Tryptophan indirectly increases plasma calcium levels, which may improve sow health, and melatonin production, which may improve piglet survival when supplemented during late gestation and lactation. It was hypothesised that tryptophan would increase piglet survival and increase sow circulating melatonin and calcium. Seventy-two multiparous (Landrace x Large White) sows were allocated to either control (0.16% tryptophan; n = 24), low tryptophan (0.42%; n = 24) or high tryptophan (0.56%; n = 24). Piglet viability measures consisted of weights, behaviour, meconium staining, rectal temperature, blood glucose and serum immunoglobulin G concentration. Blood samples collected from sows were analysed for melatonin (two daytime and three night-time samples; n = 17) and calcium (two samples pre- and post-farrowing; n = 14). Both tryptophan treatments increased piglet survival compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Tryptophan had no effect on piglet viability (p > 0.05) and no effect on sow plasma melatonin and calcium concentrations compared with the control group (p > 0.05) except at 21:00 when low tryptophan sows had higher melatonin concentration compared with high tryptophan (p = 0.011). Further research to understand the mediating effects of tryptophan (particularly 5-hydroxytryptophan) on piglet survival, including sow behaviour, is warranted.
Keywords: calcium; melatonin; viability.