title: Transfer ofβ-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate from sows to their offspring and its impact on muscle fiber type transformation and performance in pigs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies suggested that supplementation of lactating sows withβ-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) could improve the performance of weaning pigs, but there were little information in the muscle fiber type transformation of the offspring and the subsequent performance in pigs from weaning through finishing in response to maternal HMB consumption. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing lactating sows with HMB on skeletal muscle fiber type transformation and growth of the offspring during d 28 and 180 after birth. A total of 20 sows according to their body weight were divided into the control (CON,n= 10) or HMB groups (HMB,n= 10). Sows in the HMB group were supplemented withβ-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate calcium (HMB-Ca) 2 g /kg feed during d 1 to 27 of lactation. After weaning, 48 mixed sex piglets were blocked by sow treatment and fed standard diets for post-weaning, growing, finishing periods. Growth performance was recorded during d 28 to 180 after birth. Pigs were slaughtered on d 28 (n= 6/treatment) and 180 (n= 6/treatment) postnatal, and the longissimus dorsi (LD) was collected, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HMB-fed sows during lactation showed increased HMB concentration (P< 0.05) in milk and LD of weaning piglets (P< 0.05). In addition, offsprings in HMB group had a higher finishing BW and lean percentage than did pigs in CON group (P< 0.05), meanwhile, compared with pigs from sows fed the CON diet, pigs from sows fed HMB diet showed higher type II muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), elevated myosin heavy chain (MyHC)IIbandSox6mRNA, and fast-MyHC protein levels in LD (P< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HMB supplemented to sow diets throughout lactation increases the levels of HMB in maternal milk and skeletal muscle of pigs during d 28 after birth and promotes subsequent performance of pigs between d 28 and 180 of age by enhancing glycolytic muscle fiber transformation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiatao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Caimei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shengyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lianqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhengfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: De
authors.lastname: Wu
keywords: Lactating sow; Muscle fiber; Offspring; Performance; β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate