236 Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Mixed Ulva Spp. and Solieria Chordalis on Intestinal Health and Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs

Abstract

Abstract This study was to evaluate the effects of mixed macroalgae on enhancing growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs. Nursery pigs (n = 24; 12 barrows and 12 gilts with 6.5 ± 0.2 kg BW) were allotted using a randomized complete block design based on the randomized block design with sex and initial BW as blocks. A basal diet was supplemented with mixed macroalgae (Ulva spp. and Solieria chordalis) at 0.0 and 0.2%. All pigs were fed experimental diets for 3 phases (Phase 1: 7 d, phase 2: 14 d, and phase 3: 14 d). Feed intake and BW were recorded at the end of each phase. All pigs were euthanized on d 35 to collect intestinal samples. Jejunal tissues were collected to evaluate intestinal morphology and crypt cell proliferation. Jejunal mucosa was collected to measure immune response and oxidative stress markers. Data were analyzed using Mixed procedure of SAS. Pigs fed a diet with mixed macroalgae did not affect growth performance, intestinal morphology, and crypt cell proliferation compared with pigs fed with the control diet. Pigs fed a diet with mixed macroalgae had less (P < 0.05) tumor necrosis factor-alpha and protein carbonyl than pigs fed with the control diet. Pigs fed a diet with mixed macroalgae tended to have lless (P = 0.064) interleukin 8 than pigs fed with the control diet. In conclusion, mixed macroalgae could be supplemented in nursery diets to enhance intestinal health by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress markers, whereas growth performance was not affected by mixed macroalgae supplementation.