Growth Performance Of Piglets Research Articles

Effect of sialyllactose administration on growth performance and intestinal epithelium development in suckling piglets

Sialyllactose (SL) is an abundant carbohydrate in sow’s colostrum, but decreases during the first few days of lactation. Here, we investigated its effect on growth performance and intestinal epithelium development in pigs during the suckling period. Sixteen litters of suckling piglets were divided into two groups (Control and SL group). All piglets were breast fed and the SL group was orally administrated with 4 g SL per day for 21 d. Results showed that SL administration increased the litter weight (P = 0.043) and tended to elevate the average body weight (P = 0.084) at weaning. The serum concentrations of immunoglobulin G and glutathione peroxidase were elevated, but the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α, malondialdehyde, and diamine oxidase were decreased upon SL administration (P < 0.05). Moreover, SL administration elevated the villus height, the ratio of villus height to crypt depth, and the activities of lactase and sucrase in jejunum (P < 0.05), and decreased the total apoptotic cells in ileal epithelium (P = 0.003). The expression levels of tight-junction protein ZO-1 in the jejunum and ileum, and critical functional genes such as the glucose transporter 2, divalent metal transporter 1, and insulin growth factor 1 receptor in the jejunum were elevated by SL supplementation (P < 0.05). Importantly, SL increased butyric acid concentration, and elevated the abundances of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in cecum (P < 0.05). These results suggest that SL could improve the growth performance of suckling piglets, which was associated with improved immunity and antioxidant capacity, as well as the intestinal barrier functions.

Early-Life Nutrition Interventions Improved Growth Performance and Intestinal Health via the Gut Microbiota in Piglets.

Intestinal infections in piglets are the main causes of morbidity before and after weaning. Studies have not explored approaches for combining pre-weaning and post-weaning nutritional strategies to sustain optimal gut health. The current study thus sought to explore the effects of early-life nutrition interventions through administration of synthetic milk on growth performance and gut health in piglets from 3 to 30 days of age. Twelve sows were randomly allocated to control group (CON) and early-life nutrition interventions group (ENI). Piglets were fed with the same creep diet from 7 days of age ad libitum. Piglets in the ENI group were provided with additional synthetic milk from Day 3 to Day 30. The results showed that early-life nutrition interventions improved growth performance, liver weight, spleen weight, and reduced diarrhea rate of piglets after weaning (P < 0.05). Early-life nutrition interventions significantly upregulated expression of ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin4, GALNT1, B3GNT6, and MUC2 in colonic mucosa at mRNA level (P < 0.05). Early-life nutrition interventions reduced activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in serum and the content of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in plasma (P < 0.05). The number of goblet cells and crypt depth of colon of piglets was significantly higher in piglets in the ENI group relative to that of piglets in the CON group (P < 0.05). The relative mRNA expression levels of MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8, and the protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in colonic mucosa of piglets in the ENI group were lower compared with those of piglets in the CON group (P < 0.05). Relative abundance of Lactobacillus in colonic chyme and mucosa of piglets in the ENI group was significantly higher relative to that of piglets in the CON group (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that abundance of Lactobacillus was positively correlated with the relative mRNA expression levels of ZO-1, Claudin4, and GALNT1, and it was negatively correlated with the level of MCP-1 in colonic chyme and mucosa. In summary, the findings of this study showed that early-life nutrition interventions improved growth performance, colonic barrier, and reduced inflammation in the colon by modulating composition of gut microbiota in piglets. Early-life nutrition intervention through supplemental synthetic milk is a feasible measure to improve the health and reduce the number of deaths of piglets.

