Supplementing volatile-flavour herbal-extract mixture to the diet of sows and their weaned offspring improves the growth performance of weaned piglets

A volatile herbal extract (VHE), consisting of 150 g/kg anethole, 15 g/kg bebaudioside A, 2.1 g/kg thymol, 2.0 g/kg eugenol and 2.3 g/kg cinnamic aldehyde, was fed to sows and their weaned offspring to evaluate its effect on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of weaned piglets. A total of 18 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly assigned to dietary treatments based on average parity (1.78) with nine replicates per treatment. The feeding period was 35 days, from d 7 before farrowing to d 7 after weaning. The lactation period was 21 d. A total of 96 piglets were randomly selected from each sow treatment group and allocated to 24 replicate pens with four pigs (mixed sex) per pen. The feeding period of weaned piglets was 35 days (phase 1, days 1-7; phase 2, days 8-21; phase 3, days 22-35). Dietary treatments in sows and weaned piglets consisted of a basal control diet with or without 500 mg/kg VHE. The data showed that VHE supplementation had no effect on the reproductive performance of sows, but improved the growth performance of weaned piglets, in which the increase of average daily gain during days 1-7 (P=0.006) and 1-35 (P=0.032) and feed efficiency during days 22-35 (P=0.026) and 1-35 (P=0.020) in weaned piglets were observed. Therefore, supplementing VHE to the diet of sows and their weaned offspring was beneficial to the growth performance of weaned piglets.

Download Full-text

Effect of supplementing lactation and nursery pig diets with capsaicin on growth performance and gene expression of nursery pigs

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txab201 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eduardo A Rosa-Medina ◽

Pedro E Urriola ◽

Jae C Jang ◽

Christopher D Faulk ◽

Lee J Johnston ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Lactating Sows ◽

Dietary Treatments

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 < 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.

Download Full-text

Excessive dietary lead reduces growth performance and increases lead accumulation in pigs

Animal Bioscience ◽

10.5713/ajas.20.0220 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 102-108

Author(s):

Hyunjun Choi ◽

Sang Yun Ji ◽

Hyunwoong Jo ◽

Minho Song ◽

Beob Gyun Kim

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Control Diet ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Feeding Period ◽

Longissimus Dorsi Muscle ◽

Hair Samples ◽

Pb Accumulation

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of dietary lead (Pb) supplementation and feeding period on growth performance, organ weight, and Pb accumulation in pigs.Methods: In a 56-day feeding experiment, a total of 48 barrows with initial body weight 10.4±0.6 kg were allotted to 2 dietary treatments (0 and 200 mg/kg of supplemental Pb) in a completely randomized design with 6 replicates. Body weight and feed intake were recorded to calculate growth performance. At the end of each 14 day-period (on days 14, 28, 42, and 56), an animal was randomly selected from each pen and slaughtered to collect blood samples, hair samples, left 5th rib, heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and longissimus dorsi muscle samples.Results: Average daily gain and average daily feed intake were reduced (p<0.05) by supplemental Pb during the day 42 to 56. Relative kidney weight to body weight was linearly increased with increasing feeding period in pigs fed the Pb-supplemented diet, but not in pigs fed the control diet (p<0.05). The Pb concentrations in hair, left 5th rib, kidneys, and lungs were linearly increased with longer feeding period in pigs fed the Pb-supplemented diet, but not in pigs fed the control diet (p<0.01).Conclusion: Dietary Pb supplementation caused growth retardation and Pb accumulation in most organs, particularly in hair, bone, and kidneys in a time-dependent manner.

Download Full-text

Effect of dietary fermented oats in different nutrient-density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and ileal microorganisms of weanling pigs

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an16410 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 59 (12) ◽

pp. 2230

Author(s):

J. W. Park ◽

H. L. Li ◽

J. K. Kim ◽

D. H. Nguyen ◽

I. H. Kim

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Weanling Pigs ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Nutrient Density ◽

Dietary Treatments

A total of 160 crossbred weanling pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc, 28 days old] with an initial bodyweight of 8.01 ± 0.74 kg were used in a 42-day trial (Phase 1: Days 1–14, Phase 2: Days 14–42). The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of fermented oats (FO) to a corn and soybean meal-based diet on the performance of weanling pigs fed with high nutrient-density (HD) and low nutrient-density (LD) diets. Pigs were randomly distributed into one of four dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Two levels of nutrient density [LD = 3323 (Phase 1: 1–14 days) and 3269 kcal/kg (Phase 2: 14–42 days); HD = 3446 (Phase 1: 1–14 days) and 3325 kcal/kg (Phase 2: 14–42 days), the differences in dietary energy were based on differences in the content of fish meal, animal fat, corn and FO [0%, 5% (Phase 1) or 2.5% (Phase 2)] were used according to the bodyweight and sex of pigs [8 replicate pens per treatment with 5 pigs in a pen (3 gilts and 2 barrows)]. During the overall trial period (Days 1–42), the average daily gain and gain:feed ratio of pigs fed HD and FO diets were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those of pigs fed with LD and non-fermented oats diets respectively. On Day 14, the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen of the HD groups were significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) than those of the LD groups. The apparent total tract digestibility of energy of the FO groups was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) than that of the non-fermented oats diet groups during the whole experimental period. Pigs fed with FO showed higher (P ≤ 0.05) ileal Lactobacillus and lower (P ≤ 0.05) Escherichia coli counts compared with those fed with the non-fermented oats diet. In conclusion, administration of FO to a LD diet demonstrated beneficial effects on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and ileal microorganisms balance of weanling pigs.

