Functional feed additive for improving antioxidant function and colostrum quality of sows in perinatal period as well as preparation method and application of functional feed additive

Abstract

The invention discloses a functional feed additive for improving the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of sows in the perinatal period and a preparation method of the functional feed additive. The functional feed additive consists of the following components in parts by weight: 4-8 parts of oenanthe javanica powder and 92-96 parts of a carrier. On the basis of natural active ingredients such as luteolin, rutin and quercetin contained in the oenanthe javanica, a safe and efficient functional feed adding system is constructed, and a green and feasible solution is provided for improving the health and lactation performance of the sows in the perinatal period.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of feed additive technology, specifically to a functional feed additive that improves the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows, as well as its preparation method and application. Technical Background

[0002] Sow reproduction is one of the most critical links in the entire pig farming industry chain, and the reproductive performance of sows directly determines the production efficiency of pig farms. The peripartum period (usually referring to late pregnancy to early lactation) is a critical stage of unstable physiological metabolism in sows. The body faces multiple burdens such as parturition stress and inflammation, resulting in huge energy consumption and making it highly susceptible to oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory responses. Studies have shown that the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory factors (such as IL-6 and TNF-α) in sows increase significantly before and after parturition. If not controlled in time, this can not only lead to prolonged labor and increased stillbirth rates, but also damage mammary gland function, resulting in a decrease in the content of immunoglobulins and nutrients in colostrum, thereby affecting the survival rate and growth potential of piglets.

[0003] Current technologies for postpartum care involve adding antibiotics, chemically synthesized antioxidants, or administering injections. However, antibiotics and chemical drugs pose risks of residue and drug resistance, and simple nutritional supplements cannot fundamentally address immune and metabolic imbalances. With the development of green farming, natural plant extracts are gaining attention due to their multi-target and low-toxicity characteristics. Water celery ( Oenanthe javanica As a plant used in both medicine and food, water celery is rich in bioactive substances such as luteolin, rutin, and quercetin, exhibiting significant heat-clearing, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. While there are some reports of feed additives containing water celery powder in existing technologies, these additives require strict formulation with other dietary fibers or compound microbial strains and are not specifically designed for the peripartum period of sows. Therefore, a functional feed additive product that can comprehensively improve the oxidative stress state of sows, inhibit placental inflammation, and simultaneously enhance colostrum quality is still lacking. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to overcome the problems of poor antioxidant capacity, severe inflammatory response, unstable colostrum quality, and large side effects of postpartum health care drugs in the existing technology, and provides a functional feed additive that improves the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows, as well as its preparation method and application.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution provided by this invention is as follows: The functional feed additive that improves the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows consists of the following components in parts by weight: 4-8 parts water celery powder and 92-96 parts carrier.

[0006] Preferably, the water celery powder is made from fresh water celery, which is washed, dried and pulverized; the drying temperature is 60-80℃, and the water content is ≤10%.

[0007] More preferably, the pulverization is pulverizing to pass through a 60-120 mesh sieve.

[0008] More preferably, the water celery powder contains natural active ingredients such as luteolin, rutin, quercetin, and protocatechuic acid.

[0009] Preferably, the carrier is one or more of corn flour, wheat bran, soybean meal, rice bran, and wheat middlings.

[0010] This invention also provides a method for preparing the above-mentioned functional feed additive that improves the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows, the method comprising the following steps: (1) Select fresh water celery, wash and remove impurities, dry it with hot air at 60-80℃ until the moisture content is ≤10%, crush it and pass it through a 60-120 mesh sieve, preferably 80 mesh, in order to retain the active nutrients in it, and obtain water celery powder; (2) The water celery powder obtained in step (1) is mixed evenly with the carrier in a mixer according to the weight ratio, preferably for 10 minutes, to obtain a functional feed additive that improves the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of sows during the peripartum period.

[0011] The aforementioned functional feed additives that improve the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of sows during the peripartum period can be used to prepare feeds for improving the health and production performance of sows during the peripartum period.

[0012] The improvement of sow peripartum health and reproductive performance includes at least one of the following effects: (a) shortening farrowing time and reducing the proportion of stillbirths and / or mummified fetuses; (b) increasing the total dry matter, defatted dry matter, milk protein percentage, and urea nitrogen content in colostrum; (c) improving the body's redox balance, including increasing serum and placental glutathione (GSH) levels and decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; and (d) downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines in the mother and placenta. IL-6 , IL-1β and TNF-α (e) Regulation of the transcriptional levels of placental immune-related genes.

