Abstract
Object: The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of different levels of glutathione (GSH) on growth performance and intestinal health of piglets. Methods: A total of 180 piglets of 21-day-old (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) were randomly divided into 5 groups. The control group was fed a standard diet based on NRC 2012. The treatment group 1 - 4 was supplemented with 50, 100, 200 and 400mg/kg GSH. The experiment lasted 28 days. Results: Compared with the control group, 50mg/kg GSH significantly increased the piglet’s skin and gross color, average daily gain (ADG) and decreased feed gain ratio (F/G) (P < 0.05), while the effect of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg GSH was contrary. The supplementation of 50mg/kg GSH significantly increased the mucosal villi height, the ratio of villous height to crypt depth (VH/CD) and decreased the crypt depth (P < 0.05) in duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05), while the effect of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg GSH was contrary; The supplementation of 50mg/kg GSH decreased the concentration of triglyceride in plasma (P < 0.05); The supplementation of 50, 100, 200, 400mg/kg GSH had no effect on the antioxidative indexes of blood, but 400mg/kg GSH increased the activities of T-AOC, GSH, SOD and decreased MDA content in jejunum and ileum; 400mg/kg GSH increased the content of T-SOD in liver (P < 0.05), while 50mg/kg GSH had no effect on SOD, GSH-PX, GSH-SOD in intestine and liver (P > 0.05). 50mg/kg GSH significantly increased T-AOC activity and decreased MDA content in muscle (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Supplementation of 50mg/kg GSH in piglets` diet was the most appropriate and it could significantly improve skin and gross color, growth performance and intestinal mucosal morphology, it also increased the antioxidation ability in muscle of piglets.
Wheat bran fermented by mixed fungal strains improves the digestibility of crude fiber and may benefit the gut health without impacting the growth performance in weaned pigs
