Effect of the Inclusion of Different Levels of Dietary Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) on Gilts’ Biochemical Parameters and Feed Intake during Lactation

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The digestive and metabolic adaptations suffered by sows during the late gestation-lactation transition cause a decrease in the voluntary feed intake. These conditions favor a negative energy balance, forcing the body to mobilize body reserves to meet their nutritional requirements, which represents an obstacle to expressing their reproductive and productive potential. The supplementation of the sows’ diet with cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) improves the feed intake in lactation due to the favorable modulation of biochemical indicators. However, the optimal addition of cactus to the diet of lactating sows is unknown. In the present study, the increase in the inclusion level of cactus did not linearly increase the feed intake in lactation. However, a linear increase in plasma insulin and osteocalcin concentrations were observed, which led to a decrease in the plasma glucose concentrations. We conclude that the inclusion level of cactus (fresh base) in the diet of lactating sows of 1.0% (with respect to the body weight of the sow) could improve the feed intake in lactation and reduce the loss of body weight of the sow at weaning. ABSTRACT: The regulation of sows’ metabolic state during the gestation-lactation transition is a requirement for a higher feed intake in lactation, an important aspect in improving animal welfare in current swine production systems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of different cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) levels in the diet of gilts during late gestation and lactation on their biochemical parameters and voluntary feed intake during lactation. From day 85 of gestation until weaning, 40 gilts were divided into four groups: GNC (group with no cactus) with a basal diet (BD) only, G1C; group with 1% inclusion of cactus plus BD, G2C; group with 1.5% inclusion of cactus plus BD, and G3C; group with 2% inclusion of cactus plus BD. The dietary cactus supplementation increased the gilts’ feed intake (by 1.04 kg/day on average) during lactation and reduced their weight loss (4.3%) at weaning. The glucose concentrations were higher (range 73.0–83.9 mg/dL) in the GNC. The GNC had the highest triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations at day 100 of gestation. G3C had the highest osteocalcin concentration at day 100 of gestation. The highest feed intake and lowest glucose concentration were achieved with a cactus consumption of 1.04% in lactating gilts.