scholarly journals Effects of Zinc Oxide and Arginine on the Intestinal Microbiota and Immune Status of Weaned Pigs Subjected to High Ambient Temperature

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1537
Author(s):  
Se Young Yoon ◽  
Soo Jin Sa ◽  
Eun Seok Cho ◽  
Han Seo Ko ◽  
Jung Woo Choi ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the l-arginine (Arg) inclusion and different doses of ZnO on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota and integrity, and immune status of weaned pigs. A total of 180 pigs (28-day-old) were randomly allotted to six treatments with six replicate pens in each treatment and five pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were Con (1.1% Arg); P-Zn (1.1% Arg + 2500 mg Zn as ZnO/kg diet); ARG (1.6% Arg); ZnArg1 (500 mg of Zn as ZnO/kg diet + 1.6% Arg); ZnArg2 (1000 mg of Zn as ZnO/kg diet + 1.6% Arg); ZnArg3 (2500 mg of Zn as ZnO/kg diet + 1.6% Arg). The overall result showed that the inclusion of ZnArg3 significantly improved the average daily gain of pigs compared with the Con treatment. There was a reduction in feed intake in pigs fed the Con diet compared with pigs fed the ZnArg3 diet at phase 1 and overall. At phase 1, pigs fed the ZnArg3 diet and P-Zn diet showed a decreased population of Clostridium spp. in the ileum compared with those of the Con treatment. In addition, a lower ileal Clostridium spp. population was detected in pigs fed the ZnArg2 diet compared with pigs fed the Con diet. The pigs fed ZnArg1 and ZnArg3 diets showed a greater villus height of duodenum compared with the Con and P-Zn treatments. The pigs in the Con treatment showed increased mRNA expression of heat shock protein-27 in the liver compared with the P-Zn, ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 treatments. When fed the basal diet, mRNA expressions of interleukin-6 were increased in the muscle compared with the ZnArg3 treatment. Dietary supplementation with ZnArg2 decreased the mRNA expressions of interferon-γ in the muscle compared with the Con treatment. Supplementation with P-Zn, ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 decreased mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) compared with the Con treatment. The mRNA gene expressions of interleukin-4 were decreased in the jejunum of pigs fed P-Zn, ARG, ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 diets compared with pigs fed the Con diet. The jejunum gene expression of toll-like receptor-4 was upregulated in the Con and ARG treatments compared with the ZnArg1 and ZnArg3. The ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 treatments showed lower mRNA expression of TNF-α compared with the Con treatment. In conclusion, there was no difference in growth performance, intestinal microbiota, gene expression of interleukins between ZnArg1 and ZnArg3 treatments. Therefore, the low level of ZnO (500 mg/kg) plus 1.6% dietary Arg may be recommended for pigs during the weaning stress.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Se Young Yoon ◽  
SooJin Sa ◽  
Eun Seok Cho ◽  
HanSeo Ko ◽  
Ga Won Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Weaning stress is an economically important problem in the pigs, and the economic loss of the growth performance reduction is even more critical if the heat stress adds to the weaning stress. The supplementation of ZnO is an effective option in reducing the adverse effects of weaning time. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the L-arginine (Arg) inclusion and different doses of ZnO to determine the best dietary supplementation ratio on growth performance, intestinal microbiota and integrity, and immune status in weaned pigs. A total of 180 weaned pigs (28 day-old) were randomly allotted to six treatments with 6 replicate pens in each treatment and 5 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were: control diet (Con; with 1.1% Arg and without ZnO supplementation); Con + 2500 ppm Zn as ZnO (P-Zn); Con + 1.6% Arg (ARG); Con + 500 ppm of Zn as ZnO + 1.6% Arg (ZnArg1); Con + 1000 ppm of Zn as ZnO + 1.6% Arg (ZnArg2); P-Zn + 1.6% Arg (ZnArg3). Results. The overall result showed that the inclusion of ZnArg3 significantly improved the average daily gain compared with the Con treatment. There was a reduction of feed intake in the Con diet compared with the ZnArg3 diet at phase 1 and overall. At phase 1, the weaned pigs in the ZnArg3 and P-Zn groups exhibited the decreased population of Clostridium spp. in the ileum compared with those of the Con group. In addition, a lower ileal Clostridium spp. population was detected in the ZnArg2 pigs compared with the Con pigs. At phase 2, the colonization of Clostridium spp. was higher in the Con and ARG treatments compared with ZnArg3 treatment. The weaned pigs fed the ZnArg1 and ZnArg3 diets showed a greater villus height of duodenum compared with the Con and P-Zn treatments. The count of eosinophil was significantly higher in the Con and ZnArg1 compared with the ZnArg2 and ZnArg3 treatments. The weaned pigs in the Con group showed increased mRNA expression of HSP27 in the liver compared with the P-Zn, ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 groups. When fed the basal diet, weaned pigs exhibited enhanced mRNA expressions of IL-6 in the muscle compared with the ZnArg3 group. Dietary supplementation with ZnArg2 decreased the mRNA expressions of IFNγ in the muscle compared with the Con group. Supplementation with P-Zn, ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 exhibited decreased mRNA expressions of TNF-α compared with the Con group. The mRNA gene expressions of IL-4 were decreased in the jejunum of P-Zn, ARG, ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 weaned pigs compared with the Con group. The jejunum gene expression of TLR4 was upregulated in the Con and ARG treatments compared with the ZnArg1 and ZnArg3. The ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 treatments showed a lower mRNA expression of TNF-α compared with the Con group. Conclusion. The Arg supplementation did not improve the growth performance, microbial composition, or immune status of weaned pigs but showed a similar growth performance when supplemented with 500 ppm Zn as ZnO compared with 2500 ppm Zn as ZnO.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 175-176
Author(s):  
Joaquin J Sanchez Zannatta ◽  
L F Wang ◽  
Eduardo Beltranena ◽  
Aaron D Beattie ◽  
Rex N Newkirk ◽  
...  

