GAA for reproductive performance of sows
- Post by: Admin
- August 27, 2025
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Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the direct precursor of creatine and is often used as a creatine source in feed. Due to the limitation of creatine synthesis in the body, supplementation of GAA to the diet may lead to higher creatine concentrations in sows’ milk which potentially enhance piglet growth and reduce piglet mortality. In addition, energy efficiency for productivity of sows with high energy requirements might be improved. The aim of this study was to evaluate if GAA supplementation will improve the reproductive performance of sows, the piglet birth weight and weight gain after birth. A total of 93 sows (Topigs TN70) were allocated to two feeding groups (GAA, n = 44 and control, n = 49) based on three parity classes (I: 0, n = 18; II: 1–4, n = 45; III: 5–13, n = 30). GAA was supplemented at 0.10 % to the feeds of the trial group. Sows were observed from gestation (d 0–115) and lactation phase (d 115–143). Body weight (BW), backfat thickness (BFT), body condition score (BCS), farrowing and litter performance as well as birth and weaning weight of the piglets were recorded. In the ANOVA (SAS 9.4), feeding group and parity were considered as fixed effects and individual sow as random effect. Sows’ performance parameters, feed intake, milk yield, total number of piglets born and born alive, litter weight at birth and weaning, and the number of weaned piglets were comparable between the feeding groups. Piglet birth weight in parity class II was higher in the GAA group compared to the control group (LSM ± SE: 1.36 ± 0.07 < kg vs. 1.27 ± 0.07 < kg; P < 0.02). Following up, the weaned piglets in parity class II were heavier in the GAA group (7.18 ± 0.27 < kg vs. 6.76 ± 0.28 < kg; P < 0.05). There was an interaction between the treatment and parity in the birth weight (P < 0.001) and weaned weight of the piglets (P = 0.02). In conclusion, it seemed that the birth weight of piglets increased with the addition of GAA to sows’ diets which likely resulted in increased weaning weight.