[0013] Preferably, the application involves adding 4–8 kg of celery powder per ton of ration, preferably 4 kg or 8 kg of celery powder per ton of ration, to the basal diet of sows during the peripartum period. The peripartum period is from day 80 of gestation to day 21 postpartum. Feeding continues from the beginning of the peripartum period until its end to ensure the effective accumulation of active ingredients in the maternal and placental tissues, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and colostrum-improving effects. The basal diet is used for the routine feeding of pregnant or lactating sows, and its ingredients include, but are not limited to, corn, wheat, soybean meal, soybean hulls, wheat bran, vegetable oil, and 4% sow-specific premix, ensuring that the nutritional level of the basal diet meets the nutritional requirements for pregnant or lactating sows as specified in the NRC (2012).

[0014] Experimental results show that the feed additive described in this invention can significantly shorten the farrowing time of sows, reduce the proportion of stillbirths and mummified fetuses, increase the total dry matter, milk protein, and urea nitrogen content in colostrum, and simultaneously increase the level of glutathione (GSH) in sow serum and decrease the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), effectively improving the body's antioxidant and reducing status. Furthermore, this feed additive can also downregulate the levels of... IL-6 , IL-1β , TNF-α It can regulate the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and the transcriptional level of placental immune-related genes, thereby achieving dual regulation of anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. Improved farrowing process and reproductive performance of sows during the peripartum period: Adding the feed additives described in this invention to the peripartum diet can significantly shorten the duration of farrowing, significantly reduce the number of stillbirths, and decrease the proportion of mummified fetuses. This indicates that the invention can reduce the damage to the uterus and placenta caused by inflammation and oxidative stress during farrowing, and improve the success rate of farrowing and the average number of piglets surviving per litter.

[0016] 2. Improved nutritional quality of colostrum: Experimental results show that the feed additive described in this invention can significantly increase the total dry matter, defatted dry matter, and milk protein content of sow colostrum, while also increasing the urea nitrogen content. This indicates that this invention can improve the protein metabolism level of lactating sows, providing newborn piglets with milk of higher nutritional value, thereby enhancing the vitality and growth potential of newborn piglets.

[0017] 3. Improved antioxidant and reducing status of sows: The feed additive described in this invention can significantly increase the level of glutathione (GSH) in sows and placental tissues and reduce the production of malondialdehyde (MDA), thus having a clear effect on improving the redox balance of the body; the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) of some treatment groups remained at a high level, indicating that the flavonoids and polyphenols in water celery can be used as effective natural antioxidants for peripartum sows.

[0018] 4. Inhibition of the release of inflammatory factors in the body: This invention can significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory factors in sow serum and placental tissue during late pregnancy and lactation. IL-6 , IL-1β , TNF-α The presence of pro-inflammatory factors indicates that this feed additive can alleviate common perinatal chronic inflammation, improve the placental microenvironment, and benefit fetal development and delivery. Compared with simple energy / vitamin and mineral additives, this invention achieves multi-pathway regulation of nutrition, immunity, and anti-inflammation.

[0019] 5. Green, safe and efficient utilization of resources: The feed additive described in this invention uses water celery, a plant that is both edible and medicinal, as its main ingredient. It is safe in origin and has low residue risk, making it suitable for promotion and application in the "pig-biogas-vegetable" circular agriculture model. Its preparation process only involves cleaning, drying, crushing and conventional mixing, without the need for organic solvent extraction and other complex procedures. It is low in cost and easy to use on a large scale.

[0020] In summary, this invention, based on the natural active ingredients such as luteolin, rutin, and quercetin contained in water celery, constructs a safe and efficient functional feed additive system that achieves comprehensive regulation of sow farrowing process, milk nutrition, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. It overcomes the shortcomings of existing additives, such as incomplete conditioning, high operational stress, and difficulty in long-term use, and provides a green and feasible solution for improving the health and lactation performance of peripartum sows. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 The results of qPCR on the expression of inflammation-related genes by mixed plant extracts; Figure 2 The results of qPCR on the expression of inflammation-related genes by different plant extracts. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, further descriptions will be provided below in conjunction with specific implementations of the present invention. These embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments disclosed in this invention without creative effort should all fall within the scope of protection of this invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should understand that equivalent substitutions made to the formula ratio, drying temperature, mixing time, sampling time points, etc., without changing the core technical solution of the present invention, should all be considered to fall within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0023] Example 1 A functional feed additive that improves the antioxidant status and colostrum quality of sows during the peripartum period comprises: 4-8 parts water celery powder and 92-96 parts carrier raw materials (one or more of corn flour, wheat bran, soybean meal, rice bran, and wheat middlings). The preparation process of the water celery powder is as follows: fresh water celery is harvested, roots and impurities are removed, and after washing, it is dried in hot air at 60-80℃ until the moisture content is ≤10%. The dried water celery is then pulverized and passed through an 80-mesh sieve. This particle size range is beneficial for subsequent mixing with complete feed. The above formula ensures the effective utilization of the active ingredients in water celery while meeting the processing requirements for mixing, storage, and production line feeding.

