Euglena gracilis β-Glucans (1,3): Enriching Colostrum of Sow for Enhanced Piglet Immunity

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Beta-glucan (βG) has been widely employed in animal diets, acting as a tool for intestinal health, improving immune status, and promoting enhanced performance. However, its origin can be from cereal grains, fungi, and algae, and in this context, its glycosidic linkages (1,3), (1,4), or (1,6) directly influence its functions in animal organisms. In general, it was observed that supplementing sow feed with 200 g of βG-(1,3) derived from the algae Euglena gracilis per ton, starting from the 85th day of gestation, resulted in enhancements in both colostrum production and the concentrations of immunoglobulins A, G, and M. This suggests a potential role as an immunomodulatory agent. This supplementation can become a tool to quantitatively and qualitatively enhance the colostrum provided to piglets. ABSTRACT: The effects of supplementing the diet of sows with βG-(1,3) derived from Euglena gracilis algae were assessed regarding quality and amount of colostrum as well as performance of piglets. A total of 120 sows (first (nulliparous) to sixth parity (multiparous)) from D85 of gestation until weaning were divided into two groups: the control diet group (n = 60) and the βG-(1,3) diet group (n = 60). Sows receiving βG-(1,3) exhibited an average increase of 870 g (24.9%) in colostrum production, leading to a 25.17% higher intake of colostrum by piglets. Furthermore, piglets in the βG-(1,3) group showed significantly superior weight gain of 34 g (50%) compared to the control group 18 h after birth (p < 0.05). Sows fed with βG-(1,3) produced colostrum with significantly higher concentrations of IgG (5.914 mg/mL, 16.16%) and IgM (0.378 mg/mL, 16.29%) than the control group (p < 0.05). Similarly, serum concentrations of IgG (13.86 mg/mL, 51.25%), IgA (17.16 mg/mL, 120.19%), and IgM (13.23 mg/mL, 144.78%) were significantly higher in sows fed with βG-(1,3) than in the control group (p < 0.05). Supplementing sows with βG-(1,3) derived from the Euglena gracilis algae resulted in increased colostrum production and consumption, along with greater weight gain in piglets during the first 18 h after birth. Additionally, both the colostrum produced by the sows and the blood serum of the piglets exhibited higher concentrations of immunoglobulins.