mayor TC (11.2 lechones). Ello en comparación con el EAC: GS preprandial, 70.0 ± 2.31 mg dL-1; CAd-1, 4.7 ± 0.17 kg d-1; PPC, 11.7 %; PSR, 17.1 %; DNP, 50.0 días y TC, 9.8 lechones. El costo de producción lechón-1 destetado en el EAN fue de $ 539.02 MXN vs $ 590.81 MXN para el EAC. La ganancia fue de $ 216.68 y $ 168.88 MXN lechón-1 vendido para EAN y EAC, respectivamente. El EAN reduce la GS e incrementa el CAd-1 de las cerdas lactantes, lo que reduce la PPC en dicha fase y genera mayor productividad de las cerdas y mayor eficiencia económica.