Soybean meal particle size for pigs during the nursery phase

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effect of soybean meal (SBM) particle size on nutrient digestibility and the growth performance of nursery piglets. Sixty-three piglets (BW = 6.86 kg ± 0.56; 23 d of age) were distributed in a randomized block design (by initial weight and sex) with 3 dietary treatments: diets with 1,017 µm (unground); 585 µm; and 411µm SBM, with 7 replicates of 3 piglets each. All diets were offered ad libitum in mash form, formulated differently according to three growing phases: (1) with 20% of SBM, from 23 to 32 d of age; (2) with 25% of SBM, from 32 to 44 d of age, and (3) with 30% of SBM, from 44 to 63 d of age. For the first 21 d, pigs fed diets with a medium particle size of SBM (585mm) had better average weight gain and feed/gain ratio (P&lt;0.05). The average feed intake, average body weight gain, and feed/gain ratio from 44 to 63 d improved (P&lt;0.05) with increasing SBM particle sizes, and the average live weight for the overall period increased with coarser SBM (P&lt;0.05). There was a marginally improvement (P &lt; 0.1) on digestible energy as particle size of SBM decreased; although, no differences (P &gt; 0.05) in the coefficients of apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein for the assessed SBM particle sizes were observed. It was concluded that the grinding of dietary SBM is not required for piglets during the nursery phase.

Impact of artificial colostrum supplement on the growth performance and blood profile in piglets

Impact of artificial colostrum supplement on the growth performance and blood profile in piglets

Effects of

Context In-feed antibiotics are commonly used to improve growth and gut health of weaning pigs. Due to anti-microbial resistance by extensively using antibiotics, however, in-feed antibiotics have been banned in Europe and China. Tremella fuciformis is a traditional edible fungus in China. Recent studies have found that Tremella fuciformis extract (TFE) has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immune-modulatory functions. Therefore, there is the potential to develop Tremella fuciformis as an alternative to antibiotics. Aims The study was performed to explore the effects of TFE on growth performance, and biochemical and immunological parameters of weaned piglets under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Methods Forty-eight weaned piglets were assigned into two groups with six pens (four piglets per-pen), receiving a control diet or a control diet with 400 mg/kg TFE (TFE), respectively. After 28 days of the trial, two piglets per pen were selected to be injected with LPS (50 μg/kg of BW) or an equivalent amount of sterile saline. Blood samples were collected at 0 and 3 h after LPS challenge. Key results The results showed that TFE supplementation significantly increased the average daily gain (P &lt; 0.05) and decreased the faecal score (P &lt; 0.05) during the first week, improved the feed conversion ratio (P &lt; 0.05) and BWt gain (P &lt; 0.05) during the whole period. Piglets fed the TFE diet had higher plasma levels of white blood cells (P &lt; 0.05) than that of piglets fed the control diet diet before the LPS challenge. Regardless of the dietary treatment, the LPS challenge significantly decreased the level of white blood cells, and increased the levels of red blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit, total protein, interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α (all P &lt; 0.05). Regardless of the LPS challenge, however, the concentrations of total protein, interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α were decreased (all P &lt; 0.05) in the plasma of piglets fed the TFE diet compared with the control diet diet. Conclusions In summary, the supplementation of TFE in the weaning diet could improve the growth performance and immunity of piglets. Implication TFE could be used as a bioactive substance for improving growth and immune response in pig production.

