Abstract
Simple SummaryPorcine digestive peptides (PDP) are a coproduct of the heparin industry obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis of porcine intestinal mucosa. They have proven to be a valid substitute for other high quality dietary protein sources for piglets, like spray-dried plasma (SDP), but knowledge about their influence on intestinal function is still scarce. This study found that substituting soybean ingredients with PDP and SDP to the diets of weaned piglets increased growth rate at 14 d post-weaning. In addition, the combination of PDP with SDP increased the expression of certain genes related to intestinal function in the jejunum, which suggests that this combination might have functional properties that contribute to improving the intestinal health of the pigs, although more research is needed to confirm it.This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of porcine digestible peptides (PDP), spray-dried plasma (SDP), or a combination of both, on growth performance and the expression of genes related to intestinal function of weaned pigs. A total of 180 piglets (trial 1) and 198 piglets (trial 2) were used to evaluate the partial substitution of soybean ingredients with 2% SDP or 2% PDP (trial 1), and with 3% SDP or the combination of 1% SDP and 2% PDP (SDP-PDP; trial 2) during the pre-starter period (0–14 days). The gene expression of 56 genes was quantified in a qPCR platform in jejunum and ileum samples obtained from piglets 14 d after weaning (trial 2). Piglets fed SDP, PDP and SDP-PDP had a higher body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (G:F) than the soybean control on day 14 (p < 0.05). In addition, the combination of SDP and PDP upregulated ten genes in jejunum samples (p < 0.05) related to intestinal function. More research is needed to confirm that gene expression upregulation by PDP in combination with SDP has an impact on intestinal function and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms.
Highlights
Weaning is a stressful period for piglets as they have to deal with a change from sow milk to a less digestible, plant-based dry solid diet that contains many ingredients that the pig has not eaten before [1].One major consequence of weaning is a reduction in feed intake, which in turn causes a reduction in the villi height in the small intestine [2] and a disruption of the gut microbiota ecosystem with a loss of diversity [3]
More research is needed to confirm that gene expression upregulation by porcine digestible peptides (PDP) in combination with spray-dried plasma (SDP) has an impact on intestinal function and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that are responsible of these effects
The present study suggests that substituting soybean products with animal protein sources like
Summary
Weaning is a stressful period for piglets as they have to deal with a change from sow milk to a less digestible, plant-based dry solid diet that contains many ingredients that the pig has not eaten before [1].One major consequence of weaning is a reduction in feed intake, which in turn causes a reduction in the villi height in the small intestine [2] and a disruption of the gut microbiota ecosystem with a loss of diversity [3]. Weaning is a stressful period for piglets as they have to deal with a change from sow milk to a less digestible, plant-based dry solid diet that contains many ingredients that the pig has not eaten before [1]. Piglets are more susceptible to gut inflammatory problems and their intestinal function can be affected. This often leads to post-weaning diarrhea and increased mucosal permeability [4]. A strategy for helping piglets to reduce intestinal disturbances during this period is to reduce the inclusion of less-digestible vegetal protein sources in their feed, like soybean ingredients, and substitute them with high-quality digestible animal protein sources. SDP has shown potential for modulating the immune response, reducing intestinal mucosa inflammation and maintaining its integrity [6,7,8]
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