Effect of capsaicin and capsaicin plus DL-methionine hydroxy analog in diet on growth performance and gastrointestinal conditions of nursery pigs

The study was conducted to determine the effect of supplemental capsaicin (CS) or capsaicin plus DL-methionine hydroxy analog (CS+LMA) in diets on growth performance and gastrointestinal conditions of nursery pigs. Seventy-two castrated male piglets (BW 7.79 ± 0.02 kg) were offered diets for 6 weeks as follows: 1) control diet, 2) control diet with capsaicin 2.5 ppm (CS), and 3) control diet with capsaicin 2.5 ppm plus DL-LMA 0.05 % (CS+LMA). The dietary treatments did not influence growth performance, gastrointestinal pH and the bacterial population in the caecum (P>0.05). However, in the caecum, number of Lactobacillus spp. tended to increase (P=0.09), and lactic acid concentration was increased (P less than 0.05) by CS+LMA supplementation. The supplemental CS or CS+LMA increased the villus height (P less than 0.01), and CS+LMA supplementation increased the crypt depth (P less than 0.05) in the segment of duodenum compared to the control group. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was not influenced by CS or CSLMA supplementations (P>0.05). In conclusion, supplementing CS improved the small intestinal morphology, and there were synergistic effects on the duodenal crypt depth and caecal lactic acid when LMA was combined with CS.

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Effect of Niacin on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Mucosal Immunity and Microbiota Composition in Weaned Piglets

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11082186 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 2186

Author(s):

Shilong Liu ◽

Xiaoping Zhu ◽

Yueqin Qiu ◽

Li Wang ◽

Xiuguo Shang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Mucosal Immunity ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Control Diet ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Control Group ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Villus Height ◽

Crypt Depth

This study aimed to investigate the effects of niacin on growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal mucosal immunity, and colonic microbiota in weaned piglets. A total of 96 weaned piglets (Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire), 21-d old, 6.65 ± 0.02 kg body weight (BW)) were randomly allocated into 3 treatment groups (8 replicate pens per treatment, each pen containing 4 males; n = 32/treatment) for 14 d. Piglets were fed a control diet (CON) or the CON diet supplemented with 20.4 mg/kg niacin (NA) or an antagonist for the niacin receptor GPR109A (MPN). The results showed that NA or MPN had no effect on ADG, ADFI, G/F or diarrhea incidence compared with the CON diet. However, compared with piglets in the NA group, piglets in the MPN group had lower ADG (p = 0.042) and G/F (p = 0.055). In comparison with the control and MPN group, niacin supplementation increased the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (p < 0.05), while decreasing the crypt depth in the duodenum (p < 0.05). Proteomics analysis of cytokines showed that niacin supplementation increased the expression of duodenal transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), jejunal interleukin-10 (IL-10) and ileal interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p < 0.05), and reduced the expression of ileal interleukin-8 (IL-8) (p < 0.05) compared with the control diet. Piglets in the MPN group had significantly increased expression of ileal IL-6, and jejunal IL-8 and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (p < 0.05) compared with those in the control group. Piglets in the MPN group had lower jejunal IL-10 level and higher jejunal IL-8 level than those in the NA group (p < 0.05). The mRNA abundance of duodenal IL-8 and ileal granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) genes were increased (p < 0.05), and that of ileal IL-10 transcript was decreased (p < 0.05) in the MPN group compared with both the control and NA groups. Additionally, niacin increased the relative abundance of Dorea in the colon as compared with the control and MPN group (p < 0.05), while decreasing that of Peptococcus compared with the control group (p < 0.05) and increasing that of Lactobacillus compared with MPN supplementation (p < 0.05). Collectively, the results indicated that niacin supplementation efficiently ensured intestinal morphology and attenuated intestinal inflammation of weaned piglets. The protective effects of niacin on gut health may be associated with increased Lactobacillus and Dorea abundance and butyrate content and decreased abundances of Peptococcus.