Download Full-text

Advanced Chelate Technology Based Trace Minerals Improve Growth Performance, Mineral Digestibility, Tibia Characteristics, and Antioxidant Status in Broiler Chickens

10.21203/rs.3.rs-35494/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hossein Ali Ghasemi ◽

Iman Hajkhodadadi ◽

Maryam Hafizi ◽

Kamran Taherpour ◽

Mohammad Hassan Nazaran

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Antioxidant Status ◽

Bone Mineralization ◽

Control Diet ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Trace Minerals ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Total Antioxidant ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract Background: Compared to the corresponding source of inorganic trace minerals (TM), chelated supplements are characterized by better physical heterogeneity and chemical stability and appear to be better absorbed in the gut due to possibly decreased interaction with other feed components. This study was designed in broiler chickens to determine the effects of replacing inorganic trace minerals (TM) with an advanced chelate technology based supplement (Bonzachicken) on growth performance, mineral digestibility, tibia bone quality, and antioxidant status. A total of 625 male 1-d-old broiler chickens were allocated to 25 pens and assigned to 5 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Chelated TM (CTM) supplement was compared at 3 levels to no TM (NTM) or inorganic TM. A corn–soy-based control diet was supplemented with inorganic TM at the commercially recommended levels (ITM), i.e., iron, zinc, manganese, copper, selenium, iodine, and chromium at 80, 92, 100, 16, 0.3, 1.2, and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively, and varying concentration of CTM, i.e., match to 25, 50, and 100 % of the ITM (diets CTM25, CTM50, and CTM100, respectively). Results: All diets, except diet CTM25, increased average daily gain (ADG), European performance index (EPI), and serum total antioxidant capacity compared to the NTM diet (P < 0.05). Broilers fed the CTM100 diet had lowest overall FCR and highest BWG, EPI, tibia ash, zinc, and manganese contents (P < 0.05). The tibia phosphorus content and apparent ileal digestibilities of phosphorus, zinc, and manganese were lower in the ITM group compared with the CTM50 and CTM100 groups (P < 0.05). Broiler chickens fed any of the diets exhibited higher serum glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities and lower malondialdehyde level than those fed the NTM diet, where the best values were found for CTM100 treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These results indicate that while CTM supplementation to 25 and 50% of the commercially recommended levels could support growth performance, a totally replacing ITM by equivalent levels of CTM could also improve growth performance, bone mineralization and antioxidant status of broiler chickens under the conditions of this study.

Download Full-text

78 Evaluation of the growth performance of finishing pigs (Genesus genetics) to titrated levels of dietary lysine

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa054.105 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 58-59

Author(s):

Russell W Fent ◽

Jim D Hedges ◽

Kelly M Peper ◽

Dennis O Liptrap

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Phase 3 ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract A total of 1,000 Genesus (Oakville, Manitoba, Canada) genetics pigs (51.8 kg body weight) were used to estimate the standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine requirement by dietary phase. Pigs were penned by sex at 25 pigs per pen. Pens were allotted to one of five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with eight replicate pens (four barrow, four gilt) per treatment. Growth performance was evaluated in four independent phases in which pens were re-allotted to dietary treatment between phases. Dietary SID Lys concentrations evaluated were 0.78, 0.88, 0.98, 1.08, and 1.18% for phase 1, 0.68, 0.77, 0.86, 0.95, and 1.04% for phase 2, 0.60, 0.67, 0.75, 0.83 and 0.90% for phase 3, and 0.53, 0.60, 0.67, 0.74, and 0.81% for phase 4. Diets were formulated to be isoenergetic within each phase. During phase 1 (52-64 kg), average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) increased (P < 0.01) quadratically with increasing SID Lys. Breakpoint analysis estimated the SID Lys requirement for ADG and G:F for phase 1 at 0.99 and 1.02%, respectively. During phase 2 (64-82 kg), ADG increased (P < 0.10) quadratically as dietary SID Lys increased with a plateau observed above 0.86% SID Lys. Gain:feed increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing SID Lys. During phase 3 (82-97 kg) cost of gain was a quadratic response (P < 0.10) with the breakpoint being at 0.76% SID Lys. During phase 4 (97-131 kg), a linear response (P < 0.02) in G:F was observed with increasing SID Lys but with no improvement above 0.67% SID Lys. These data indicate the SID lysine requirement for Genesus finishing pigs to be approximately 0.99% (23.0 g/d) for 52-64 kg, 0.86% (21.9 g/d) for 64-82 kg, 0.76% (20.2 g/d) for 82-97 kg, and 0.67% (21.6 g/d) 97-131 kg.

