Effects of multistrain probiotic supplementation on sows’ emotional and cognitive states and progeny welfare

Abstract

Feeding technologies, such as probiotics, are widely used in the animal industry for purposes beyond nutritional needs. Probiotic bacteria have been shown to have multiple effects on sow physiology during gestation and lactation, making them a subject of great interest when it comes to animal behavior and welfare. In this study, the use of probiotics mitigated the apathetic state of gestating sows housed in individual cages, in addition to reducing fear and aversion towards humans during interaction tests. The influence was also observed in the progeny, as piglets from sows supplemented with probiotics were less resistant in fear assessments, which may indicate lower stress levels. The findings indicate that the use of probiotics during gestation and lactation can be used as a tool in enhancing animal welfare.