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Evaluation of different blends of medium-chain fatty acids, lactic acid, and monolaurin on nursery pig growth performance12

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txaa024 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 548-557 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lori L Thomas ◽

Jason C Woodworth ◽

Mike D Tokach ◽

Steve S Dritz ◽

Joel M DeRouchey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Block Design ◽

Control Diet ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Dose Titration ◽

Control Group ◽

Medium Chain ◽

Nursery Pig ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract A total of 710 pigs (Line 400 × 200, DNA, Columbus, net energy (NE)) were used in two experiments (Exp. 1: initially, 6.3 ± 0.05 kg; Exp. 2: initially, 6.8 ± 0.05 kg) to evaluate the effects of two medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) based products on nursery pig growth performance. Following their arrival at the nursery facility, pigs were randomized to pens (five pigs per pen) and allowed a 4-d acclimation period. Thereafter, pens of pigs were blocked by initial weight and randomized to dietary treatment. In Exp. 1, the dietary treatments were a dose titration of: 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, or 2.0% MCFA-based additive, as well as a diet including 1.0% MCFA from a 1:1:1 blend of C6:0, C8:0, and C10:0. In Exp.2, dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet containing no MCFA (control), the control diet with a 1.0% inclusion of four different blends of MCFA, lactic acid, and monolaurin or a diet with 1.0% added MCFA (a 1:1:1 blend of C6:0, C8:0, and C10:0). The four blends consisted of 50% C6:0, 20% lactic acid, and increasing levels of monolaurin (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) at the expense of C12:0 (30%, 20%, 10%, and 0%). Treatment diets were formulated and manufactured in two dietary phases. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with pen as the experimental unit. In Exp. 1, overall (days 0–34), increasing CaptiSURE increased (linear, P ≤ 0.014) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI). Feed efficiency improved (quadratic, P = 0.002) with increasing CaptiSURE up to 1.0% of the diet with no benefit thereafter. There was no evidence for differences between pigs fed 1.0% CaptiSURE and pigs fed the 1.0% MCFA blend of C6:0, C8:0, and C10:0. In Exp. 2, overall (days 0–35), pigs fed the 1.0% 1:1:1 MCFA blend had increased (P < 0.034) ADFI and ADG resulting in 0.9 kg greater final weight (P = 0.014) compared with the control group. There was no evidence that the mean performance of pigs fed the four blends of MCFA, lactic acid, and monolaurin were different from the pigs fed the control diet. In summary, the addition of a 1.0% 1:1:1 blend of C6:0, C8:0, and C10:0 in nursery pig diets improved ADG, ADFI, and gain to feed ratio (G:F) compared with pigs fed the control diet. In addition, providing nursery pigs with the MCFA product CaptiSURE, up to 2% of the diet, resulted in linear improvements in ADG and ADFI. Altering the C12:0 to monolaurin ratio and adding lactic acid did not improve growth performance compared with pigs fed the control diet.

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PSIX-6 Effect of dacitic tuff breccia in nursery diets on pig growth performance, blood parameters, and intestinal morphology

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa054.332 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 188-188

Author(s):

Ricardo M Garcia ◽

Jon Ferrel ◽

Morgan T Thayer ◽

Julie F Mahoney ◽

Alan W Duttlinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Control Diet ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Intraepithelial Lymphocytes ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Proper Function ◽