The Positive Effects of Proprietary Undenatured B-Glucans on Growing Pigs

Beta-glucan that is typically isolated from the fungi or yeast, by solvent extraction, is a commonly used supplement. However, the solvent extraction of beta-glucan from these sources destroys the tertiary structure of the compound, and reduces the immuno-stimulating efficacy of the denatured beta-glucan when compared to undenatured beta-glucan (UDBG1). The objective of this study was to investigate growth performance of piglets, from weaning, that received diets containing undenatured beta-glucan (UDBG) for the following four weeks (up to an average live weight of 26.4 kg). The study was conducted with 128 Noroc pigs from 24 litters at the experimental pig house of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. There were four dietary treatments; one group was fed a control diet containing no UDBG, three other groups were fed a diet containing 0.02 mg UDBG/kg, 0.2 mg UDBG/kg; or 2.0 mg UDBG/kg. In week 1 - 2, the pigs fed 2.0 mg UDBG per kg of feed gained 12% faster than the control diet. The numerical increase in weight gain during the first period after weaning is indicative of an improved immune status of the piglets fed the higher inclusion levels of the UDBG diets. Additionally, the piglets fed the highest level of UDBG (2.0 mg/kg) were found to have a better viability compared to the other groups, as determined by the Veterinary staff. No clinical problems related to the dietary treatments were observed. The animals revealed good growth and an average daily gain (ADG) for all pigs were 559 g for the overall experimental period. The growth performance was calculated for the two first weeks of the study, the remaining last two weeks of the study, and for the overall four-week experimental period. Significant effects of UDBG on weight gain and feed intake were found during the early weeks, but diminished later in the trial. The addition of UBDG to diets had a significant positive effect on several blood hematological parameters including the index of anisocytis, neutrophilic granulocytes, and lymphocytes. A significant positive linear effect of increasing dietary levels of UBDG was also found for hemoglobin and hematocrit.

A review of branched-chain amino acids in lactation diets on sow and litter growth performance.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are three essential amino acids (AA) for lactating sows; however, the effects of dietary Leu, Val, and Ile on sow and litter performance within the literature are equivocal. The BCAA are structurally similar and share the first steps of their catabolism pathway where Leu, Val, and Ile are transaminated through BCAA aminotransferase and irreversibly decarboxylated by the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex. Although these steps are shared among BCAA, Leu is recognized as the primary stimulator due to Leu’s greater affinity towards the enzymes compared to Val and Ile. Since the late 1990s, sows are producing larger and heavier litters and generally consume diets with greater concentrations of Leu and crystalline AA, which may create imbalances among dietary BCAA. Research conducted with growing-finishing pigs confirms that high concentrations of Leu can impair BCAA utilization and growth performance. However, the effects of BCAA on lactating sow and litter performance are not as clearly understood. Within mammary tissue, BCAA uptake is greater than milk output of BCAA since Val, Ile, and Leu are catabolized to form non-essential AA, lactose, fatty acids, and other metabolites. Within the mammary gland, BCAA aminotransferase activity is much higher than within skeletal muscle, liver, or small intestine. Thus, competition among the BCAA, namely, between Leu and Val, can significantly inhibit Val uptake within mammary tissue. Therefore, dietary modifications that mitigate BCAA competition may positively influence Val utilization for colostrum and milk synthesis. Little data exist on Ile and Leu requirements for modern lactating sows. Although Val requirements have been extensively researched in the last 25 yr, an ideal Val:Lys has not been consistently established across experiments. Some studies concluded that total Val concentrations above 120% of Lys optimized performance, whereas others determined that increasing SID Val:Lys from 55% to 136% did not improve piglet growth performance. Although increasing dietary Val positively influences fat and protein composition of colostrum and milk, litter growth during lactation is not always positively affected. Given the competition among BCAA for utilization within mammary tissue, research evaluating the Leu and Ile requirement of modern lactating sows is warranted to fully understand the influence and interactions of BCAA on reproductive and litter growth performance.

Alfalfa saponins inhibit oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis through the MAPK signaling pathway

ABSTRACT Background: Oxidative stress could seriously affect the growth performance of piglets. As natural extracts of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), alfalfa saponins have been shown to function as antioxidants in piglets in vivo. However, few studies have investigated the effects and mechanism of alfalfa saponins against oxidative stress in piglet cells in vitro. In the current study, piglets’ small intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) was explored to investigate the protective effects of alfalfa saponins on injured cells induced by H2O2. Methods: To investigate the effects and mechanism of alfalfa saponins against oxidative stress in piglet cells, the cell viability, activity of antioxidant enzymes, LDH and the amount of MDA were detected in H2O2-treated cells after the cells were pre-incubated with alfalfa saponins. The mechanism of alfalfa saponins against H2O2-induced oxidative cell damage was explored by detecting the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins. Furthermore, the signaling pathway of alfalfa saponins in IPEC-J2 cells under oxidative stress was also investigated. Results: The results indicated that alfalfa saponins could rescue cell viability, elevate the activity of antioxidant enzymes and down-regulate the activity of LDH and the amount of MDA in H2O2-induced cells. Conclusion: Alfalfa saponins could inhibit oxidative stress-induced cell mitochondrial apoptosis through the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby providing a new method for improving antioxidant stress ability by means of nutritional regulation.

