Colostrum and milk production in multiparous sows fed supplementary arginine during gestation and lactation

Arginine can be converted into the vasoactive metabolite nitric oxide and may, consequently, increase mammary blood flow, and arginine was, therefore, hypothesized to increase the output of nutrients in mammary secreta. Sows were supplemented with an additional 25 g arginine/d (ARG; n = 11) or isonitrogenous amounts of alanine (CON; n = 10) from d 30 of gestation until weaning on d 28 of lactation (in 2 blocks). Piglets were weighed 0, 12, 24, and 36 h after birth of the first piglet and on d 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28 in lactation for estimation of colostrum and milk intake. Colostrum samples obtained at 0, 12, 24, and 36 h after parturition and milk from sows on d 3, 10, 17, and 24 of lactation were analyzed for macrochemical composition. Also, the content of IGF-I was determined in colostrum. Arginine supplementation decreased lactose and increased DM content of colostrum (P < 0.05), whereas no effect on colostrum or milk yield, piglet weight, piglet ADG, or fat content of colostrum and milk was observed (P > 0.10). Concentration of protein and IGF-I tended to be increased in ARG-fed sows. In conclusion, arginine supplementation of sows during gestation and lactation affected macrochemical composition of colostrum but not the yield of colostrum or yield and composition of milk.