Eucommia Ulmoides Flavones as Potential Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in a Low-protein Diet Improve Growth Performance and Intestinal Health in Weaning Piglets
Abstract Background: Eucommia ulmoides flavones (EUF), have been demonstrated to attenuate the inflammation and oxidative stress of piglets. This study was designed to test whether EUF could be used as an antibiotic growth promoter alternative to support growth performance and maintain intestinal health in weanling-piglets. Weaned-piglets (n = 480) were assigned into 3 groups and fed with a low-protein basal diet (NC), or supplementation with antibiotics (75 mg/kg quinocetone, 20 mg/kg virginomycin and 50 mg/kg aureomycin, PC) or 0.01% EUF (EUF). Blood, intestinal contents and intestine were collected on d-15 and d-35 after weaning, respectively. Results: The results showed that the body weight on d-35, average daily gain and gain : feed ratio from d 15 to d 35 and d 0 to d 35 in piglets of PC and EUF treatments were higher than (P < 0.05) these in NC treatment, whereas the initial body weight among 3 treatments were consistent. PC and EUF treatments decreased (P < 0.05) the diarrhea index of weanling piglets. Dietary supplementation of EUF significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) the serum concentrations of total protein, alanine transaminase and the immunoglobulin G on d-15 of piglets compared to piglets in NC treatment. EUF supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the jejunal villus height : crypt depth ratio, jejunal and ileal villus height and the population of ileal lactic acid bacteria on d-15 but remarkable decreased (P < 0.05) the population of ileal coliform bacteria on d-15 and d-35. Conclusion: These findings indicated the EUF, as the potential alternative to in-feed antibiotic growth promoter, could improve growth performance and intestinal morphology, decreasing colonization of coliform bacteria and diarrhea index in weanling piglets.