The effect of parity number on the growth performance of piglets around weaning

In this study, authors examined the effects of parity number on piglet weight gain around weaning. The research was carried out on a Hunagrian pig farm on the litters of 3 first parity (P1) and 3 second parity (P2) Landrace x Large White sows. The traits examined were individual weight, weight gain, and number of deaths. A total of 90 piglets were individually weighed 9 times. Thus, measurements were taken at 1 day of age, at 10, 20, 26, 28, 29, 30, 36, and 47 days of age. Weaning occured on the 28th day. The difference in weight can be seen as early as 1 day of age between the piglets of the two groups (290 grams). The 1-day average weight of piglets in the P1 group was 1.20 kg, and the average weight of piglets of P2 sows was 1.49 kg (P &lt;0.05). The observed difference remained until the end of the study, it was 2650 grams at 47 days of age. At this time, the mean weight of the piglets of P1 sows was 12.13 kg, while the average weight of the piglets of P2 sows was 14.78 kg (P &lt;0.05). In terms of weight gains, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups over four periods, including the post weaning periode. During this period, however, weight loss occurred. The weight of the piglets of P1 sows fell to a greater extent. In their case, the average daily weight loss at that time was 185 g. The other group had a weight loss of 80 g over the same period. Several of the piglets (95.2%) of P1 sows lost weight on the day after weaning while 73.5% of the piglets of P2 sows showed weight loss on this day. Based on the results it can be said that piglets of P1 sows are more sensitive to weaning than piglets of P2 sows. At the last measurement time point, there was no statistically significant difference between the performances of the two groups. There is a moderate association (R2=0.22) between the weight gains measured in the pre- and post-weaning period, with the weight of individuals gaining more in the pre-weaning period falling to a greater extent after weaning. There was a higher mortality rate among the piglets of the P2 sows. The weak piglets died in the first 4 weeks of the trial except for 1 piglet.

The High Level of Xylooligosaccharides Improves Growth Performance in Weaned Piglets by Increasing Antioxidant Activity, Enhancing Immune Function, and Modulating Gut Microbiota

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the high level of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) on growth performance, antioxidant capability, immune function, and fecal microbiota in weaning piglets. The results showed that 28 d body weight exhibited linear and quadratic increases (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary XOS level, as well as average daily feed intake (ADFI) on d 15–28, average daily gain (ADG) on d 15–28 and 1–28. There was a linear decrease (P < 0.05) between XOS levels and feed conversion rate (FCR) on d 1–14 and 1–28. Additionally, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) showed a linear increase (P < 0.05), while the malondialdehyde (MDA) level decreased linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05) with the increasing dietary level of XOS. Moreover, the XOS treatments markedly increased the levels of immunoglobulin A (Ig A) (linear, P < 0.05; quadratic, P < 0.05), IgM (quadratic, P < 0.05), IgG (linear, P < 0.05), and anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) (quadratic, P < 0.05) in serum, while the IL-1β (linear, P < 0.05; quadratic, P < 0.05) and IL-6 (linear, P < 0.05) decreased with increasing level of XOS. Microbiota analysis showed that dietary supplementation with 1.5% XOS decreased (P < 0.05) the α-diversity and enriched (P < 0.05) beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Fusicatenibacter at the genus level, compared with the control group. Importantly, linearly increasing responses (P < 0.05) to fecal acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were observed with increasing level of XOS. Spearman correlation analyses found that Lactobacillus abundance was positively correlated with ADG, acetate, propionate, and IgA (P < 0.05), but negatively correlated with IL-1β (P < 0.05). Bifidobacterium abundance was positively related with ADFI, total SCFAs, IgG, and IL-10 (P < 0.05), as well as g_Fusicatenibacter abundance with ADFI, total SCFAs, and IL-10. However, Bifidobacterium and Fusicatenibacter abundances were negatively associated with MDA levels (P < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplementation with XOS can improve the growth performance in weaning piglets by increasing antioxidant capability, enhancing immune function, and promoting beneficial bacteria counts.