Crypt Depth ◽

Wbc Count ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Tuff Breccia

Abstract Trace element and mineral intake are important for proper function of the immune system and various metabolic processes. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of a dacitic tuff breccia (DTB), classified as a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, in the diet of nursery pigs. Dietary treatments were: 1) Control diet (CON), 2) CON + 0.25% DTB (DTB1), and 3) CON + 0.50% DTB (DTB2). Pigs (6.79 + 0.064 kg; 26d of age) were individually housed and fed dietary treatments for 21 d (n=48; 16/trt). At the end of the experiment, blood, jejunal, and ileal samples were collected for a typical metabolic panel and basic histologic and morphologic measurements. DTB2 fed pigs tended (P=0.07) to have greater ADG than CON and DTB1 fed pigs (392, 397, 430g/d for CON, DTB1, DTB2, respectively), and greater (P=0.008) ADFI (591, 592, 669g/d for CON, DTB1, DTB2, respectively). Gain:Feed was not different (P=0.75) among treatments (0.655, 0.663, 0.644 for CON, DTB1, DTB2, respectively). Crypt depth in the jejunum was greater (P=0.04) for DTB1 compared to CON fed pigs but did not differ from DTB2 fed pigs (254.7, 292.0, 275.6mm for CON, DTB1, DTB2, respectively). Villous height, villous:crypt, number of goblet cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes did not differ among treatments in both ileum and jejunum (P >0.17). Total white blood cell (WBC) count did not differ (P >0.10). However, the proportion of WBC that were monocytes was lower (P=0.024) in DTB1 compared to CON and DTB2 fed pigs (1.27, 0.79, 1.45% for CON, DTB1, DTB2, respectively). Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) concentration tended (P=0.06) to be linearly decreased with increasing DTB concentrations (9.27, 8.80, 7.75mg/dL). DTB inclusion at 0.5% in nursery pig diets tended to improve growth performance, while inclusion at 0.25% increased jejunal crypt depth and reduced monocytes:WBC and increasing DTB concentrations tended to decreased BUN linearly.

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138 Evaluation of different combinations of medium chain fatty acids and monolaurin as a dietary additive for nursery pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz122.146 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 80-81

Author(s):

Lori L Thomas ◽

Ashley Hartman ◽

Jason C Woodworth ◽

Mike D Tokach ◽

Robert D Goodband ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Block Design ◽

Control Diet ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Experimental Unit ◽

Control Group ◽

Nursery Pigs ◽

Randomized Complete Block Design ◽

The Mean ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract A total of 360 pigs (DNA 400×200, initial BW=6.8 kg) were used a 35-d trial to evaluate the effects of adding MCFA and monolaurin blends to the diet on growth performance of nursery pigs. Pens of pigs were blocked by BW and randomized to 1 of 6 dietary treatments (12 pens per treatment). Treatments consisted of a basal diet containing no MCFA (control), the control diet with 1.0% added MCFA (a 1:1:1 blend of C6, C8, and C10; Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), or a 1.0% inclusion of 4 different blends of MCFA, lactic acid, and monolaurin (1, 2, 3, and 4). The 4 blends consisted of 50% C6, 20% lactic acid and increasing levels of monolaurin (0, 10, 20, and 30%) at the expense of C12 (30, 20, 10, and 0%). Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with pen as the experimental unit. From d 0 to 14, pigs fed the 1.0% 1:1:1 MCFA blend had increased (P = 0.037) ADG compared to the control group. Pigs fed the 1.0% 1:1:1 MCFA blend and the mean of the 4 blends of MCFA, lactic acid, and monolaurin had improved (P < 0.037) G:F compared with pigs fed the control diet. From d 14 to 35, ADFI and subsequently ADG increased (P < 0.057) for pigs fed the 1.0% 1:1:1 MCFA blend compared with the control group. Overall, pigs fed the 1.0% 1:1:1 MCFA blend had increased (P < 0.034) ADFI and ADG, resulting in 0.9 kg greater final BW (P = 0.014) compared with the control group. There was no evidence for differences between the mean of pigs fed blends of MCFA, lactic acid, and monolaurin compared with the control. In summary, the addition of a 1.0% 1:1:1 MCFA blend resulted in improved ADG, ADFI, and G:F compared with pigs fed a control diet.

