Lipidome profiles of postnatal day 2 vaginal swabs reflect fat composition of gilt’s postnatal diet

KaLynn Harlow; Christina R. Ferreira; Tiago J.P. Sobreira; Theresa Casey; Kara Stewart

Within litter, each gilt was randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups and ear tagged for 105 identification. The four treatment groups were: suckled (S; n=8); suckled plus fat-supplement 106 (SF; n=5); bottle-fed with milk-replacer (B; n=8), and; bottle-fed milk replacer plus fat-107 supplement (BF; n=7). Body weights were recorded at birth and 48 h. All gilts were administered 108 a 2 ml dose of Camas experimental antibody product (Camas Incorporated; Le Center, MN) 109 using Pump Itâ„¢ Automatic Delivery System (Genesis Industries, Inc.) at birth, and at 3 h and 9 110 h after the first dose. Gilts in B and BF treatment groups were taken to a separate temperature-controlled nursery, 113 where they were placed in holding cages in groups of 2-3 piglets. Birthrightâ„¢ milk replacer 114 (Ralco Nutrition, Inc.) was mixed using the recommended concentration for orphaned piglets, . CC-BY 4.0 International license is made available under a The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not peer-reviewed) is the author/funder. It . https://doi.org/10.1101/593392 doi: bioRxiv preprint 115 which was 1:2 replacer to tap water. Reconstituted milk replacer was stored in a refrigerator and 116 warmed to room temperature prior to feedings. Piglets were fed using Evenflo Classic slow-flow 117 0-3-month infant bottles (Evenflo Feeding, Inc.) approximately every 2 h, with a minimum of 5 118 ml fed per time point. In the event piglets did not consume at least 30 ml after two consecutive 119 feedings, 15 ml of milk replacer was oral gavage-fed using a 30 ml syringe and Kendallâ„¢ 4.7 120 mm x 41 cm feeding tube (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN). The fat supplement was administered 121 at the back of the throat in 3 ml room-temperature doses using a 5 ml syringe at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 122 and 36 h after birth. Swallowing was observed to ensure the supplement was delivered.