Abstract Barley grain containing more fermentable starch or fiber might be an attractive energy source in weaned pig diets due to benefits on gut health. Barley rapidly-fermentable carbohydrates may serve as prebiotic and slowly-fermentable fiber may decrease diarrhea in weaned pigs. Steam-explosion processing may disrupt the fiber matrix of hulls, increasing slowly-fermentable fiber of barley. To explore, 220 pigs were fed 1 of 5 diets containing 60% cereal grain: 1) low-fermentable hulled barley (LFB); 2) LFB steam-exploded (LFB-E; 1.2 MPa, 120 s); 3) high β-glucan (10% DM) hull-less barley (HFB); 4) high amylose (17% DM) hull-less barley (HFA); or 5) low-fermentable wheat (LFW). Diets were fed starting 1-week post-weaning and formulated to provide 2.4 and 2.3 Mcal net energy (NE)/kg, 5.5 and 5.1 g standardized ileal digestible lysine/Mcal NE for phase 1 (day 1–14) and phase 2 (day 15–35), respectively. For the entire trial (day 1–35), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) of pigs did not differ among diets. Gain:feed (G:F) did not differ between LFB and LFW diets, but steam-explosion of hulled barley reduced (P < 0.05) G:F. Feces consistency did not differ between LFB and LFW diets, but was better (P < 0.05) for LFB than HFB, HFA and LFB-E diets. For phase 1, G:F of pigs was lower (P < 0.05) for LFB-E diet than LFW diet. For days 22–28, LFB-E diet had greater (P < 0.01) ADFI than HFA diet and tended (P = 0.09) to have a greater ADG than HFB diet. In conclusion, hulled or hull-less barley grain replaced wheat grain without affecting growth performance in weaned pigs. Hulled barley increased feces consistency. Steam-explosion of hulled barley did not increase growth performance of weaned pigs. Barley grain is an attractive energy source for weaned pigs for managing growth and feces consistency.


