All Issue

2026 Vol.53, Issue 1 Preview Page

Animal

Effects of L-phenylalanine supplementation on hyperprolific sow and litter performance during lactation
Elick Njoroge Kinara1
,
Abdolreza Hosseindoust1
,
Jun Young Mun1
,
Habeeb Tajudeen1
,
Sang Hun Ha1
,
Priscilla Neves Silvestre1
,
Jin Soo Kim1*
1Department of Animal Industry Convergence, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
*Corresponding Author
1 March 2026. pp. 11-20
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

This study sought to determine the effect of L-phenylalanine (Phe) on reproductive traits on high prolific sows and their litters. The experiment was conducted using 36 crossbred sows (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire; body weight [BW] 225.22 ± 17.77 kg; parity 3; gestation length of 114 - 116 days). The sows were grouped into two categories based on their litter size: group 1 (18 sows with lower litter size: 11 - 15 piglets per sow) and group 2 (18 sows with higher litter size: 16 - 20 piglets per sow). The dietary groups consisted of: (1) corn-soybean meal basal diets (CN); (2) CN + 0.2% Phe (CP2); (3) CN + 0.4% Phe (CP4). Each dietary group was replicated across twelve stalls, with 6 sows in each category. The dietary intervention was administered from the 90th day of gestation until the 21st day of lactation. Results revealed that supplementing 0.2% or 0.4% Phe did not affect BW, average daily feed intake, estrus interval, interaction between sow and Phe, back fat thickness, litter size, piglet survivability, milk composition, or thyroxine level, regardless of litter size. Sows with large litter size experienced greater BW loss with higher initial and weaned litters (p < 0.05). In contrast, piglets from sows with smaller litters exhibited higher (p < 0.05) weights at both birth and weaning. In conclusion, Phe was not able to specifically enhance the reproductive qualities or growth performance of lactating sows.

Keywords
dopamine
litter size
multiparous sows
thyroxine
tyrosine
References
1

Ahmed I. 2009. Dietary total aromatic amino acid requirement and tyrosine replacement value for phenylalanine in Indian major carp: Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) fingerlings. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 25:719-727.

10.1111/j.1439-0426.2009.01284.x
2

Daza A, Riopérez J, Centeno C. 2004. Changes in the composition of sows milk between days 5 to 26 of lactation. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 2:333-336.

10.5424/sjar/2004023-102
3

Doepel L, Hewage II, Lapierre H. 2016. Milk protein yield and mammary metabolism are affected by phenylalanine deficiency but not by threonine or tryptophan deficiency. Journal of Dairy Science 99:3144-3156.

10.3168/jds.2015-10320
4

Elkin RG. 1981. Metabolic interrelationships of phenylalanine and tyrosine in chicks and rats fed crystalline amino acid diets. Ph.D. dissertation, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, USA.

5

Fazio E, Bionda A, Chiofalo V, Crepaldi P, Lopreiato V, Medica P, Liotta L. 2022. Adaptive responses of thyroid hormones, insulin, and glucose during pregnancy and lactation in dairy cows. Animals 12:1395.

10.3390/ani1211139535681859PMC9179583
6

Gauthier R, Largouët C, Gaillard C, Cloutier L, Guay F, Dourmad JY. 2019. Dynamic modeling of nutrient use and individual requirements of lactating sows. Journal of Animal Science 97:2822-2836.

10.1093/jas/skz16731115459PMC6606508
7

Guan X, Bequette BJ, Ku PK, Tempelman RJ, Trottier NL. 2004. The amino acid need for milk synthesis is defined by the maximal uptake of plasma amino acids by porcine mammary glands. The Journal of Nutrition 134:2182-2190.

10.1093/jn/134.9.2182
8

Horne J, Jennings IG, Teh T, Gooley PR, Kobe B. 2002. Structural characterization of the N-terminal autoregulatory sequence of phenylalanine hydroxylase. Protein Science 11:2041-2047.

