Activated crystalline silicon dioxide mitigates weight loss in lactating sows

Figures & data

Table 1. Ingredients of pre-partum and lactation diets (as-fed basis).

Item	Pre-partum	Lactation
Ingredients, %
Corn^a	62.64	45.27
Wheat bran	20.00	3.00
Soybean meal^b	11.00	25.00
Meat and bone meal, 42%	3.50	4.00
Yeast	0.61	2.87
Sugar	–	5.00
Soybean oil	–	2.00
Biscuit bran	–	10.00
Salt	0.40	0.20
Limestone	0.40	0.35
Organic selenium, 2%	0.002	0.002
Organic zinc, 10%	0.015	0.015
Organic chromium, 0.4%	0.027	0.027
Copper sulphate, 25%	0.03	0.03
Coline, 60%	0.05	0.05
Vit D - Hy D 25	0.02	0.02
Phytase^c	0.02	0.02
Protease^d	0.015	0.015
Carbohydrase^e	0.01	0.01
L-Lysine HCl, 78.4%	0.015	0.03
L-Threonine, 98.5%	0.24	0.185
DL-Methionine, 99%	0.025	0.165
L-Tryptophan, 99%	0.005	0.045
Yeast wall cell	0.50	1.00
Antioxidant	0.02	0.02
Adsorbent	0.25	0.25
Vitamin supplement^f	0.07	0.07
Mineral supplement^g	0.10	0.10
Biotin	0.04	0.04
Sodium bicarbonate	–	0.2
Flavour	–	0.01
Total	100	100
Analysed composition
ME calculated, kcal/kg	3,100	3,450
Crude protein, %	15.164	19.584
Crude fibre, %	3.743	2.655
Fat, %	3.718	5.691
Ash, %	4.575	5.129
Calcium, %	0.843	0.948
Total phosphorus, %	0.660	0.599

^a7.86% crude protein.

^b45% crude protein.

^cPhytase = improved E. coli phytase with expected activity of 5.000 FTU/g.

^dProtease = obtained from Bacillus licheniformis PWD-1 with minimum expected activity of 600.000 u/g.

^eCarbohydrase = obatined from the fermentation of Penicilium funiculosum with expected activity of 12.500 VU/g of endo-β-1,4-xylanase, 8.600 VU/g endo-β-1,3(4)-glucanase; and 46.000 VU/g of arabinofuranosidases.

^fVitamin supplement (own farm production, Leme, Brazil); composition: vitamin A 21,000 UI/kg; vitamin D 3850 UI/kg; vitamin E 175 UI/kg; vitamin K 56 mg/kg; folic acid 3.5 mg/kg; thiamine 4.2 mg/kg; riboflavin 10.5 mg/kg; pantothenic acid 42 mg/kg; pyridoxine 7 mg/kg; biotin 0.595 mg/kg; cobalamin 0.075 mg/kg; niacin 75 mg/kg.

^gMineral supplement (own farm production, Leme, Brazil); composition: copper 20 mg/kg; iron 100 mg/kg; iodine 1.6 mg/kg; manganese 60 mg/kg; zinc 140 mg/kg; selenium 0.70 mg/kg.

Table 2. Reproductive performance of sows fed diets with or without activated crystalline silicon dioxide supplementation.

Item	Treatment		SEM	p Value
	CON (n = 40)	SIL (n = 40)
Average daily feed intake, Kg/d	6.80	6.81	0.03	.883
Back fat, mm
110 d pregnancy	18.48	18.45	0.12	.590
Weaning	18.34	18.40	0.10	.716
Back fat loss, %	−1.03	−0.53	0.89	.779
Body weight, kg
110 d pregnancy	221.20	221.60	1.35	.893
Weaning	200.40	205.30	1.39	.078
Body weight loss, %	9.33	7.34	0.45	.026
Milk yield, kg	247.43	260.60	4.36	.085

CON: control diet; SIL: activated crystalline silicon dioxide diet.

Table 3. Milk quality of sows fed diets with or without activated crystalline silicon dioxide supplementation.

Item	Treatment		SEM	p Value
	CON (n = 20)	SIL (n = 20)
Fat, %	8.46	9.12	0.38	.441
Density, g/cm³	1.08	1.07	0.06	.173
Solids non-fat, %	10.53	10.61	0.08	.618
Protein, %	3.88	3.91	0.03	.568
Lactose, %	5.79	5.84	0.04	.552

CON: control diet; SIL: activated crystalline silicon dioxide diet.

Table 4. Performance of pigs born from sows fed diets with or without activated crystalline silicon dioxide supplementation.

Item	Treatment		SEM	p Value
	CON (n = 40)	SIL (n = 40)
Number of piglets born alive	11.82	11.95	0.09	.504
Number of weaned piglets	11.55	11.49	0.10	.763
Body weight, kg
Birth	1.31	1.33	0.02	.660
Weaning	6.69	7.00	0.08	.060
Preweaning survival percentage, %	97.69	96.51	0.58	.188

CON: control diet; SIL: activated crystalline silicon dioxide diet.

Data availability statement

Data availability statement The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [LFA], upon reasonable request.