Abstract
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) on growth performance, immune responses, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology and microbiota in weaned piglets. A total of 36 weaned piglets [Duroc× (Large White × Landrace)] with an average body weight of 6.55 ± 0.32 kg at weaning were used in a 21-day experiment. Pigs were divided into three treatments (n = 12). Control (basal diet); MCE (basal diet plus MCE) and ABO (basal diet plus 20 mg/kg falvomycin & 100 mg/kg aureomycin). Compared with the control group, piglets in the MCE and ABO groups had higher average daily gain, lower feed efficiency and diarrhea rates (P < 0.05). Serum IgG level in MCE -fed piglets was higher (P < 0.05) than that of control -fed piglets. A higher (P < 0.05) serum the activity of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was observed in MCE-fed piglets than those in the control and ABO groups. The addition of MCE increased the amount of Lactobacillus spp. (P < 0.05), while decreased the amount of Salmonella spp. (P < 0.05) and tended to reduce the E. coli population (P < 0.10). Dietary MCE increased villus height and the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, and decreased the crypt depth in the jejunum of piglets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary MCE supplementation would exert beneficial effects on growth performance, immune status, antioxidant capacity and the intestinal health and may be used as a potential alternative to antibiotics in weaned piglets.
Highlights
IntroductionFrom the physiological point of view, they are physiologically not fully competent to deal with the multiple social, nutritional, environmental and immunological changes associated with weaning (Pluske et al 1997)
Weaning is probably the most stressful time in a pig’s life
Piglets fed with Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) increased the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) and decreased feed to gain (F/G)
Summary
From the physiological point of view, they are physiologically not fully competent to deal with the multiple social, nutritional, environmental and immunological changes associated with weaning (Pluske et al 1997). Weaning is associated with changes to the architecture of the small intestine, disturbed intestinal microbiota and diminished immune responses (Spreeuwenberg et al 2001; Boudry et al 2004; Pieper et al 2008), as well as accompanied by a decreased nutrient intake and digestibility, weight loss and growth performance depression (Kim et al 2012). Antibiotics have been widely used to improve the health and growth performance in weaned piglets (Frydendahl 2002; Pluske 2013).
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