The study evaluated the production index of sows fed diets containing a blend of essential oils. A total of 250 sows of parturition orders (PO) between one to eight, with two experimental diets during gestation and in the lactation (control diet with 200ppm and essential oils). The experimental design was a randomized blocks in a 2x2 factorial arrangement (treatments during pregnancy and lactation) with the sows and piglets as experimental unit. The average live weight of piglets at weaning and number of weaned were 8.0% and 3.8% higher (P<0.05), respectively for piglets from mothers supplemented with essential oils. The body temperature of females of the control and PO five, evaluated in the pre-parturition and in the parturition, was 4.4% and 3.5% higher (P<0.05) to essential oils, respectively. The addition of essential oils in the diet of sows in late pregnancy and early lactation increased the number of piglets weaned and litter weight. Females supplemented with essential oils, did not show temperature and clinical signs consistent with disgalactia.
Origanum vulgare; parturition order; Rosmarinus officinalis labiatae; sows