2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (5) ◽  
pp. 688-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Leonard ◽  
T. Sweeney ◽  
B. Bahar ◽  
B. P. Lynch ◽  
J. V. O'Doherty

The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of a seaweed extract (SWE) to sows and weaned pigs on post-weaning growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal microflora, volatile fatty acid concentrations and immune status of pigs at days 11 and 117 post-weaning. Gestating sows (n20) were supplemented with a SWE (0v.10·0 g/d) from day 107 of gestation until weaning (day 26). At weaning, pigs (four pigs per sow) were divided into two groups based on sow diet during lactation and supplemented with a SWE (0v.2·8 g/kg diet), resulting in four treatment groups: (1) BB (basal sows–basal pigs); (2) BS (basal sows–treated pigs); (3) SB (treated sows–basal pigs); (4) SS (treated sows–treated pigs). Pigs weaned from SWE-supplemented sows had a higher average daily gain (ADG) between days 0 and 21 (P < 0·05) post-weaning compared with pigs weaned from non-SWE-supplemented sows. Pigs offered post-weaning diets (PW) containing SWE had decreased colonicEscherichia colipopulations on day 11 (P < 0·01) and decreased colonic Enterobacteriaceae numbers on day 117 (P < 0·05). Pigs offered PW containing SWE had a greater mRNA abundance ofMUC2in the colon at day 11 post-weaning (P < 0·05) compared with pigs offered unsupplemented diets. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that SWE supplementation post-weaning provides a dietary means to improve gut health and to enhance growth performance in starter pigs. Dietary SWE supplementation increased ADG during the grower–finisher (GF) phases. However, there was no growth response to SWE inclusion in GF diets when pigs were weaned from SWE-supplemented sows.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 333-334
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Kyoung ◽  
Myungwoo Cho ◽  
Hanbae Lee ◽  
Sangwoo Park ◽  
Joowon Kang ◽  
...  

Abstract The study was conducted to investigate effects of yeast cell wall product on growth performance, immune responses, and gene expression of tight junction proteins of weaned pigs. A total of 112 weaned pigs (7.98 ± 0.43 kg BW) were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments (8 pigs/pen; 7 replicates/treatments) for 4 weeks in a randomized complete block design (block = BW). Dietary treatments were 1) a commercial basal nursery diet (CON) and 2) CON + 0.05% yeast cell wall product (YCW, EasyBio Inc., Seoul, Korea). Blood was collected from one randomly selected pig per pen on d 0, 7, and 14 after weaning. The randomly selected one pig per replicate was euthanized to collect ileum tissue samples at the end of the experimental period. Measurements were growth performance, number of white blood cells (WBC) by an automated hematology analyzer calibrated for porcine blood, cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by the ELISA, and gene expression of tight junction in ileum tissues. Data were analyzed using the PROC GLM procedure of SAS. The statistical model for every measurement included dietary effect and BW as a covariate. Pigs fed YCW had higher (P &lt; 0.10) ADG than those fed CON during overall experimental period. Pigs fed YCW had lower WBC on d 14 (P &lt; 0.10), TNF-α on d 7 (P &lt; 0.10), and decreased IL-1β on d 14 (P &lt; 0.05) than those fed CON. In addition, The YCW increased (P &lt; 0.05) expression of Claudin family, Occludin, Muc1, INF-α, and IL-6, but decreased (P &lt; 0.05) expression of TNF-α genes in the ileum tissues compared with CON. In conclusion, addition of yeast cell wall product in the nursery diet improved growth performance and gut health and modified immune responses of weaned pigs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingsong Tang ◽  
Hongbo Yi ◽  
Weibin Hong ◽  
Qiwen Wu ◽  
Xuefen Yang ◽  
...  

