Sows(n=60) were used to determine the effects of dietary yeast culture (YC, Enhalor Bioyeastar) on sow and litter performance in three treatments: ① no added YC, ② 3 and 5 g/kg YC, and ③ 5 and 8 g/kg YC during gestation and lactation, respectively.

Sows were fed 2.0 kg/d during gestation and ad libitum during lactation. Voluntary feed intake was measured daily during lactation. At farrowing, numbers of pigs born total and alive were measured. Weights of litters were measured at birth and weaning on d 21 of lactation.

Average birth weight and litter size were not different between treatments. Sows fed with lower or higher of YC had increased feed intake by 6.57% and 9.11% compared with sows in the control treatment. Sows in the 5 and 8 g/kg YC treatment had increased total litter weaning weight and litter BW gain by 19.21% and 23.96% compared with sows in the control treatment. Sows fed with lower or higher of YC had fewer (P<0.05) days return to estrus by 0.5 and 0.7 days respectively compared with the control sows. Sows fed with higher of YC had improved (P<0.05) swine fever virus antibody titer in serum and colostrum, and sows fed with lower of YC had improved (P<0.05) PRRS antibody titer in serum and colostrum.

This study indicates that adding the YC in the gestation and lactation diets has the potential to improve litter BW gain during lactation, possibly by improving the health and the feed intake of lactation sows.

(Chen Peng, Li Qingfeng,2016, Hongfu pig farm in Harbin)