Citrus Extract Improves the Absorption and Utilization of Nitrogen and Gut Health of Piglets.

Yiyan Cui,Zhimei Tian,Gang Wang,Weidong Chen,Xianyong Ma

doi:10.3390/ani10010112

Abstract

Simple SummaryWeaning can cause weaning stress and reduce the growth performance of piglets. Citrus extract has strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which can improve animal health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of citrus extract as a substitute for antibiotics in piglet diets. The results of this study indicate that citrus extract increased the concentrations of plasma essential amino acids, improved intestinal morphology and digestive enzymes activity.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of citrus extract (CE) on plasma free amino acids, intestinal morphology and enzymes activity, fecal nitrogen and phosphorus emissions in piglets. The experiment was performed on 144 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) divided into three groups. Control (CON), fed a basic diet; Antibiotic (ANTI), fed a basic diet supplemented with 75 g/t chlortetracycline; Citrus extract (CE), fed a basic diet supplemented with 300 mL/t CE. The albumin content of the CE group was significantly higher than the CON group. Compared with the CON and ANTI groups, the CE group had increased concentrations of plasma total essential amino acids and threonine. Compared with the CON group, CE increased the α-aminoadipic acid concentration, while compared with ANTI group, it increased the 3-methylhistidine concentration. Compared with the CON group, the crypt depth of duodenum, jejunum and ileum decreased, and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth of ileum increased in the ANTI and CE groups. CE increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase and lipase in duodenum, and the activity of alkaline phosphatase and trypsin in jejunum. In brief, CE improved the absorption and utilization of nitrogen, intestinal morphology and digestive enzymes activity.

Highlights

Weaning changes the physiology of animals and can lead to intestinal dysfunction [1].While diarrhea is not the only symptom of intestinal dysfunction after weaning, digestive functions are the most impacted by weaning
There are many studies that have suggest that plant extracts have a positive effect on the growth performance of piglets, such as extract from Nigella sativa L. and fenugreek seed [18,19]
Our results show that ANTI and citrus extract (CE) had no statistically significant effect on animal performance, the effects of ANTI and CE were better than those of the CON group, numerically

Summary

Introduction

Weaning changes the physiology of animals and can lead to intestinal dysfunction [1]. While diarrhea is not the only symptom of intestinal dysfunction after weaning, digestive functions are the most impacted by weaning. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat these conditions, to prevent diarrhea, promote growth, and improve intestinal digestion and absorption. Animals 2020, 10, 112 antibiotics can result in drug-resistant bacteria and environmental pollution. Animal manure emits a large amount of noxious gas, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), which can have adverse effects on animal and human health and may be increased by intestinal distress. Finding an alternative to antibiotics that reduces both antibiotic use and N emissions, improves animal growth, benefits farms economically, and reduces environmental pollution would benefit multiple sectors of society

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