The role of dietary monoglycerides and tributyrin in enhancing performance and intestinal health function in nursery piglets

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary monoglycerides and tributyrin on performance, blood metabolites, and intestinal health function in nursery piglets. A total of 96 crossbred entire male piglets (7.70 ± 0.49 kg) were allotted for 35 d in a complete block design to one of four treatments: (1) negative control (NC): no feed additive, (2) positive control (PC) containing 60 mg halquinol/kg diet, (3) diet containing 2 g monoglyceride blend/kg diet (MGD), and (4) diet containing 2 g tributyrin/kg diet (TBT). The growth phases were defined as pre-starter (day 0–20), and starter (day 20–35). No treatment effect on performance was observed. Pre-starter piglets fed NC showed higher diarrhoea occurrence (DO) than those fed PC and TBT (p < .05), and a lower DO was observed in starter piglets fed PC, MGD, and TBT compared to NC (p < .001). Pre-starter piglets fed TBT showed lower alkaline phosphatase concentration than in PC, and a lower aspartate aminotransferase concentration compared to PC and MGD (p < .05). Plasma urea concentration was higher in starter piglets fed MGD than in NC and TBT (p < .05). Piglets fed TBT showed higher jejunum villous height:crypt depth ratio than other treatments (p < .05). Piglets on MGD had higher ileum cellular infiltrate than in PC but lower Enterobacteriaceae family in the piglets jejunum compared to other treatments (p < .05). Our results suggest that dietary tributyrin improves intestinal function structures, without affecting the microbial population as exhibited in nursery piglets fed monoglyceride-based diets. HIGHLIGHTS The use of antimicrobial growth promoters has been widely banned in piglet diets. The feed additives tested appeared to be potential alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters. Piglets fed a tributyrin diet showed improvements in the structure of the intestinal epithelium. Diets containing a blend of monoglycerides reduced the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in nursery piglets.