Abstract
Abstract The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) supplemented in sows and piglets on performance, serum immunity and intestinal morphology in weaned pigs. A total of 192 healthy piglets [Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire), 21-d weaned, average weight 6.98 ± 0.32 kg] were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 8 replicate pens per treatment (3 barrows and 3 gilts per pen). The dietary treatments are 2 × 2 design, which included a corn-soybean basal diet (CTR) or FSE diet (CTR+100 mg/kg FSE) in sows (maternal) and weaned piglets (offspring) individually. Compared with CTR, maternal FSE supplementation could reduce (P < 0.01) diarrhea score and rate, tend to increase ADG in phase 1 (d 1 to 14) and 2 (d 15 to 28), as well as enhance (P < 0.05) ADG and feed efficiency in overall (d 1 to 28). On d 14, maternal and offspring FSE supplementation have interaction effects on increasing serum SOD, GSH-Px and CAT contents, while maternal FSE supplementation also showed enhanced (P < 0.05) serum GSH-Px content compared with CTR. On d 28, maternal or offspring FSE supplementation showed improved (P < 0.05) concentrations of serum IgG, SOD, T-AOC and GH, decreased (P < 0.05) content of serum MDA, whereas maternal and offspring FSE supplementation have interaction effects on enhancing (P < 0.05) the concentrations of serum IgA, T-AOC and GSH-Px contents compared with CTR. Moreover, maternal FSE supplementation had higher (P < 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio in jejunum, increased (P < 0.05) villus height, and lower (P < 0.05) crypt depth in ileum compared with CTR. In conclusion, maternal FSE supplementation could be an efficient way to improve performance, antioxidant status and immune function in weaned piglets.
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