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Simple Summary: Maintaining the health of sows in pig production poses a persistent and significant challenge that directly impacts sow reproductive performance as well as producer economics. Pectin, a dietary fiber with immense potential, was investigated in this study for its potential to enhance the health of pregnant sows. Throughout gestation, we supplemented the basic diet with 3% of low-ester pectin to examine its potential effects in pregnant sows. We collected and analyzed serum and fecal samples from the sows to evaluate their fecal microbiota, serum metabolites, and cytokines, aiming to provide fundamental data for pectin utilization in animal production. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the dietary fiber pectin on the gut microbiota and health of parturient sows. A total of 30 parity 5–7, multiparous gestation sows (Large White × Landrace) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups after mating: Con (control, basic diet) and Pec (pectin, 3%). The sows received the two diets during gestation, and all sows were fed the same standard basic diet during lactation. The results of β-diversity showed that the composition of the gut microbiota was different in the Con and Pec groups. Compared with the sows in the Con group, the Pec sows showed a higher abundance of the gut bacteria Clostridium and Romboutsia and a lower abundance of harmful bacteria (Micrococcaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Dorea, Actinomyces). On the other hand, the SCFA plasma concentration was increased in the Pec group, while pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) concentrations were decreased. In conclusion, the soluble dietary fiber pectin could improve the reproductive performance and health of sows by increasing the abundance of some commensal bacteria enhancing the metabolite SCFA levels and reducing the pro-inflammatory cytokine plasma levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effects of fiber were explored with equalized ratio of insoluble to soluble fiber. • Fiber addition for single parity did not affect sow reproductive performance. • Fiber intake for successive parities is better to improve reproductive performance. • Fiber addition shortened labor progress and increased sow lactation feed intake. • Fiber addition during gestation benefits sow physical health. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary fiber supplementation in gestation diets on sow performance, physiology and milk composition for three successive parities. Thirty gilts were assigned randomly to two groups, and fed a basal diet [CON group; 1.10 % soluble fiber (SF), 9.14 % insoluble fiber (ISF)] or a basal diet supplemented with 22.60 g/kg inulin and 181.60 g/kg cellulose [high-fiber (HF) group] during gestation period. The gestation diets provided to sows for three successive cycles averaged 2.28 kg/d from 1 to 112 d for the CON group; and corresponding values for the HF group were 2.75 kg. During lactation and empty, all sows were fed ad libitum a standard lactation diet. Sow body weight (BW) and backfat thickness, litter size and weight, parturition progress, placental weight and lactation feed intake were recorded. In parity 3, plasma samples were collected at gestation day 110 and parturition, and colostrum and milk samples were manually collected on lactation d 0 and 14, respectively. Results showed that averaged over three reproductive cycles, sows fed the HF diet farrowed more piglets born alive (P = 0.049) and litter weight (total born, P = 0.001; born alive, P = 0.001), increased placental weight (P < 0.001), lactation feed intake (P = 0.042), and average weaned pig BW (P = 0.014), and shortened parturition progress (P < 0.05); tended to have higher average pig BW total born (P = 0.092). Reproductive cycle had significant effects (P < 0.05) on sow BW, duration of parturition, placental weight, lactation feed intake, litter size and weight, and average pig BW. An interaction between fiber treatment and reproductive cycle was detected for placental weight. Sows fed the HF diet in parities 2 and 3 had greater placental weight than the other sows (P = 0.007). In addition, sows fed the HF diet had lower (P < 0.05) preprandial low-density lipoprotein and endotoxin concentrations, and greater (P < 0.05) plasma estrogen and lutropin concentrations on d 110 of gestation; had higher plasma oxytocin (P < 0.05) and epinephrine (P < 0.10) levels at farrowing compared with sows fed the CON diet. Colostrum and milk compositions were not influenced by the treatment. Above all, when the daily intake of the basal gestation diet was equalized for both treatments, dietary fiber supplementation to the gestation diet with an equal ISF/SF ratio over three reproductive cycles improved sow and litter performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Gestating sows fed a diet rich in dietary fiber show improved performance. Dietary fiber is composed of insoluble fiber and soluble fiber. The ratio of insoluble to soluble fiber may affect overall diet utilization and influence sow performance. Maternal nutrition significantly affects offspring intestinal development; therefore, we investigated the effects of the ratio of insoluble to soluble fiber in gestation diets on sow performance and offspring intestinal development. Our results suggested that, when the dietary fiber levels were the same in gestation diets, the ratio of insoluble to soluble fiber affected the development of intestinal morphology and enzymatic activity related to nutrient digestion and absorption, and consequently affected the average daily gain during lactation and average piglet body weight at weaning. When the ratio of insoluble to soluble fiber was 3.89 in the gestation diet, higher average piglet body weight and litter weight at weaning were observed. These results may provide guidance for the application of fiber in pig production. To investigate the effects of the ratio of insoluble fiber to soluble fiber (ISF:SF) on sow performance and piglet intestinal development, we randomly assigned 64 gilts to four treatments comprising diets with the same level of dietary fiber, but different ISF:SF values of 3.89 (T1), 5.59 (T2), 9.12 (T3), and 12.81 (T4). At birth and weaning, six piglets per treatment at each phase were slaughtered for sampling. As ISF:SF increased, the mean piglet body weight (BW) at weaning and piglet BW gain, which were all significantly higher in T1 and T2 compared with T3 and T4 (p < 0.05), showed a linear decrease (p < 0.05); the crypt depth of the jejunum in weaned piglets linearly increased, whereas the duodenal weight, jejunal villus height, and villus height/crypt depth in newborn piglets and enzymatic activity of lactase, sucrase, and maltase linearly decreased (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in the yield and composition of milk (p > 0.05). Moreover, when the ISF:SF was 3.89 in gestation diets, higher piglet BW at weaning occurred, possibly because the ISF:SF affected development and enzymatic activity in the small intestine—effects related to digestion and absorption of nutrients—and consequently enhanced piglet BW gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]