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Effects of organic selenium supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilisation, oxidative stress and selenium tissue concentrations in broiler chickens

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an13116 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 54 (7) ◽

pp. 966 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Pietro Celi ◽

Peter H. Selle ◽

Aaron J. Cowieson

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Muscle Tissue ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Control Diet ◽

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Control Group ◽

Reactive Oxygen Metabolites ◽

Organic Selenium ◽

Nutrient Utilisation ◽

Dietary Treatments

The effects of organic selenium (Se) supplementation of diets for broiler chickens were evaluated in the present study. Broiler diets had average background Se concentrations of 0.36 mg/kg Se (control diet) and were supplemented with two organic Se sources, namely BiOnyc® Tor-Sel (selenohomolanthionine = SH) and Alltech’s Sel PlexTM (selenomethionine = SM); their addition increased dietary selenium concentrations by an average of 0.57 mg/kg Se. Their effects on growth performance, nutrient utilisation and oxidative status of broiler chickens were determined. Growth performance was very similar across all dietary treatments; in contrast, significant differences in nutrient utilisation were observed. The N-corrected apparent metabolisable energy value for the control group (14.14 MJ/kg) and SH (14.15 MJ/kg) diet was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that for the SM (13.64 MJ/kg) diet. Alternatively, N retention with the SM (68.4%) diet was significantly (P < 0.005) higher than that for the control (65.2%) and SH (64.5%) diets. Neither of the Se sources influenced plasma concentrations of reactive oxygen metabolites, biological antioxidant potential and advanced oxidation protein products. The activity of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase in both plasma and tissues samples and the concentration of plasma glutathione were increased by SH and SM compared with the control group. Our findings suggest that SH and SM improved the antioxidant status of broilers by elevating activities of antioxidant enzymes and concentrations of antioxidant. Both Se supplements significantly (P < 0.001) increased Se concentrations in liver and muscle, and in liver tissue there was no statistical difference between the two supplements. However, SH generated significantly higher Se concentrations in muscle tissue (0.283 versus 0.257; P < 0.005) than did SM. In summary, SH was at least the equivalent to SM as a source of organic Se for broiler chickens under the conditions of the present feeding study. This is reflected in the outcome that SH generated significantly higher Se concentrations in muscle tissue than did the alternative Se supplement.

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Effects of dietary Forsythia suspensa extract supplementation to lactating sows and nursery pigs on post-weaning performance, antioxidant capacity, nutrient digestibility, immunoglobulins and intestinal health

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab142 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shenfei Long ◽

Xiangshu Piao

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Control Diet ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Villus Height ◽

Nursery Pigs ◽

Crypt Depth ◽

Forsythia Suspensa ◽

Lactating Sows ◽

Split Plot ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) supplementation to lactating sows and nursery pigs on post-weaning performance, antioxidant capacity, immunoglobulins and intestinal health. Based on backfat, BW and parity, 24 gestating sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) with average parity of 3.38 ± 0.61 and BW of 234 ± 6.81 kg were allotted into 2 dietary treatments (control vs. 100 mg/kg FSE) with 12 sows per treatment from d 107 of gestation to d 21 of lactation. After weaning, based on the initial BW and source litter, 192 nursery pigs [Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire), average BW of 6.98 ± 0.32 kg, weaned at d 21] were allotted into 4 dietary treatments with 8 replicate pens per treatment, 6 pigs per pen for a 4-wk study. The treatments included: (1) CC (sows and their piglets both fed control diet); (2) CF [sows fed control diet and their piglets fed FSE diet (containing 100 mg/kg FSE)]; (3) FC (sows fed FSE diet and their piglets fed control diet); (4) FF (sows and their piglets both fed FSE diet). The MIXED procedures of SAS for a split-plot arrangement with sow diet as the whole plot and nursery diet as split plot was used to analyze data. After weaning, piglets from FSE-fed sows had improved (P < 0.05) ADG and feed efficiency, and lower (P < 0.05) diarrhea rate in overall (d 1 to 28) compared with those from sows fed control diet. Piglets from FSE-fed sows also had higher (P < 0.05) contents of IgG, growth hormone, superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity in serum, villus height in ileum and villus height to crypt depth ratio in jejunum, as well as lower (P < 0.05) content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and crypt depth in ileum compared with those from sows fed control diet. Piglets fed FSE during nursery had increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of IgG, SOD and catalase, and decreased (P < 0.05) MDA and tumor nuclear factor-α levels in serum compared with those fed control diet during nursery. Piglets from FC group had increased (P < 0.05) protein expression of occludin in jejunal mucosa and relative abundance of Lactobacillus on genus level in colon compared with those from CC group. In conclusion, for the performance and intestinal health, diets supplemented with FSE during lactation phase seemed more efficient to alleviate weaning stress than the nursery phase. In terms of the antioxidant status and immunoglobulins, FSE supplemented in both phases were efficient for nursery pigs.

