LAUSR

Nutrient ingestion during the prenatal and early-postnatal periods has profound effects on the developing brain and serves to shape the behaviors of young pigs. The pig is a versatile animal model for research in both the agriculture and human clinical realms, largely based on similarities in patterns of structural brain development between these species. Validated and sensitive neuroimaging techniques and assays for testing specific behaviors exist for the pig. While these readouts refer to cognitive performance indicators in the human context, the same behavioral measurements may refer to welfare states in animal agriculture. Recent nutrition studies, including those involving interactions with the intestinal microbiota, confirm the importance of early-life ingestion of iron, choline, milk-derived components, and even non-digestible fiber sources in shaping pig brain development and behaviors. Importantly, dietary patterns of the young pig can either support or hinder brain development and associated behaviors relative to age-matched controls. There are many advantages to translating evidence from pediatric nutrition research to animal agriculture by integrating outcomes related to the microbiota, gut-brain axis, and processes associated with cognitive function and brain development. Thus, studying the relationship between nutrition and neurodevelopment should be considered as an essential part of swine production.