Lactobacillus plantarum CGMCC 1258 and Lactobacillus reuteri LR1 are two important strains of probiotics. However, their different advantages in the probiotic effect of weaned pigs are still poorly understood. Therefore, the study was to investigate the comparative effects of dietary supplementation of L. plantarum CGMCC 1258 and L. reuteri LR1 on growth performance, antioxidant function, and intestinal immunity in weaned pigs. Ninety barrows [initial body weight (BW) = 6.10 ± 0.1 kg] 21 days old were randomly divided into 3 treatments with 5 replicates, each replicate containing 6 pigs. Pigs in control (CON) were fed a basal diet, and the basal diets supplemented with 5 × 1010 CFU/kg L. plantarum CGMCC 1258 (LP) or L. reuteri LR1 (LR) for 42 days, respectively. The results showed that LP increased (p &lt; 0.05) serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), and decreased (p &lt; 0.05) serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and the expression and secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in intestinal mucosa, but has no significant effect on growth performance and diarrheal incidence. However, LR increased (p &lt; 0.05) final BW and average daily gain (ADG), reduced (p &lt; 0.05) 29–42-day diarrheal incidence, decreased (p &lt; 0.05) the expression and secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, and increased (p &lt; 0.05) the expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in intestinal mucosa. In addition, the serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), mRNA relative expression of Na+-K+-2Cl– co-transporter 1 (NKCC1) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the content of toll-like relative (TLR2) and TLR4 in the jejunum, and secretory immunoglobulin (sIgA) content of ileal mucosa were higher (p &lt; 0.05) than LP. Collectively, dietary L. plantarum CGMCC 1258 improved intestinal morphology, intestinal permeability, intestinal immunity, and antioxidant function in weaned pigs. Dietary L. reuteri LR1 showed better growth performance, a lower incidence of diarrhea, better intestinal morphology, and a higher extent of immune activation in weaned pigs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingyuan Yi ◽  
Jiaxin Liu ◽  
Yufeng Zhang ◽  
Hanzhen Qiao ◽  
Fang Chen ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary anethole supplementation on the growth performance, intestinal barrier function, inflammatory response, and intestinal microbiota of piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88. Thirty-six weaned piglets (24 ± 1 days old) were randomly allocated into four treatment groups: (1) sham challenge (CON); (2) Escherichia coli K88 challenge (ETEC); (3) Escherichia coli K88 challenge + antibiotics (ATB); and (4) Escherichia coli K88 challenge + anethole (AN). On day 12, the piglets in the ETEC, ATB, and AN group were challenged with 10 mL E. coli K88 (5 × 109 CFU/mL), whereas the piglets in the CON group were orally injected with 10 mL nutrient broth. On day 19, all the piglets were euthanized for sample collection. The results showed that the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was increased in the Escherichia coli K88-challenged piglets, which was reversed by the administration of antibiotics or anethole (P &lt; 0.05). The duodenum and jejunum of the piglets in ETEC group exhibited greater villous atrophy and intestinal morphology disruption than those of the piglets in CON, ATB, and AN groups (P &lt; 0.05). Administration of anethole protected intestinal barrier function and upregulated mucosal layer (mRNA expression of mucin-1 in the jejunum) and tight junction proteins (protein abundance of ZO-1 and Claudin-1 in the ileum) of the piglets challenged with Escherichia coli K88 (P &lt; 0.05). In addition, administration of antibiotics or anethole numerically reduced the plasma concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α (P &lt; 0.1) and decreased the mRNA expression of TLR5, TLR9, MyD88, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in the jejunum of the piglets after challenge with Escherichia coli K88 (P &lt; 0.05). Dietary anethole supplementation enriched the abundance of beneficial flora in the intestines of the piglets. In summary, anethole can improve the growth performance of weaned piglets infected by ETEC through attenuating intestinal barrier disruption and intestinal inflammation.


