Abstract
With the ban of zinc oxide (ZnO) at high dosages in piglet diets in Europe by 2022, alternative nutritional solutions are being tested to support piglet immune defence during their weaning, the most critical and stressful moment of pig production. The present study evaluated the effect of zinc oxide (ZnO; 2,500 mg/kg diet) and resin acid concentrate (RAC; 200 mg/kg diet) on the immune defence of weaned piglets challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Piglets were challenged at days 7 and 21 post-weaning, and blood was sampled 1.5 and 3.0 h after each challenge to determine serum levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The levels of serum tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) increased at days 7 and 21, and those of IL-6 at day 21 when challenged piglets were fed a diet supplemented with ZnO. In challenged piglets fed with RAC, the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α were increased at days 7 and 21, except for that of IL-1β, which was not affected at day 21. The increased levels of these cytokines indicate the successful immune-modulatory effect of ZnO and RAC, which appears as a candidate to replace ZnO in weaned piglets' diets.
Highlights
Weaning usually occurs 3 to 4 weeks after birth, which is a critical moment for piglets because they are suddenly exposed to several environmental, dietary and physiological stress conditions [1]
These stresses on an immature digestive tract and immune system leads to post-weaning diarrhoea and reduced feed intake [2]
Active immunity has not yet fully established, so that immune support is warranted [4]. These piglets will experience dysbiosis and intestinal inflammation, factors that predispose them to gastrointestinal infections, which are linked to 17% of piglet mortality in Europe [5]
Summary
Weaning usually occurs 3 to 4 weeks after birth, which is a critical moment for piglets because they are suddenly exposed to several environmental, dietary and physiological stress conditions [1]. These stresses on an immature digestive tract and immune system leads to post-weaning diarrhoea and reduced feed intake [2]. Antibiotics were added to post-weaning diets to avoid post-weaning intestinal disturbances and to promote growth This strategy was banned due to the risk of antimicrobial resistance, favouring the use of non-antimicrobial alternatives to support piglet health around weaning [6]. This essential trace element is often added to the piglet diet because of its antimicrobial
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