[0024] Example 2 The preparation method of the feed additive described in Example 1 includes the following steps: (1) Raw materials: Select fresh water celery that is free from mold and rot, remove impurities, wash and spread it thinly, place it in a hot air drying oven at 60-80℃ and dry it until the moisture content is ≤ 10%, crush it and pass it through an 80-mesh sieve to obtain water celery powder. (2) Mixing: Weigh the water celery powder and carrier raw materials according to the proportions described in Example 1, place them in a horizontal or vertical feed mixer, premix at low speed for 2-3 minutes, and then mix at medium speed for 5-10 minutes to make the water celery powder evenly distributed in the carrier. (3) Finished product: After being mixed evenly, it can be packaged as a functional additive; or it can be directly mixed with complete feed at a rate of 4 kg / ton or 8 kg / ton per ton of sow daily feed to obtain a peripartum sow special daily feed containing the additive of this invention.

[0025] This method involves only cleaning, drying, crushing, and conventional mixing. It is simple to operate, low in cost, and suitable for large-scale feed enterprises to promote and apply.

[0026] Example 3 Peripartum sow feeding program: Add the functional feed additive of this invention to the sow's daily diet at a rate of 4 kg / ton or 8 kg / ton per ton of feed, continuously from day 80 of gestation until day 21 postpartum. During gestation, add the additive daily with the number of feedings (e.g., add the functional additive twice if feeding twice a day). On the day of farrowing, feed according to the farm's standard feeding method. During lactation, feed according to the rate of feed intake. This stage is a high-risk period for oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in sows; continuous supplemental feeding helps achieve effective concentrations of the active ingredients of water celery in serum and placental tissue.

[0027] Example 4: Effects of the feed additive of the present invention on the peripartum reproductive performance of sows 1. Materials and Methods 1.1 Experimental Animals and Grouping One hundred and twenty healthy, large white × landrace crossbred sows with similar parities (3-6), body condition, backfat, and expected farrowing dates were selected and randomly divided into three groups of 40 sows each: control group (CON): fed a basal diet; experimental group 1 (WCP4): supplemented with 4 kg / ton of water celery powder in the basal diet; experimental group 2 (WCP8): supplemented with 8 kg / ton of water celery powder in the basal diet. The experimental period included a 7-day pre-feeding period and a formal experimental period. The formal trial began on day 80 of gestation and continued until farrowing, followed by weaning (21 days) after farrowing.

[0028] 1.2 Ration Formulation The basal diet meets the nutritional requirements of NRC (2012) for pregnant and lactating sows. The ingredients can be found in "Table 1: Basal Diet Formula and Nutritional Levels for Sows". Additives can be directly mixed by measuring the amount per ton of feed. The composition data in Table 1 is consistent with actual production.

[0029] Table 1. Composition and nutritional levels of basal diets for sows

[0030] 1. Premixed feed for gestation and lactation should be added at 4% and 8% of the total daily ration (i.e., 4 kg / t and 8 kg / t) to provide essential vitamins, trace elements and some calcium and phosphorus, ensuring that the calcium (0.86%), total phosphorus (0.57%), total phosphorus (0.66%) and total phosphorus (0.38%) in the diet meet the nutritional requirements of sows.

[0031] 2. The nutrient level is calculated based on the digestible energy (DE), which is calculated according to the energy values ​​of each ingredient in the feed formulation software.

[0032] 3. Nutritional levels are determined based on laboratory analysis or calculations from feed composition databases, representing the nutritional content of the actual basal diet.

[0033] 1.3 Measurement Indicators and Methods (1) Production performance: The duration of labor, total number of piglets, number of live piglets, number of stillborn piglets, number of mummified piglets, initial litter weight and initial individual weight were recorded. The specific results are shown in Table 2.

