Animal health and reproductive parameters
All animals were healthy throughout the sampling period.
No significant group differences were observed for the
measured reproductive parameters, however, sows of the
inulin group had a numerically higher number of piglets
per litter compared to the control group (P > 0.05). The
total number of piglets per litter was 10.2 in the control
group and 11.3 in the inulin group (P > 0.05). The number
of piglets which were born alive and stillborn was 9.18 and
1.00 in the control group and 10.8 and 0.50 in the inulin
group (P > 0.05). In addition, numerically more piglets
were weaned in the inulin group compared to the control
group, with 9.60 and 8.00 piglets per litter (P > 0.05).