10.1110/ps.456010212142458PMC2373677
9

Hou Y, Yin Y, Wu G. 2015. Dietary essentiality of “nutritionally non-essential amino acids” for animals and humans. Experimental Biology and Medicine 240:997-1007.

10.1177/153537021558791326041391PMC4935284
10

Hurley WL. 2015. Composition of sow colostrum and milk. In: The Gestating and Lactating Sow edited by Farmer C. pp. 193-229. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Netherlands.

10.3920/9789086868032_010
11

Hussain T, Tan B, Murtaza G, Metwally E, Yang H, Kalhoro MS, Kalhoro DH, Chughtai MI, Yin Y. 2020. Role of dietary amino acids and nutrient sensing system in pregnancy associated disorders. Frontiers in Pharmacology 11:586979.

10.3389/fphar.2020.58697933414718PMC7783402
12

Imaz JA, García S, González LA. 2022. The metabolomics profile of growth rate in grazing beef cattle. Scientific Reports 12:2554.

10.1038/s41598-022-06592-y35169253PMC8847617
13

Jing L, Zhang Q. 2022. Intrathyroidal feedforward and feedback network regulating thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion. Frontiers in Endocrinology 13:992883.

10.3389/fendo.2022.99288336187113PMC9519864
14

Kim J, Lee JE, Lee JS, Park JS, Moon JO, Lee HG. 2020. Phenylalanine and valine differentially stimulate milk protein synthetic and energy-mediated pathway in immortalized bovine mammary epithelial cells. Journal of Animal Science and Technology 62:263-275.

10.5187/jast.2020.62.2.26332292933PMC7142277
15

Kim SW, Weaver AC, Shen YB, Zhao Y. 2013. Improving efficiency of sow productivity: Nutrition and health. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 4:26.

10.1186/2049-1891-4-2623885840PMC3733949
16

Le Dividich J, Rooke JA, Herpin P. 2005. Nutritional and immunological importance of colostrum for the new-born pig. Journal of Agricultural Science 143:469-485.

10.1017/S0021859605005642
17

Lellis WA, Speer VC. 1987. Phenylalanine requirement of the lactating sow. Journal of Animal Science 65:1006-1012.

10.2527/jas1987.6541006x
18

Liu H, Yi R, Bi Y, Li J, Li X, Xu S, Bao J. 2018. Physiology, immunity, stereotyped behavior, and production performance of the lactating sows in the enriched environment. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine 16:45-52.

19

Luise D, Correa F, Stefanelli C, Simongiovanni A, Chalvon-Demersay T, Zini M, Fusco L, Bosi P, Trevisi P. 2023. Productive and physiological implications of top-dress addition of branched-chain amino acids and arginine on lactating sows and offspring. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 14:40.

10.1186/s40104-022-00819-836879289PMC9990366
20

Milligan BN, Fraser D, Kramer DL. 2002. Within-litter birth weight variation in the domestic pig and its relation to pre-weaning survival, weight gain, and variation in weaning weights. Livestock Production Science 76:181-191.

10.1016/S0301-6226(02)00012-X
21

NRC (National Research Council). 2012. Nutrient Requirements of Swine (11th Revised). The National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

22

Oh S, Hosseindoust A, Ha S, Moturi J, Mun J, Tajudeen H, Kim J. 2021. Dietary fiber for gestating sows during heat stress: Effects on reproductive performance and stress level. Research Square [preprint]. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-952458/v1

10.21203/rs.3.rs-952458/v1
23

Pasternak JA, MacPhee DJ, Harding JCS. 2020. Maternal and fetal thyroid dysfunction following porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus2 infection. Veterinary Research 51:47.

10.1186/s13567-020-00772-232228691PMC7106657
24

Quiniou N, Dagorn J, Gaudré D. 2002. Variation of piglets’ birth weight and consequences on subsequent performance. Livestock Production Science 78:63-70.