The Influence of Dietary Gallic Acid on Growth Performance and Plasma Antioxidant Status of High and Low Weaning Weight Piglets.

Simple SummaryGallic acid (GA) has been demonstrated to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and health-promoting properties. In pigs, GA supplementation has been shown to decrease di-arrhea incidence of weaned piglets and improve their intestinal integrity. The present experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that growth performance and diarrhea after weaning could be improved by supplementing the diet with 400 mg/kg GA to weaned piglets, especially for low weaning weight piglets.This study evaluated the effects of dietary gallic acid (GA) on growth performance, diarrhea incidence and plasma antioxidant status of weaned piglets regardless of whether weaning weight was high or low. A total of 120 weaned piglets were randomly allocated to four treatments in a 42-day experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement comparing different weaning weights (high weight (HW) or low weight (LW), 8.49 ± 0.18 kg vs. 5.45 ± 0.13 kg) and dietary treatment (without supplementation (CT) or with supplementation of 400 mg/kg of GA). The results showed that HW piglets exhibited better growth performance and plasma antioxidant capacity. Piglets supplemented with GA had higher body weight (BW) on day 42 and average daily gain (ADG) from day 0 to 42 compared to the control piglets, which is mainly attributed to the specific improvement on BW and ADG of LW piglets by the supplementation of GA. The decreased values of diarrhea incidence were seen in piglets fed GA, more particularly in LW piglets. In addition, dietary GA numerically reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in plasma of LW piglets. In conclusion, our study suggests that dietary GA may especially improve the growth and health in LW weaned piglets.

Effects of Supplementation with a Quebracho Tannin Product as an Alternative to Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Diarrhea, and Overall Health in Early-Weaned Piglets.

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.

Growth Performance, Blood Profile, and Carcass Characteristics of Weaned Pigs Fed Low Crude Protein Diets Supplemented with Lysine

Supplementing low crude protein (CP) diets for pigs with exogenous amino acid may help improve growth performance, minimize the environmental impact associated with nitrogen loss and improve the sustainability of pork production. A total number of thirty (30) Large white x Landrace weaned pigs between the age of 8-10 weeks and an average weight of 11.5 ± 0.39 kg were used to evaluate the effect of lysine supplementation of a low CP diet on growth performance, blood profile, and carcass characteristics of weaner piglets. Weaned pigs were acclimatized for seven days, randomly allotted to five (5) dietary treatments with six weaners per treatment and fed a weaner diet based on maize-soybean while wheat bran and dried cassava peel were added to balance the diet nutrients. The animals were allocated to either a control diet containing 22.6% CP or a diet with 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10% reduction in diet CP. Each animal consumed the respective diet for six weeks during which growth performance was monitored. Afterward, 5 mL of blood was sampled for analysis, and all the pigs were slaughtered for carcass analysis. Average daily gain, total weight gain, and average daily intake were not significantly different across the groups (p>0.05). While feed cost per kg was lower with the 7.5% and 10% diet CP reduction (p<0.05), feed cost per weight gain was not different across the animals. Most haematological and serum biochemical variables were not affected by CP reduction, while carcass weight was equally not affected by diet CP (p>0.05). However, the abdominal fat percentage of carcass reduced slightly with the reduced diet CP. Therefore, up to 10% reduction in diet CP from 22.6%, with 0.1% lysine supplementation, had no negative impact on growth without compromising the immunity indicators of weaned pigs. Furthermore, there was no negative consequence on carcass characteristics and the primal cuts.