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PSV-11 Effects of plasma protein on growth performance and intestinal health of weaned pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz122.346 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 197-197

Author(s):

Gabriela E Martinez Padilla ◽

Ysenia Victoria Silva-Guillen ◽

Kory Moran ◽

Xi Lin ◽

Jack Odle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Plasma Protein ◽

Control Diet ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Watery Diarrhea ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Functional Protein ◽

Ki 67 ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of using plasma protein (PP) as a highly digestible, functional protein source in nursery pig diets on growth performance and intestinal health. Pigs (n = 64; 6.53 ± 0.12 kg BW) weaned at 21 d of age were blocked by litter and BW and randomly assigned within blocks to 1 of 2 dietary treatments in a 35-d study. Four pigs were housed per pen, using a total of 16 pens (8 replicate pens per treatment). Treatments were: 1) control diet (without growth-promoting minerals or antibiotics) without PP, and 2) control diet with 4% of PP replacing SBM on a 1:1 basis. Diets were fed in 3 feeding phases (7, 14, and 14 days, respectively) and PP was included in all phases. Supplementation of PP tended (P = 0.07) to increase ADG (204 vs. 150 g/d) and improved (P = 0.02) gain:feed (812 vs 572 g/kg) during wk 2 only. Individual diarrhea scores (scale from 0=very hard to 6=watery diarrhea) determined using fecal loops changed over time (P < 0.001; 2.1, 2.4, 4.1 and 3.5 for d 1, 3, 7, and 14 respectively), but were not affected by PP. No differences were detected for intestinal morphology measured on d 35 in duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Cell proliferation using Ki-67 staining was increased by PP (86.6 vs. 72.2 positive cells) only in the ileum (P = 0.03). No differences in mucosal concentrations of IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the duodenum, jejunum or ileum were detected. Number of eosinophils in blood decreased (14.1 vs. 34.8 cells/µL; P = 0.004), while red blood cell counts (5.9 vs 6.2 x 106 cells/µL; P = 0.09) and neutrophil counts (529 vs. 695 cells/µL; P = 0.07) tended to decrease with PP. Results suggest that PP was not effective in improving overall growth performance and had minimal effects on intestinal health of weanling pigs.

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Dietary Chitooligosaccharide Inclusion as an Alternative to Antibiotics Improves Intestinal Morphology, Barrier Function, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immunity of Broilers at Early Age

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9080493 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 493 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jun Li ◽

Yefei Cheng ◽

Yueping Chen ◽

Hengman Qu ◽

Yurui Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Immunoglobulin M ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Control Group ◽

Villus Height ◽

Crypt Depth ◽

Antibiotic Group

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chitooligosaccharide (COS) inclusion as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and immunity in broilers. In total, 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned into 3 groups and fed a basal diet free from antibiotics (control group) or the same basal diet further supplemented with either chlortetracycline (antibiotic group) or COS, for 21 days. Compared with the control group, inclusion of COS reduced the feed to gain ratio, the jejunal crypt depth, the plasma diamine oxidase activity, and the endotoxin concentration, as well as jejunal and ileal malondialdehyde contents, whereas increased duodenal villus height, duodenal and jejunal ratio of villus height to crypt depth, intestinal immunoglobulin G, and jejunal immunoglobulin M (IgM) contents were observed, with the values of these parameters being similar or better to that of the antibiotic group. Additionally, supplementation with COS enhanced the superoxide dismutase activity and IgM content of the duodenum and up-regulated the mRNA level of claudin three in the jejunum and ileum, when compared with the control and antibiotic groups. In conclusion, dietary COS inclusion (30 mg/kg), as an alternative to antibiotics, exerts beneficial effects on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and immunity in broilers.

