Effects of β-hydroxy β-methyl butyrate supplementation to sows in late gestation on absorption and hepatic metabolism of glucose and amino acids during transition

A multicatheter sow model was established to study the effects of dietary β-hydroxy β-methyl butyrate (HMB) supplementation on net portal fl ux (NPF) and net hepatic fl ux (NHF) of HMB, glucose, and the AA Ala, Gly, Ile, Leu, Phe, Tyr, and Val. Eight second parity sows were fi tted with permanent indwelling catheters in an artery and in the portal, hepatic, and mesenteric veins. Eight hourly sets of blood samples were taken starting 30 min before the morning meal on day -3 and day 3 relative to parturition. Four control (CON) sows were fed a standard lactation diet from day -15 and throughout the experiment, and 4 HMB sows were fed the control diet supplemented with 15 mg Ca(HMB) 2 /kg BW mixed in one third of the morning meal from day -10 until parturition. Net portal fl ux of HMB was affected by treatment (Trt; P 0.10), except for Phe (P < 0.05). In conclusion, HMB reduced the variation in net portal fl ux of glucose and AA during 8 h of blood sampling and suggest that the improved sow productivity observed by others may be due to a more uniform nutrient absorption pattern into portal blood.