Research progress on diarrhoea and its mechanism in weaned piglets fed a high-protein diet.

In order to pursue faster growth and development of weaned piglets, increased dietary protein (CP) levels were favoured by the pig industry and the feed industry. The digestive organs of piglets were not fully developed at weaning, and the digestive absorption capacity of protein was limited. High-protein diets can cause allergic reactions in piglets, destroy intestinal structural integrity, reduce immunity, and cause intestinal flora imbalance. Undigested proteins were prone to produce toxic substances, such as ammonia and biogenic amines, after fermentation in the hindgut, which negatively affects the health of the intestine and eventually causes reduced growth performance and diarrhoea in piglets. This review revealed the mechanism of diarrhoea caused by high-protein diets in weaned piglets and provided ideas for preventing diarrhoea in weaned piglets.

Comparative Effects of Compound Enzyme and Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Biochemical Index, and Intestinal Health in Weaned Pigs.

This experiment aims to explore the effects of compound enzyme preparation substituting chlortetracycline on growth performance, serum immune markers, and antioxidant capacity and intestinal health in weaned piglets. A total of twenty-four 28-day-old “Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire” weaned piglets with an average initial weight of 7.25 ± 0.25 kg were randomly divided into three groups according to their body weight, with eight replicates in each group and one pig in each replicate. The three dietary treatments were basal diet (CON), basal diet + 1,000 mg/kg compound enzyme preparation (cellulase 4,000 IU/g, α-amylase 1,000 IU/g, β-glucanase 150 IU/g, and neutral protease 3,000 IU/g, CE), and basal diet + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CTC). The animal experiment lasted for 28 days and was divided into two stages: the early stage (0–14 days) and the late stage (15–28 days). The results showed that (1) compared with the CON, the CE and CTC significantly increased the ADG of weaned piglets during the early and whole period of experiment (p < 0.05), decreased the F:G in the whole experiment period (p < 0.05), and diarrhea rate in the early stage (p < 0.01). (2) Compared with the CON, the apparent total tract digestibility of ADF and NDF was significantly increased in pigs fed the CE diet in the early and late stages of experiment (p < 0.05) with no significant difference compared with the CTC. (3) Compared with the CON, the concentrations of serum IgA and SOD in weaned piglets were significantly increased in the CE group in the early stage of the experiment (p < 0.05). (4) Compared with the CON group, the acetic acid, propionic acid, and total VFA contents in cecum and colon segments were elevated in the CE group (p < 0.05) with no significant difference compared with the CTC. (5) Compared with the CON group, the villus height of duodenum and jejunum and the ratio of villus height to recess depth of ileum were increased in the CE and CTC group (p < 0.05). (6) Compared with the CON group, the abundance of Lactobacillus significantly increased (p < 0.01) while the abundance of Escherichia coli decreased in the CE group and CTC group (p < 0.01). In conclusion, CE preparation instead of CTC can significantly improve the nutrient digestibility, the immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of pigs, which may contribute to the improved growth performance of piglets.

Mixture of Five Fermented Herbs (Zhihuasi Tk) Alters the Intestinal Microbiota and Promotes the Growth Performance in Piglets.