Author(s):  
Eduardo A Rosa-Medina ◽  
Pedro E Urriola ◽  
Jae C Jang ◽  
Christopher D Faulk ◽  
Lee J Johnston ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementing capsaicin in diets for lactating sows and their offspring on the growth performance and gene expression of pigs post-weaning. Twenty-eight multiparous sows were fed corn-soybean meal-based diets without (n = 14) and with (n = 14) capsaicin (2.5 mg/kg) during a 19-d lactation period. Litters from these sows (n = 288 pigs) were weaned and assigned to 36 blocks (pens) based on maternal dietary treatment and initial body weight (BW) to provide 8 pigs/pen. Blocks were assigned randomly to one of two nursery dietary treatments (control or capsaicin supplemented diets) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to provide 9 replications per treatment combination. A 3-phase nursery feeding program was used and consisted of feeding phase 1 (weaning to d 7), phase 2 (d 8 to 21), and phase 3 (d 22 to 38) diets post-weaning, without and with 1.0, 1.3, and 1.6 mg capsaicin per kg of diet, respectively. Data were analyzed using a mixed model with the effect of nursery dietary treatment nested within sow lactation treatment, the effect of time with repeated measures, and interactions between treatments and wk post-weaning. On d 38 post-weaning, blood samples were collected from one pig in each pen (n = 36) with BW closest to the pen average for RNA sequencing and gene expression analysis. There were no effects of feeding capsaicin diets to lactating sows and/or their weaned offspring on BW, average daily gain, or average daily feed intake of pigs during the 35-d nursery period. However, pigs weaned from sows fed capsaicin during lactation and continuing to be fed capsaicin diets during the nursery period tended (P = 0.09) to have greater gain:feed (G:F) than pigs fed the other dietary treatments. Furthermore, there was an interaction (P &lt; 0.01) for G:F for dietary treatment and wk post-weaning, where the magnitude of improvement was greater during the first wk post-weaning than subsequent wks. There were a limited number of differentially expressed genes among dietary treatment combinations but the greatest number occurred in offspring from sows that were fed capsaicin during lactation. In conclusion, the combination of feeding capsaicin to sows during lactation and to their offspring after weaning appears to improve gain efficiency for the first wk post-weaning and may alter gene expression to a greater extent than when capsaicin is supplemented only in the nursery diets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (12) ◽  
pp. 4875-4882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki Beom Jang ◽  
Sung Woo Kim

Abstract Intestinal challenges upon weaning would increase the needs of nucleotides for enterocyte proliferation, whereas de novo synthesis maybe insufficient. This study aimed to evaluate supplemental effects of dietary nucleotides on intestinal health and growth performance in newly weaned pigs. Fifty newly weaned pigs (19-d-old, 25 barrows and 25 gilts, 4.76 ± 0.42 kg BW) were individually housed and allotted to 5 treatments with increasing nucleotide supplementation (0, 50, 150, 250, and 500 mg/kg) based on a randomized complete block design with the initial BW and sex as blocks. Dietary nucleotides were provided from YT500 (Hinabiotech, Guangzhou, China). Pigs were fed for 21 d based on 2 phases (phase 1: 11 d and phase 2: 10 d) and experimental diets were formulated to meet or exceed nutrient requirements suggested by NRC (2012). Feed intake and BW were recorded. Titanium oxide (0.4%) was added as an indigestible marker from day 17. Plasma collected on day 18 was used to measure tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Pigs were euthanized on day 21 to collect tissues to evaluate TNF-α, IL-6, MDA, morphology, and crypt cell proliferation rate in the jejunum. Ileal digesta were collected to measure ileal nutrient digestibility. Data were analyzed using contrasts in the MIXED procedure of SAS. Nucleotide supplementation increased (P &lt; 0.05) ADFI in phase 1. Nucleotide supplementation at 50 and 150 mg/kg increased (P &lt; 0.05) ADG in phase 1, whereas increased (P &lt; 0.05) ADFI and tended to increase (P = 0.082) ADG in overall. Increasing nucleotide supplementation changed (quadratic, P &lt; 0.05) villus height-crypt ratio (at 247 mg/kg) and decreased (linear, P &lt; 0.05) crypt cell proliferation rate in the jejunum. Increasing nucleotide supplementation reduced (P &lt; 0.05) jejunal IL-6 (at 50 and 150 mg/kg) and tended to change (quadratic, P = 0.074) plasma MDA (at 231 mg/kg). Nucleotide supplementation at 50 and 150 mg/kg increased (P &lt; 0.05) ileal digestibility of energy and ether extract. In conclusion, nucleotide supplementation at a range of 50 to 250 mg/kg in the diets seems to be beneficial to newly weaned pigs by enhancing growth performance possibly due to reduced intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress as well as improved intestinal villi structure and energy digestibility.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 504
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Kyoung ◽  
Jeong Jae Lee ◽  
Jin Ho Cho ◽  
Jeehwan Choe ◽  
Joowon Kang ◽  
...  

