PSVI-18 The use of Spirulina in piglet’s diets: effects on growth performance, selected biochemical blood parameters and small intestine mucosa morphology and metabolomics profiles

Abstract

Abstract Pig production relies on expensive imported protein feedstuffs namely soybean meal. It is very important to use less conventional feedstuffs such as microalgae. Spirulina has been used in pig feeds as an additive (inclusion levels below 1%). Recently, its use as a protein feedstuff has been proposed. In order to study the effect of Spirulina on growth, intestinal mucosa morphology microscopy, plasma profiles and small intestine and liver metabolomics (1H NMR) of weaned 12 kg piglets, an experiment with 40 male animals was carried out. Animals were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals (Control, 10% Spirulina, 10% Spirulina + Rovabio® and 10% Spirulina + Lysozyme). Piglets were fed ad libitum. All diets had the same protein and energy levels. Piglets were weighed weekly; experimental period was 4 weeks. Animals were sacrificed and blood, liver and small intestine sampled. Variance analysis was used to test diet effect on growth, intestinal morphology and plasma parameters. Metabolomics data were analysed using PCA and PLS-DA. For the same feed intake, the average daily gain was reduced by 14% and feed-conversion ratio increased by 10% in the three diets with Spirulina in comparison to Control. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found for microvilli height and width or crypt depth. Plasma cholesterol, total lipids and liver aminotransferases (ALT, AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations were higher in animals fed on Spirulina diets. Metabolic profiles for the two tissues were similar for the four groups, although PLS-DA analysis showed a tendency for the three Spirulina diets to cluster together, separately from the control group. Betaine and glycerol-3-phosphocholine were the most discriminant metabolites. In conclusion, although Spirulina had no significant effects on small intestinal morphology and metabolomics profiles, its use for piglet feeding in incorporation levels of 10% leads to losses in growth performances.