To explore the feasibility of using fermented Chinese herbal mixture Zhihuasi Tk (Z. Tk) supplementation to increase the swine production, the protective effect of dietary supplementation with Z. Tk on the intestinal oxidative stress model and the regulation of both growth performance and intestinal microbiota of weaned piglets were investigated in vitro. Our results showed that the addition of Z. Tk increased the cell viability, prevented the decrease of glutathione peroxidase, and significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity and reduced the damage caused by H2O2 to the tight junction proteins of the porcine small intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2). Furthermore, weaned piglets supplemented with either 2 kg/ton zinc oxide (ZnO) or 4 kg/ton of Z. Tk in the diet increased body weight as well as average daily feed intake and daily gain, while the feed conversion rate and diarrhea rate decreased within 0–35 days. Results of the taxonomic structure of the intestinal microbiota showed that, in 21 days after weaning, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in experimental group was increased, while the abundance of beneficial bacteria such, as Lactobacillus, was increased by Z. Tk, showing inhibitory effect on pathogenic bacteria such as members of Proteobacteria. In summary, dietary supplementation with Z. Tk maintained the intestinal microbiota in a favorable state for the host to effectively reduce the abnormal changes in the intestinal microbial structure and improved growth performance of weaned piglets. Therefore, Z. Tk may potentially function as a substitute for ZnO in feed additives for weaned piglets in modern husbandry.

Organic Acids Improve Growth Performance with Potential Regulation of Redox Homeostasis, Immunity, and Microflora in Intestines of Weaned Piglets.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of organic acids on piglet growth performance and health status. A total of 360 weanling pigs (5.3 ± 0.6 kg) were randomly allotted to 3 treatment groups with 12 replicates of 10 pigs/pen. Piglets were fed the same basal diet and given either water (control) or water plus 2.0 L/Ton organic acid (OA) blends, such as OA1 or OA2, respectively, for 7 weeks. Compared to the control, OA1 and OA2 improved growth performance and/or reduced the piglets’ diarrhea rate during the various periods and improved small intestinal morphology at days 14 and/or 49. OA1 and OA2 also increased serum CAT and SOD activities and/or T-AOC and, as expected, decreased MDA concentration. Moreover, at day 14 and/or day 49, OA1 and OA2 increased the jejunal mRNA levels of host defense peptides (PBD1, PBD2, NPG1, and NPG3) and tight junction genes (claudin-1) and decreased that of cytokines (IL-1β and IL-2). Additionally, the two acidifiers regulated the abundance of several cecum bacterial genera, including Blautia, Bulleidia, Coprococcus, Dorea, Eubacterium, Subdoligranulum, and YRC2. In conclusion, both of the organic acid blends improved piglet growth performance and health status, potentially by regulating intestinal redox homeostasis, immunity, and microflora.

514 Late-Breaking: Effects of Feeding a High Canola Meal-containing Diet and Multi-carbohydrase Supplementation on Growth Performance and Intestinal Ecology of Piglets

Abstract The objective was to investigate the effects of a high canola meal-containing diet and multi-carbohydrase supplementation on growth performance and intestinal pH, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile, and microbiome in weaned piglets. Twenty-four piglets (7.46 ± 0.23 kg BW) were individually assigned to 1 of 3 diets in a completely randomized design. Diets were fed for 21 d: SB, corn and soybean meal-based diet; CM, 25% canola meal substituting soybean meal and adjusted to meet energy and nutrient requirements of piglets (NRC, 2012); and CM+E, CM supplemented with multi-carbohydrase (0.01%). Feed disappearance and BW were recorded weekly. On d 21, piglets were euthanized to assess digesta pH, SCFA profile, and gut microbiome. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS using the piglet as the experimental unit. There were no differences (P &amp;gt; 0.10) in growth performance and digesta pH. Piglets fed CM+E tended to (P = 0.051) or had significantly lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) butyric acid in the cecum than piglets fed CM and SB, respectively. Piglets fed SB had higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) isobutyric acid in the colon than piglets fed CM+E. Piglets fed SB and CM tended to have higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) isovaleric acid in the colon than piglets fed CM+E. Piglets fed SB tended to have lower (P &amp;lt; 0.10) proportion of Bifidobacteria, and had lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, and Lactobacillus than piglets fed CM. Piglets fed CM+E tended to have lower (P &amp;lt; 0.10) Bifidobacteria and higher Clostridium XIVa than piglets fed CM, and had lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Enterococcus, but higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Lactobacillus than piglets fed CM. In conclusion, feeding 25% of canola meal in substitution to soybean meal with or without multi-carbohydrase supplementation changed the intestinal environment by modifying SCFA profile and relative proportion of microbiome, but without affecting digesta pH or growth performance in nursery piglets.

