Abstract
Simple SummaryThe restriction of the use of antibiotics in swine production worldwide has influenced pork production efficiency. New in-feed additives must be sustainable, prevent diarrhea in early weaning piglets, and promote growth performance. Novel in-feed additives, probiotics, prebiotics, organic compounds, mineral salts and vegetable extract have been extensively studied; most have shown some limitations that discourage extensive use. We investigated the plant extract MGM-P (a quebracho tannin product) as an alternative animal feed additive to antibiotics. We considered its unique structure, antibacterial, antioxidant, radical scavenging, and anti-inflammatory activities, and sustainability. We began with a low-level addition trial; 0.3% MGM-P had a more robust effect than 0.2% MGM-P. The findings demonstrated that 0.3% MGM-P supplementation prevented diarrhea in 21-day-old weaned piglets, improving piglet health without adversely influencing growth performance. Practical studies of the mechanisms underlying the effects of MGM-P and the optimal amount for supplementation are needed to confirm our findings.This study assessed the feasibility of using a vegetable extract, MGM-P (quebracho tannin product), as an alternative to antibiotics for weaned piglets; it investigated MGM-P effects on growth performance, diarrhea, and overall health in early-weaned piglets. In total, 24 piglets were allocated to three treatment groups fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.2%, or 0.3% MGM-P for 20 days. The addition of 0.3% MGM-P to the diet of early-weaned piglets improved diarrhea incidence, hematological parameters, and intestinal mucosa structure. Furthermore, the addition of 0.2% or 0.3% MGM-P to the diet of early-weaned piglets did not affect their overall health. Importantly, MGM-P had no effects on average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), or feed conversion ratio (FCR). Gut morphology analysis showed that treatment with 0.3% MGM-P enhanced the jejunal villus height (p < 0.05) while reducing the ileal crypt depth (p < 0.05) and colon mucosal thickness (p < 0.05). Collectively, the findings suggested that the use of MGM-P as an alternative to dietary antibiotics could improve diarrhea incidence in early-weaned piglets without negative effects on growth performance or overall health.
Highlights
The modern swine industry weans piglets at the ages of 19–25 days to increase sow reproductive efficiency, improving annual productivity [1]
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding a 0.2% or 0.3% quebracho tannin product (MGM-P) to the commercial feed diet of 21-day-old weaned piglets in terms of growth performance, diarrhea, and overall health
The present study showed that 0.3% MGM-P supplementation significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhea among early-weaned piglets by increasing jejunal villus height, decreasing ileal crypt depth, and reducing colonic mucosa
Summary
The modern swine industry weans piglets at the ages of 19–25 days to increase sow reproductive efficiency, improving annual productivity [1]. This early weaning poses substantial physiological, environmental, and social challenges for piglets, including abrupt separation from their mothers, exposure to unfamiliar piglets, establishment of a new social hierarchy, different housing conditions, and changes in feed sources [1,2]. Diarrhea is a particular problem for early-weaned piglets. Reared early-weaned piglets are protected from enteropathogens through dietary supplementation of additives such as antibiotics. After more than 70 years of such antibiotic supplementation, there is global concern that antimicrobial resistance has made human medicines less effective [1]. There is an urgent need to ensure high pork productivity and identify sustainable alternatives to antibiotics
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