Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) on gut health and performance in post-weaning piglets. In total, 40 piglets were divided into two experimental groups and fed a basal diet with (TRT) or without (CON) 0.2% mannan oligosaccharides for 35 days. Growth performance was determined weekly and faecal microbial composition on days 0, 14 and 35. On day 36, histometrical evaluations were performed on duodenal, jejunal, ileal, and colon samples. mRNA gene expression of inflammation-related genes was evaluated in samples of ileal Peyer's patches (IPP). MOS administration improved feed efficiency in the last two weeks of the trial (p < 0.05), and a decreased clostridia content was found in faeces at day 14 (p = 0.05). TRT piglets showed increased duodenal villi height (p < 0.05), and reduced mRNA levels of Tumour Necrosis Factor α (p < 0.05) and Toll-Like Receptor 4 (p < 0.01) in IPP. Our results suggest beneficial effects of MOS supplementation on gut morphology and the expression of inflammation-related genes in post-weaning piglets, accompanied by increased feed efficiency.
Highlights
Optimal conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) throughout all the production cycle are of primary importance for the piglet metabolism and physiology to improve performance [1]
To assess the effects of the dietary treatment on gut health, we evaluated the gene expression of some Interleukins (ILs) and Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) in addition to intestinal morpho-functional parameters and faecal microbial populations
Mannan oligosaccharides supplementation did not affect body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI), while feed efficiency was improved in TRT piglets in the last two weeks of the trial (p = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively) (Table 2)
Summary
Optimal conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) throughout all the production cycle are of primary importance for the piglet metabolism and physiology to improve performance [1] In this light, the interest toward ‘gut health’ in animals has gained significant attention over the last decade. Gut health has been widely investigated in relation to the post-weaning period, which is a stressful moment in pig’s life, frequently accompanied by several modifications of the GIT In this phase, morphological changes [3], high epithelial cell turnover rates [4] and modifications of the gut microbiota mass and composition [5] are often associated with an impairment of the digestive, absorptive, and immune functions of the GIT [1], leading to low performance. Several classes of feed additives are available and widely employed in pig farming such as probiotics [7], prebiotics [8], postbiotics [9], nucleotides [10] and phytobiotics [11]
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