[0034] Table 2. Effects of dietary supplementation with water celery powder on reproductive performance of sows

[0035] The numerical representations of different letter markers (ab) within the same row are significantly different. P < 0.05), the same or no shoulder letter indicates no significant difference (P > 0.05), the difference is highly significant ( P < 0.01). SEM, standard error. N = 10. CON group, no water celery powder added; 4 kg / t WCP group, 4 kg / t water celery powder added to feed; 8 kg / t WCP group, 8 kg / t water celery powder added to feed.

[0036] (2) Colostrum sampling: 10 mL of colostrum was collected within 2 hours after delivery and stored at -20℃. The total dry matter, defatted dry matter, milk protein rate, milk fat rate, lactose rate, blood urea nitrogen and somatic cell count were measured using a milk component analyzer. The results are shown in Table 3.

[0037] Table 3. Effects of water celery powder on the composition and total energy of colostrum in sows.

[0038] The numerical representations of different letter markers (ab) within the same row are significantly different. P < 0.05), the same or no shoulder letter indicates no significant difference ( P > 0.05), the difference is highly significant ( P < 0.01). SEM, standard error. N = 10. CON group, no water celery powder added; 4 kg / t WCP group, 4 kg / t water celery powder added to feed; 8 kg / t WCP group, 8 kg / t water celery powder added to feed.

[0039] 1.4 Statistical Analysis Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 PROC GLM module for one-way ANOVA; multiple comparison analysis was performed using Duncan module. Results were presented in a three-line table, including the mean and standard error of the mean (SEM) for each indicator in the CON, WCP4, and WCP8 groups. Final results... P < 0.01 indicates a highly significant difference. P < 0.05 indicates a significant difference. The graph was drawn using GraphPad Prism 10.0, and * indicates a significant difference. P < 0.05), ** indicates a highly significant difference (**). P < 0.01), *** indicates extremely high significance ( P < 0.001).

[0040] 2 Results 2.1 Impact on the delivery process and fetal survival Compared with the control group, both WCP4 and WCP8 significantly shortened the duration of farrowing in sows. P= 0.041), the number of stillbirths in the WCP4 group was significantly reduced, and the number of mummified fetuses in the WCP8 group was the lowest, indicating that the functional feed additive of the present invention can improve peripartum inflammatory damage and uterine contraction. Specific values ​​are shown in "Table 2 Effect of Dietary Addition of Water Celery Powder on Sow Reproductive Performance".

[0041] 2.2 Effects on the nutritional composition of colostrum Adding water celery powder to the diet can significantly increase the total dry matter and defatted dry matter content of colostrum. P < 0.01), milk protein percentage increased significantly ( P = 0.012), the urea nitrogen content increased significantly ( P The difference between the values ​​of <0.01 indicates that this invention can improve the quality of colostrum in sows during the peripartum period; although the differences in milk fat percentage and lactose percentage were not significant, they showed an upward trend. Relevant data are shown in "Table 3 Effect of Dietary Addition of Watercress Powder on Sow Colostrum Composition".

[0042] Example 5: Effects of the feed additive of the present invention on antioxidant and inflammatory factors in sows 1. Materials and Methods Based on Experiment 1, jugular vein blood was collected from sows on day 110 of gestation and day 21 of lactation, and serum was separated. Placental tissue was collected promptly after farrowing, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -80°C. MDA, GSH, T-AOC, and SOD were detected in the serum, and MDA, GSH, T-AOC, and SOD were detected in the placenta, using ELISA. IL-6 , IL-1β , TNF-α The results are shown in Table 4.

[0043] Table 4. Effects of peripartum water celery powder supplementation on serum and placental antioxidant parameters in sows.

[0044] The numerical representations of different letter markers (ab) within the same row are significantly different. P < 0.05), the same or no shoulder letter indicates no significant difference ( P > 0.05), the difference is highly significant ( P < 0.01). SEM, standard error. N = 10. CON group, no water celery powder added; 4 kg / t WCP group, 4 kg / t water celery powder added to feed; 8 kg / t WCP group, 8 kg / t water celery powder added to feed.

