Bem-estar e qualidade espermática de reprodutores suínos suplementados com fibra insolúvel parcialmente fermentável

Abstract

Male breeding pigs play a strategic role in pig farming, being crucial to the herd's reproductive efficiency and genetic advancement. Despite this, this category receives less scientific attention than females and slaughter animals, particularly regarding nutrition and welfare, which directly influence sperm quality. This dissertation sought to evaluate the effects of fiber supplementation in the diets of breeding pigs on health, behavior, and reproductive parameters. It is structured in two chapters. The first chapter presents a review of the role of fiber in swine nutrition, exploring concepts, sources, properties, and mechanisms of action. Initially viewed as an antinutrient, fiber has come to be recognized as a promoter of intestinal integrity, favoring the microbiota through the production of short-chain fatty acids and modulating hormones and behaviors linked to welfare. The differences between soluble and insoluble fiber are highlighted, with an emphasis on their effects on metabolism, feeding behavior, and reproductive performance, as well as their potential as a nutritional enrichment strategy. The second chapter reports the experimental results. Supplementation did not result in significant improvements in seminal quality, health, or behavior, but it did promote a reduction in feed consumption, suggesting a greater feeling of satiety. This finding points to fiber as a useful tool in dietary management, capable of contributing to well-being without compromising reproductive function. Although the direct effects were limited, the study reinforces the importance of investigating different types and levels of fiber throughout the reproductive lifespan and in interaction with other nutrients.