Comparative effects of enzymatic soybean, fish meal and milk powder in diets on growth performance, immunological parameters, SCFAs production and gut microbiome of weaned piglets

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate the replacement effects of milk powder (MK) and fish meal (FM) by enzymatic soybean (ESB) in diets on growth performance, immunological parameters, SCFAs production and gut microbiome of weaned piglets.MethodsA total of 128 piglets with initial body weight at 6.95 ± 0.46 kg, were randomly assigned into 4 dietary treatments with 8 replicates per treatment and 4 piglets per replicate for a period of 14 d. Piglets were offered iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic diets as follows: CON diet with MK and FM as high quality protein sources, ESB plus FM diet with ESB replacing MK, ESB plus MK diet with ESB replacing FM, and ESB diet with ESB replacing both MK and FM.ResultsNo significant differences were observed in growth performance among all treatments (P > 0.05). However, piglets fed ESB plus FM or ESB diet had increased diarrhea index (P<0.01), and lower digestibility of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE) or crude protein (CP), relative to piglets fed CON diet (P < 0.01). Moreover, the inclusion of ESB in diet markedly decreased the plasma concentration of HPT and fecal concentration of butyric acid (BA) (P<0.01). The High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene V3−V4 region of gut microbiome revealed that the inclusion of ESB in diet increased the alpha diversity, and the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) showed that piglets fed with ESB plus FM or ESB diet contained more gut pathogenic bacteria, such as g_Peptococcus, g_Veillonella and g_Helicobacter.ConclusionThe inclusion of ESB in diet did not markedly affect growth performance of piglets, but the replacement of MK or both MK and FM by ESB increased diarrhea index, which could be associated with lower nutrients digestibility and more gut pathogenic bacteria. However, piglets fed diet using ESB to replace FM did not markedly affect gut health-related parameters, indicating the potential for replacing FM with ESB in weaning diet.

Dietary ferulic acid and vanillic acid on inflammation, gut barrier function and growth performance in lipopolysaccharide-challenged piglets.

Ferulic acid (FA) and vanillic acid (VA) are considered as major phenolic metabolites of cyanidin 3-glucoside, a polyphenol that widely exists in plants that possess a protective effect against oxidative stress and inflammation in our previous study. This study aimed to investigate the effect of FA and VA on inflammation, gut barrier function, and growth performance in a weaned piglet model challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thirty-six piglets (PIC 337 × C48, 28 d of age) were randomly allocated into 3 treatments with 6 replicate pens (2 piglets per pen). They were fed with a basal diet or a diet containing 4,000 mg/kg of FA or VA. Dietary supplementation of VA significantly increased average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.05). Both FA and VA decreased serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), interlukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (P < 0.05), and enhanced the expression of tight junction protein oclaudin (P < 0.05). Analysis of gut microbiota indicated that both FA and VA increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio alongside reducing the relative abundance of the Prevotellaceae family including Prevotella 9 and Prevotella 2 genera, but enriched the Lachoiraceaea family including the Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group (P < 0.05). Moreover, VA reduced the relative abundance of Prevotella 7 and Prevotella 1 but enriched Lachnospira, Eubacterium eligens group, and Eubacterium xylanophilum group (P < 0.05), while FA showed a limited effect on these genera. The results demonstrated that both VA and FA could alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress, but only VA has a significant positive effect on the growth performance of LPS-challenged piglets potentially through modulating gut microbiota.