[0045] 2 Results (1) At 110 days of gestation, the serum GSH level in the WCP8 group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P = 0.01), indicating that high levels of water celery powder can enhance the body's glutathione system; (2) At 21 days of lactation, the SOD activity in the WCP4 group decreased slightly but remained within the physiological range, while the T-AOC in the WCP8 group decreased compared to the control group. P = 0.017), indicating that 4 kg / ton or 8 kg / ton can be selected as the addition gradient for different scenarios as needed later; (3) In placental tissue, the GSH content was significantly increased in the WCP4 and WCP8 groups ( P = 0.035), IL-6 , IL-1β , TNF-α All significantly decrease ( P < 0.01), indicating that the present invention can improve the local inflammatory microenvironment of the placenta.

[0046] Example 6: Cellular and Molecular Verification of the Active Ingredients in the Feed Additive of the Present Invention To verify the anti-inflammatory effects of the main flavonoids and polyphenols in water celery, mouse RAW264.7 macrophages or porcine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were used as models. Cells were placed under M1 polarization conditions (LPS + IFN-γ stimulation), and luteolin, rutin, quercetin, and protocatechuic acid from water celery extract were added to a final concentration of 10 μM. After culturing for 6–12 h, the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD86 and inflammatory factors were detected. IL-6 , IL-1β , iNOS mRNA expression.

[0047] The results showed that most extracts could inhibit CD86 to varying degrees. + M1 polarization was most significantly inhibited by luteolin; IL-6, IL-1β and iNOS The mRNA expression of all samples showed a decreasing trend, indicating that the antioxidant effect of the functional feed additive of this invention is related to the regulation of macrophage immune metabolism by the active ingredients of water celery (see details). Figure 1 , Figure 2 ).

[0048] Conclusion In summary, this invention, by adding 4 kg / ton or 8 kg / ton of water celery powder to the sow's peripartum diet, can simultaneously achieve the following: improve the sow's farrowing process, shorten the farrowing time, and reduce stillbirths and mummified fetuses; improve the nutritional level of colostrum, especially the total dry matter and milk protein content of colostrum; enhance the antioxidant capacity of the sow and placenta, increase GSH, and reduce MDA; and inhibit common peripartum complications. IL-6 ,IL-1β , TNF-α It contains inflammatory factors and has the advantages of being green, safe, and widely available, making it suitable for application in integrated farming models to achieve efficient resource utilization.

Claims

1. A functional feed additive for improving the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows, characterized in that, The functional feed additive that improves the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows consists of the following components in parts by weight: 4-8 parts water celery powder and 92-96 parts carrier.

2. The functional feed additive for improving the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water celery powder is made from fresh water celery, which is washed, dried and pulverized; the drying temperature is 60-80℃, and the water content is ≤10%.

3. The functional feed additive for improving the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The pulverization refers to pulverizing to pass through a 60-120 mesh sieve.

4. The functional feed additive for improving the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The water celery powder contains luteolin, rutin, quercetin, and protocatechuic acid.

5. The functional feed additive for improving the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The carrier is one or more of the following: corn flour, wheat bran, soybean meal, rice bran, and wheat middlings.

6. The method for preparing the functional feed additive for improving the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: (1) Select fresh water celery, wash and remove impurities, dry it with hot air at 60-80℃ until the moisture content is ≤10%, crush it and pass it through a 60-120 mesh sieve to obtain water celery powder; (2) Mix the water celery powder obtained in step (1) with the carrier in a mixer according to the weight ratio to obtain a functional feed additive that improves the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of sows during the peripartum period.

7. The use of the functional feed additive as described in any one of claims 1 to 5 for improving the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows in the preparation of feed for improving the health status and production performance of sows during the peripartum period.

8. The application as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The improvement of sow peripartum health and reproductive performance includes at least one of the following effects: (a) shortening farrowing time and reducing the proportion of stillbirths and / or mummified fetuses; (b) increasing the total dry matter, defatted dry matter, milk protein percentage, and urea nitrogen content in colostrum; (c) improving the body's redox balance, including increasing serum and placental glutathione (GSH) levels and decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; and (d) downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines in the mother and placenta. IL-6 , IL-1β and TNF-α (e) Regulation of the transcriptional levels of placental immune-related genes.

9. The application as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The application is to add 4-8 kg of celery powder per ton of feed to the sow's peripartum diet; the peripartum period is from the 80th day of gestation to the 21st day postpartum.

10. A celery powder for preparing a functional feed additive to improve the antioxidant function and colostrum quality of peripartum sows, characterized in that, The water celery powder is made from fresh water celery, which is washed, dried and pulverized to pass through a 60-120 mesh sieve; the drying temperature is 60-80℃, and the water content is dried to ≤10%; the water celery powder contains luteolin, rutin, quercetin and protocatechuic acid.

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