10.1016/S0301-6226(02)00181-1
25

Rezaei R, Wang W, Wu Z, Dai Z, Wang J, Wu G. 2013. Biochemical and physiological bases for utilization of dietary amino acids by young pigs. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 4:7.

10.1186/2049-1891-4-723445937PMC3599606
26

Rutherford KMD, Baxter EM, D’Eath RB, Turner SP, Arnott G, Roehe R, Ask B, Sandoe P, Moustsen VA, Thorup F, et al. 2013. The welfare implications of large litter size in the domestic pig I: Biological factors. Animal Welfare 22:199-218.

10.7120/09627286.22.2.199
27

SAS. 2012. SAS User’s Guide: Statistics. Ver. 9.4. Cary, NC: SAS Institute, Inc.

28

Schmitt O, Baxter EM, Lawlor PG, Boyle LA, O’Driscoll K. 2019. A single dose of fat-based energy supplement to light birth weight pigs shortly after birth does not increase their survival and growth. Animals 9:227.

10.3390/ani905022731075904PMC6562461
29

Seoane S, De Palo P, Lorenzo JM, Maggiolino A, González P, Pérez-Ciria L, Latorre MA. 2020. Effect of increasing dietary aminoacid concentration in late gestation on body condition and reproductive performance of hyperprolific sows. Animals 10:99.

10.3390/ani1001009931936224PMC7022750
30

Shebl N, El-Jaafary S, Saeed AA, Elkafrawy P, El-Sayed A, Shamma S, Elnemr R, Mekky J, Mohamed LA, Kittaneh O, et al. 2024. Metabolomic profiling reveals altered phenylalanine metabolism in Parkinson’s disease in an Egyptian cohort. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences 11:1341950.

10.3389/fmolb.2024.134195038516193PMC10955577
31

Strathe AV, Bruun TS, Tauson AH, Theil PK, Hansen CF. 2020. Increased dietary protein for lactating sows affects body composition, blood metabolites and milk production. Animal 14:285-294.

10.1017/S1751731119001678
32

Theil PK, Nielsen MO, Sørensen MT, Lauridsen C. 2012. Lactation, milk and suckling. In Nutritional Physiology of Pigs: With Emphasis on Danish Production Conditions edited by Knudsen KEB, Kjeldsen NJ, Poulsen HD, Jensen BB. pp. 1-49. Videncenter for Svineproduktion, Denmark.

33

Tokach MD, Menegat MB, Gourley KM, Goodband RD. 2019. Nutrient requirements of the modern high-producing lactating sow, with an emphasis on amino acid requirements. Animal 13:2967-2977.

10.1017/S1751731119001253
34

Wellington MO, Hulshof TG, Resink JW, Ernst K, Balemans A, Page GI. 2023. The effect of supplementation of essential amino acid combinations in a low crude protein diet on growth performance in weanling pigs. Translational Animal Science 7:txad008.

10.1093/tas/txad00836777099PMC9909505
35

Zhou L, Tang Q, Iqbal MW, Xia Z, Huang F, Li L, Liang M, Lin B, Qin G, Zou C. 2018. A comparison of milk protein, fat, lactose, total solids and amino acid profiles of three different buffalo breeds in Guangxi, China. Italian Journal of Animal Science 17:873-878.

10.1080/1828051X.2018.1443288
Information
  • Publisher :Institute of Agricultural Science, Chungnam National University
  • Publisher(Ko) :충남대학교 농업과학연구소
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
  • Journal Title(Ko) :농업과학연구
  • Volume : 53
  • No :1
  • Pages :11-20
  • Received Date : 2025-12-03
  • Revised Date : 2026-01-09
  • Accepted Date : 2026-01-14
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.530102
Journal Informaiton Korean Journal of Agricultural Science Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref funder-registry
  • KISTI Current Status
  • KISTI Cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close