Use of Olive Pulp for Gestating Iberian Sow Feeding: Influence on Performance, Health Status Indicators, and Fecal Microbiota.

Simple Summary: Reutilization of olive oil by-products in animal feeding could be considered an alternative for attenuating the environmental problems derived from their cumulation. Olive pulp along with other olive oil by-products are characterized by high fiber and bioactive compounds content, which can be interesting in feeding pregnant sows. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of olive pulp inclusion in Iberian sow's diet on performance, immunoglobulin levels and serum parameters, antioxidant capacity, and fecal microbiota. The experience showed a positive effect of olive pulp inclusion on the sow's fecal bacterial counts and antioxidant status, but no effects were found on the rest of the parameters studied. These results are promising from a nutritional point of view, as olive pulp can be considered an ingredient to include in Iberian sow's formulation program. Nonetheless, more research is needed to be able to consider olive pulp in Iberian sow's diet, especially from the sustainability aspect, since both productions coexist. Olive pulp (Olea europaea) inclusion in the diet of Iberian sows (Sus scrofa) is interesting due to fiber and bioactive compounds content and because both productions are located in the same area. The aim of this trial was to study the effect of olive pulp inclusion at 100 g/kg in Iberian sow's diet on performance, immunoglobulin and serum parameters, antioxidant status, and fecal microbiota. Forty multiparous Iberian sows (body weight (BW) = 149.6 ± 20.2 kg) were assigned either a control diet (CON) or an experimental diet (PUL) with olive pulp at 100 g/kg. The BW and backfat thickness in sows were measured at post-insemination days 42 and 107, and litter performance was measured on the farrowing day. Blood and fecal samples were collected at gestation day 107. In piglets, blood was sampled when they were 10 days old for immunoglobulin analysis. Albumin, total protein, triglyceride, creatinine, urea, glucose, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity in serum were higher (p < 0.05) in PUL sows than in CON sows. The Enterobacteriaceae, Bifidobacterium spp., and Lactobacillus spp. fecal counts were increased (p < 0.05) with olive pulp supplementation compared with the CON sow group. Olive pulp added to gestating Iberian sow's diet at 100 g/kg has beneficial effects on the fecal microbiota and antioxidant status, without penalizing other gestation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]