Dietary glutamic acid (GLU) is used as a feed additive because of its functional characteristics that may affect the growth performance and health of pigs. This study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary GLU on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune responses, and intestinal health of weaned pigs. A total of ninety-six weaned pigs (8.07 ± 1.17 kg of body weight; 28 days of age) were assigned to two dietary treatments (8 pigs/pen; 6 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (block: body weight): (1) a typical weaner diet (CON) and (2) CON supplemented with 0.5% GLU. The experimental period was for 4 weeks. All data and sample collections were performed at the specific time points during the experimental period. Pigs fed GLU had higher average daily gain and average daily feed intake for the first two weeks and nutrient digestibility than pigs fed CON. In addition, dietary GLU increased villus height to crypt depth ratio, number of goblet cells, and ileal gene expression of claudin family and occludin compared with CON, but decreased serum TNF-α and IL-6 and ileal gene expression of TNF-α. Moreover, pigs fed GLU had increased relative composition of bacterial communities of genus Prevotella and Anaerovibrio and decreased genus Clostridium and Terrisporobacter compared with those fed CON. This study suggests that dietary GLU influences growth performance and health of weaned pigs by modulating nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, ileal gene expression of tight junction proteins and cytokines, immune responses, and microbial community in the gut.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 3007-3015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kory Moran ◽  
Pete Wilcock ◽  
Amanda Elsbernd ◽  
Cate Zier-Rush ◽  
R Dean Boyd ◽  
...  

Abstract A total of 2,156 weaned pigs (6.75 ± 0.11 kg BW) were used in a 42-d study to evaluate whether improvements in growth performance associated with super-dosing phytase can be explained by the complete dephosphorylation of phytate and liberation of inositol. Two phytase doses (0 and 2,500 FTU/kg) and 3 inositol concentrations (0%, 0.15%, and 0.30%) were combined to create 6 dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Pigs were fed a 3-phase feeding program, with periods being 10, 10, and 22 d, respectively. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 21, and 42 from a subset of 48 pigs to analyze mineral and myo-inositol concentrations. During Phase 1, super-dosing phytase tended to improve ADG compared with pigs fed diets without phytase (P = 0.09). Increasing concentrations of inositol improved the efficiency of gain in pigs fed diets without phytase (1,022.1, 1,040.9, and 1,089.2 g/kg), but not diets with phytase (1,102.2, 1,087.2, and 1,076.2 g/kg), and this improvement was equivalent to that observed with super-dosing phytase in the absence of inositol (interaction, P = 0.015). During Phase 2, super-dosing phytase improved ADG (P = 0.001), resulting in heavier BW (P = 0.007). During Phase 3 and overall, inositol supplementation increased ADG and ADFI in a quadratic manner (P < 0.10), with the highest ADG and ADFI observed for pigs fed 0.15% of inositol. Super-dosing phytase increased serum Zn on day 21, but not on day 42 (interaction, P = 0.008), increased serum Cu (P = 0.01), but decreased serum Fe (P = 0.02). Plasma myo-inositol increased linearly from 66.9 to 97.1 and 113.2 nmol/mL with increasing inositol (P < 0.001). When plasma myo-inositol was analyzed within the subgroup of pigs fed diets without added inositol, super-dosing phytase increased plasma myo-inositol from 57.81 to 76.05 nmol/mL (0 and 2,500 FTU/kg, respectively; P = 0.05). Results demonstrate that exogenous inositol improved efficiency of gain in weaned pigs to the same level as that observed with super-dosing phytase, but this occurred only during the first 10 d of the nursery period. This suggests that the improvement in efficiency of growth when applying super-dosing phytase could be linked, in part, to complete dephosphorylation of phytate and liberation of myo-inositol, and that myo-inositol had a greater metabolic impact in piglets immediately after weaning. Consequently, myo-inositol may be a conditionally essential nutrient for young pigs during weaning stress, but further research is needed to prove this hypothesis.


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