Primiparous sows are usually associated with poor lactation performance and low weaning weight piglets. Live yeast supplementation have been shown to improve sow health status, milk composition, and growth performance of suckling piglets. However, little is known about the carryover effects of live yeast supplementation during gestation and lactation on primiparous sows and their offspring.

In the present study[1], Live yeast supplementation significantly increased the serum concentrations of IgA and IgG of sows at farrowing and weaning stages, and of piglets at post-weaning.

These results suggest that live yeast addition in the diets of gestating and lactating primiparous sows might improve the maternal and progeny health by increasing the immunity of sows and their offspring.

Tian Xia 1,†, Chenggang Yin 1,†, Marcello Comi 2, Alessandro Agazzi 3 , Vera Perricone 3 , Xilong Li 1 and Xianren Jiang 1, Live Yeast Supplementation in Gestating and Lactating Primiparous Sows Improves Immune Response in Dams and Their Progeny in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9137933/ 

The trial, conducted at the Tianpeng experimental farm, located in Langfang, wanted to investigate the effects of live yeast supplementation during middle–late gestation and the lactation period in primiparous sows on reproductive parameters, lactation performance, and immunity, and also explores the carryover effects in their offspring.

On day 60 of gestation, 16 crossbred primiparous sows were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (with or without supplementation of live yeast) from day 60 of gestation to the end of lactation. The results showed that the addition of live yeast significantly increased the serum IgA and IgG concentrations of sows at farrowing and weaning stages and of piglets on day 14 and 28 post weaning.

The carryover effects of dietary supplementation had effects also on the percentage of diarrhoea incidence during post weaning day 0–14, that in the group treated with live yeast tended to be lower.

In conclusion, live yeast addition during middle–late gestation and the whole lactation period resulted in enhanced immunity of primiparous sows and their offspring, therefore, improving maternal and progeny health.