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Growth Performance and Intestinal Morphometric Features of Broiler Chickens Fed on Dietary Inclusion of Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio Molitor), Larvae Powder

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1079968/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shadi Sedgh-Gooya ◽

Mehran Torki ◽

Maryam Darbemamieh ◽

Hassan Khamisabadi ◽

Alireza Abdolmohamadi

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Control Diet ◽

Tenebrio Molitor ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Control Group ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Remarkable Effect

Abstract Climate change and the lack of conventional feed ingredients have made edible insects a highly nutritious alternative to feed production. The use of insects as food may help solve socio-economic and environmental problems around the world and be in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In this study, the growth performance and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens were evaluated under the influence of adding different levels of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM meal) to their diets. One hundred eighty day-old broiler chickens were divided into 3 treatments and 5 replications (12 chickens/pen). The experimental diets included a control diet and treatments containing 2.5 and 5% TM meal, which were fed to birds in the starter (0-10 days) and grower (11-25 days) stages, and during the final period (26-42 days), all birds were fed a regular finisher diet. The results showed that the diet containing TM meal had no remarkable effect on the mortality rate and feed intake (FI) of broilers (P > 0.05). In the period of starter, the addition of 2.5% TM meal to broilers diet increased body weight gain (BWG) than the control group (P £ 0.05). Also, the use of 2.5% TM meal in the starter period showed a significant effect on reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the birds fed by the control diet (P £ 0.05). Besides, the height of the villus, the depth of the crypt, and the ratio of them were not altered among the different treatments (P > 0.05). Overall, it can be concluded that TM meal could improve growth performance in the starter period, and had no negative effects on broilers' performance and intestinal morphology in all the periods of the experiment.

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Effect of dietary organic zinc sources on growth performance, incidence of diarrhoea, serum and tissue zinc concentrations, and intestinal morphology in growing rabbits

World Rabbit Science ◽

10.4995/wrs.2017.5770 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 43 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J.Y. Yan ◽

G.W. Zhang ◽

C. Zhang ◽

L. Tang ◽

S.Y. Kuang

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Control Group ◽

Feeding Trial ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Organic Zinc ◽

Zn Concentration ◽

New Zealand White Rabbits ◽

Zinc Concentrations ◽

Dietary Treatments

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary organic zinc (Zn) sources on growth performance, the incidence of diarrhoea, serum and tissue Zn concentration, and intestinal morphology in growing rabbits. A total of 120 New Zealand White rabbits aged 35 d and with an initial body weight of 755±15 g, were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups for a 49 d feeding trial. Dietary treatments were designed with different Zn supplements as follows: (1) Control group: 80 mg/kg Zn as ZnSO4; (2) ZnLA group: 80 mg/kg Zn as Zn lactate; (3) ZnMet group: 80 mg/kg Zn as Zn methionine; (4) ZnGly group: 80 mg/kg Zn as Zn glycine. The results showed that, when compared with rabbits fed ZnSO4, supplementation with ZnLA improved (P<0.05) growth performance and led to a lower (P<0.01) incidence of diarrhoea. ZnLA supplement increased the liver Zn concentration (58.97 vs. 46.59 mg/g; P<0.05) compared with rabbits fed ZnSO4. Supplementing with ZnLA increased duodenum villi height (681.63 vs. 587.14 μm, P<0.05) and decreased duodenum crypt depth (141.69 vs. 168.91 μm; P<0.05) when compared to that of the control group. However, experimental results obtained ZnMet and ZnGly supplementation were no significantly different to ZnSO4, except that feeding ZnMet led to higher (P<0.05) Zn concentrations in serum and liver than rabbits fed ZnSO4. The results indicated that supplementation with 80 mg/kg Zn as ZnLA could improve growth performance, increase liver Zn concentration and enhance duodenum morphology, while reducing the incidence of diarrhoea in growing rabbits.

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