Abstract
Simple SummaryThe health of piglets is an important issue in pig production. Nutritional support for intestinal development is a significant component of piglet care, and amino acids are essential for intestinal growth and development. For suckling piglets, the sows’ milk and the maternal environment shape the structure and support the function of the intestinal tract. The composition of milk affects intestinal morphology and the digestive, absorption and barrier function. After weaning, the optimal nutritional strategies of their diet are necessary to guarantee the piglets’ intestinal development and growth performance. Amino acids are the most important ingredient in piglet diets. The aim of this review is to collect and analyze the relationship between amino acid nutrition and intestinal development of piglets, and elucidate the impacts on piglet health.The amino acids and other components of diet provide nourishment for piglet intestinal development and maturation. However, early-weaned piglets struggle with tremendous stress, impairing normal intestinal health and leading to intestinal dysfunction and even death. The high prevalence worldwide of post-weaning diarrhoea syndrome (PWDS) in piglets has led to much interest in understanding the important role of nutrients in the establishment and maintenance of a functional intestinal tract. In particular, the impacts of amino acids on these functions must be considered. Amino acid levels greatly influence intestinal development in weaning piglets. The lack of amino acids can cause marked structural and functional changes in the intestine. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the functions of amino acids is necessary to optimize amino acid requirements of the developing intestinal tract to maximize piglet health and growth performance. This review summarizes the role of specific amino acids (arginine, glutamate, threonine, sulphur-containing amino acids (SCAAs), and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)) that have been proven to be beneficial for the intestinal health of weaned piglets.
Highlights
Intestinal development disorder is one of the most important causes of piglet morbidity and mortality during the immediate post-weaning period [1]
The objective of this paper is to review the contributions of various amino acids in support of optimal intestinal development for piglet health, especially for weaned piglets
The optimal balance between amino acids in diet and circulation is essential for systemic homeostasis and adequate amino acid intake is especially important for the intestinal physiology of weaned piglets [20,28]
Summary
Intestinal development disorder is one of the most important causes of piglet morbidity and mortality during the immediate post-weaning period [1]. Intestinal epithelial cells and the immune system are both of vital importance for digestion, absorption, barrier function and homeostasis in the body. Animals 2019, 9, 302 decreased digestive, absorptive, barrier and immune capacities [6] These functions have a direct effect on intestinal health in piglet husbandry practices. The development of normal intestinal structure and function is a vitally important determinant of piglet health, and subsequently in reducing incidences of diarrhoea and increasing growth performance. The influence of dietary components on the developing intestinal tract is an important area of much research emphasis to protect piglet health and improve growth performance [15,16,17]. The objective of this paper is to review the contributions of various amino acids in support of optimal intestinal development for piglet health, especially for weaned piglets
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