Yeast protein as a fishmeal substitute: impacts on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two sow hybrids
IntroductionThe persistent African swine fever epidemic has significantly compromised China’s swine production. To accelerate production recovery, commercial farms are increasingly adopting retention of two-way backcross sows (Landrace × Yorkshire × Landrace, LLY) for breeding. This study aimed to i...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
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| author | Pan Zhou Qi Liu Yang Zhao Yachao Wu Jianbo Shen Tao Duan Long Che Yong Zhang Honglin Yan |
| author_facet | Pan Zhou Qi Liu Yang Zhao Yachao Wu Jianbo Shen Tao Duan Long Che Yong Zhang Honglin Yan |
| author_sort | Pan Zhou |
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| description | IntroductionThe persistent African swine fever epidemic has significantly compromised China’s swine production. To accelerate production recovery, commercial farms are increasingly adopting retention of two-way backcross sows (Landrace × Yorkshire × Landrace, LLY) for breeding. This study aimed to investigate the effects of yeast protein, an emerging sustainable protein source, on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two-way crossbred sows (Landrace × Yorkshire, LY) and LLY sows.MethodsThe experiment employed a 2×2 factorial design evaluating two fixed factors: sow hybrid (LY vs LLY) and yeast protein supplementation (0% vs 2.6%). The four treatment groups were: LY sows without yeast protein supplementation (LY-C), LLY sows without yeast protein supplementation (LLY-C), LY sows with yeast protein supplementation (LY-YP), and LLY sows with yeast protein supplementation (LLY-YP). A total of one hundred healthy sows of 2-6 parities (50 LY sows and 50 LLY sows), were stratified by backfat thickness, body weight, and parity, then randomly allocated to the four treatment groups on day 105 of gestation, with 25 sows in each group. The experimental period lasted from day 106 of gestation to day 18 of lactation.Results and conclusionYeast protein supplementation showed no significant effects on most reproductive parameters of different sow hybrids, but reduced backfat loss by 30.5% during lactation (P < 0.05) and demonstrated a numerical reduction in mummification rate of fetuses (P = 0.06). Immunological assessments revealed that LLY sows exhibited 26.8% lower serum IgM concentration than LY sows (P < 0.05), while yeast protein supplementation significantly reduced serum IL-1β levels by 45.6% (P < 0.05) on day 18 of lactation. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed comparable fecal microbial diversity across treatments (P > 0.05), though differences were observed in certain bacterial genera between LY and LLY sows during late gestation and lactation. Yeast protein supplementation enriched beneficial bacteria including Ruminococcaceae_UCG-002, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and Christensenellaceae_R_7_group, while suppressing potentially detrimental bacteria such as Family_XIII_AD3011_group (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the practical feasibility of retaining LLY sows for commercial breeding. Yeast protein supplementation, as a substitute for fishmeal during late gestation and lactation, significantly reduced lactational backfat loss, moderately attenuated inflammatory response, and enhanced gut microbiome homeostasis through selective microbial enrichment in sows. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-45e7cfac62204b088fdca4873eb757072025-08-20T03:14:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-04-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15799501579950Yeast protein as a fishmeal substitute: impacts on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two sow hybridsPan Zhou0Qi Liu1Yang Zhao2Yachao Wu3Jianbo Shen4Tao Duan5Long Che6Yong Zhang7Honglin Yan8School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaAnimal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaSchool of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaIntroductionThe persistent African swine fever epidemic has significantly compromised China’s swine production. To accelerate production recovery, commercial farms are increasingly adopting retention of two-way backcross sows (Landrace × Yorkshire × Landrace, LLY) for breeding. This study aimed to investigate the effects of yeast protein, an emerging sustainable protein source, on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two-way crossbred sows (Landrace × Yorkshire, LY) and LLY sows.MethodsThe experiment employed a 2×2 factorial design evaluating two fixed factors: sow hybrid (LY vs LLY) and yeast protein supplementation (0% vs 2.6%). The four treatment groups were: LY sows without yeast protein supplementation (LY-C), LLY sows without yeast protein supplementation (LLY-C), LY sows with yeast protein supplementation (LY-YP), and LLY sows with yeast protein supplementation (LLY-YP). A total of one hundred healthy sows of 2-6 parities (50 LY sows and 50 LLY sows), were stratified by backfat thickness, body weight, and parity, then randomly allocated to the four treatment groups on day 105 of gestation, with 25 sows in each group. The experimental period lasted from day 106 of gestation to day 18 of lactation.Results and conclusionYeast protein supplementation showed no significant effects on most reproductive parameters of different sow hybrids, but reduced backfat loss by 30.5% during lactation (P < 0.05) and demonstrated a numerical reduction in mummification rate of fetuses (P = 0.06). Immunological assessments revealed that LLY sows exhibited 26.8% lower serum IgM concentration than LY sows (P < 0.05), while yeast protein supplementation significantly reduced serum IL-1β levels by 45.6% (P < 0.05) on day 18 of lactation. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed comparable fecal microbial diversity across treatments (P > 0.05), though differences were observed in certain bacterial genera between LY and LLY sows during late gestation and lactation. Yeast protein supplementation enriched beneficial bacteria including Ruminococcaceae_UCG-002, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and Christensenellaceae_R_7_group, while suppressing potentially detrimental bacteria such as Family_XIII_AD3011_group (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the practical feasibility of retaining LLY sows for commercial breeding. Yeast protein supplementation, as a substitute for fishmeal during late gestation and lactation, significantly reduced lactational backfat loss, moderately attenuated inflammatory response, and enhanced gut microbiome homeostasis through selective microbial enrichment in sows.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1579950/fullyeast proteinreproductive performanceimmune responsegut microbiotasow hybrid |
| spellingShingle | Pan Zhou Qi Liu Yang Zhao Yachao Wu Jianbo Shen Tao Duan Long Che Yong Zhang Honglin Yan Yeast protein as a fishmeal substitute: impacts on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two sow hybrids Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology yeast protein reproductive performance immune response gut microbiota sow hybrid |
| title | Yeast protein as a fishmeal substitute: impacts on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two sow hybrids |
| title_full | Yeast protein as a fishmeal substitute: impacts on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two sow hybrids |
| title_fullStr | Yeast protein as a fishmeal substitute: impacts on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two sow hybrids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Yeast protein as a fishmeal substitute: impacts on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two sow hybrids |
| title_short | Yeast protein as a fishmeal substitute: impacts on reproductive performance, immune responses, and gut microbiota in two sow hybrids |
| title_sort | yeast protein as a fishmeal substitute impacts on reproductive performance immune responses and gut microbiota in two sow hybrids |
| topic | yeast protein reproductive performance immune response gut microbiota sow hybrid |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1579950/full |
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