Abstract
Two experiments (E) were carried out to evaluate the effects of fumaric acid and an acidifier blend [composed by calcium formate, calcium lactate and medium-chain fatty acids (capric and caprylic)] in piglet diets containing colistin (40 ppm) or halquinol (120 ppm) on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), organs relative weight, pH values, intestinal morphometry and microbiota (E2). In E1, 192 and E2, 24 piglets weaned at 21-day-old were randomly assigned to blocks with 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments [absence or presence of fumaric acid x absence or presence of acidifier blend], six replicates of eight (E1) and one piglet per pen (E2). For E1, the treatments were control (CD): no acidifier product + 40 ppm of colistin, FA: fumaric acid in absence of acidifier blend, AB: acidifier blend in absence of fumaric acid and, AF+AB: presence of fumaric acid and acidifier blend. For E2, the pre-starter I diet were used and the same treatments as E1 evaluated. No treatment effects (P>0.05) were observed on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), gut pH values and duodenum morphometry of piglets (E2). However, the addition of AB increased (P<0.05) large intestine relative weight and, FA addition decreased (P<0.05) pancreas relative weight, jejunum villi height and, total coliform and E. coli counts in cecum. The inclusion of FA and AB in diets containing colistin or halquinol did not improve performance, although FA exerted an inhibitory effect on cecum microbiota.
Highlights
Usually a cereal like corn as main energy source and high in starch (Vente-Spreeuwenberg et al 2003), and another vegetable protein source like soybean meal, for which they are not prepared to digest due to its insufficient production of gastric hydrochloric acid that leads to an increased pH and decreased activity of proteolytic enzymes
The use of AB decreased (P
Zentek et al (2013) found no effect on growth of weanling piglets fed diets containing the mixture of medium-chain fatty acids
Summary
Early-weaning is one of the most critical management practices in piglet’s life, which constitutes a challenge for them and results in usually a cereal like corn as main energy source and high in starch (Vente-Spreeuwenberg et al 2003), and another vegetable protein source like soybean meal, for which they are not prepared to digest due to its insufficient production of gastric hydrochloric acid that leads to an increased pH and decreased activity of proteolytic enzymes. Concerning the appearance of resistant bacteria and residues in animal products, the European Union has been prohibited the use of antibiotics as performance-enhancing antimicrobial compounds. According to Cherrington et al (1991), these products leave no residues in carcass and do not promote emergence of resistant bacteria, being a natural, safe, and inexpensive alternative to antibiotics in order to improve the health and performance of animals. The most commonly used acids are acetic, formic, propionic, lactic, citric and fumaric acid (Partanen 2002), and the efficiency of organic acids in improving piglet’s growth performance have been confirmed by other studies (Giesting and Easter 1985, Radecki et al 1988, Radcliffe et al 1998)
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