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Maternal methionine supplementation in low-protein diets during late gestation and lactation increases the performance and alters fecal microbiota of the sows and their offspring
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DOI：10.1016/j.aninu.2026.03.009.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Methionine (Met) is known to enhance antioxidant defense and reproductive efficiency in sows, but its role under low-protein feeding conditions is unclear. This study evaluated the effects of Met supplementation on lactation performance, antioxidant status, and gut microbiota of sows and their piglets. Sixty-six multiparous sows with two parity and similar body weight (244.1 ± 1.73 kg) were assigned to a normal protein diet (18% crude protein [CP]) or low-protein diets (15% CP) containing graded standardized ileal digestible (SID) Met levels (0.23%, 0.30%, 0.37%, 0.44%, and 0.51%, respectively) from d 107 of gestation to d 21 of lactation, with 11 replicates in each group and 1 sow per replicate. The results showed that low-protein diets supplemented with 0.30% Met achieved milk yield and piglet growth comparable to the normal protein group (P > 0.05). In addition, 0.30% Met supplementation reduced serum urea nitrogen content, enhanced the concentrations of milk immunoglobulin M, glutathione, and taurine, and increased the activities of serum total superoxide dismutase in sows and glutathione peroxidase in piglets when compared with the normal protein diet (P < 0.05). Microbiome analysis indicated higher relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group in piglets from the 0.30% Met group, positively correlated with growth traits. These findings suggest that a 0.30% Met level in a 15% CP diet supports sow performance and piglet development comparable to normal protein feeding through improved antioxidant capacity and beneficial microbial modulation.
Keywords:
Low-protein diet
Methionine
Sow lactation performance
Piglet growth
Antioxidant capacity
Gut microbiota
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