Download Full-text

Increased microbial phytase increased phytate destruction, plasma inositol, and feed efficiency of weanling pigs, but reduced dietary calcium and phosphorus did not affect gastric pH or fecal score and reduced growth performance and bone ash

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab333 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

L Vanessa Lagos ◽

Mike R Bedford ◽

Hans H Stein

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Inositol Phosphate ◽

Block Design ◽

Control Diet ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Gastric Ph ◽

Weanling Pigs ◽

Bone Ash ◽

Fecal Score

Abstract An experiment was conducted to test 2 hypotheses: 1) reducing dietary Ca and P reduces gastric pH and diarrhea in weanling pigs; 2) negative effects of low Ca and P on pig growth performance may be overcome if phytase is added to the diets. A total of 320 weanling pigs (6.35 ± 0.87 kg) were allotted to 8 corn-soybean meal-based diets in a randomized complete block design with 5 pigs per pen. Two phase 1 (d 1 to 14) control diets containing 100 or 50% of total Ca and digestible P relative to the requirement, and 6 diets in which 500, 2,000, or 16,000 units of phytase/kg feed (FTU) were added to each control diet were formulated. Phytase was assumed to release 0.16% total Ca and 0.11% digestible P. Common diets were fed in phases 2 (d 15 to 27) and 3 (d 28 to 42). Growth performance data were recorded within each phase. Data for fecal scores and gastrointestinal pH were recorded for phase 1. Colon content (d 14), the right femur (d 14 and 42), and blood samples (d -1, 14, 27, and 42) were collected from 1 pig per pen. In phase 1, reducing Ca and P did not reduce gastric pH or fecal score, but pigs fed the 50% diets had reduced (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared with pigs fed the 100% diets. In both 50 and 100% diets, phytase above 500 FTU increased (P < 0.05) gain:feed ratio (G:F) and tended (P < 0.10) to reduce gastric pH of pigs. From d 1 to 42, pigs fed the 50% diets tended (P < 0.10) to have reduced ADG and ADFI compared with pigs fed the 100% diets, but among the 100% diets, pigs tended (P < 0.10) to have a linear increase in G:F as phytase level increased. Pigs fed the 50% diets had reduced (P < 0.05) concentrations of inositol phosphate esters (IP) in the colon and reduced bone ash (d 14 and 42) compared with pigs fed the 100% diets. Phytase did not affect bone ash or most blood metabolites. Concentrations of IP in the colon decreased, whereas plasma inositol increased (d 14; P < 0.05) in pigs fed diets with phytase (≥ 500 FTU). In pigs fed the 100% diets, IP in the colon linearly decreased (P < 0.05), but plasma inositol linearly increased (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of phytase. In conclusion, reducing Ca and P in diets for weanling pigs did not influence gastric pH or fecal score, but compromised growth performance and bone ash. However, regardless of dietary Ca and P, high doses of phytase increased phytate degradation and inositol absorption, which consequently increased G:F of pigs.

Download Full-text

High inclusion rates of hybrid rye instead of corn in diets for growing-finishing pigs does not influence overall growth performance and most carcass traits are not influenced by hybrid rye

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab324 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Molly L McGhee ◽

Bailey N Harsh ◽

Hans H Stein

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Control Diet ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Traits ◽

Treatment Phase ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Phase 3 ◽

Hybrid Rye

Abstract It was hypothesized that hybrid rye may replace corn in diets for growing and finishing pigs without impacting growth performance, carcass characteristics, or meat quality. A total of 128 pigs (23.69 ± 2.51 kg) were allotted to 4 treatments with 8 replicate pens per treatment. Phase 1 and 2 diets were fed for 35 d each and phase 3 diets were fed for 27 d. Within each phase, pigs were fed a control corn and soybean meal diet or a diet in which 33, 66, or 100% of the corn in the control diet was replaced with hybrid rye. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) decreased (linear, P < 0.05) in phase 1 with increased dietary inclusion of hybrid rye. In phase 3, gain:feed (G:F) increased and then decreased (quadratic, P < 0.05) with more hybrid rye in the diet. Overall ADG, ADFI, and G:F did not differ among treatments. Diet did not impact most carcass traits, but loin (visual) and backfat (instrumental L*) color were paler (linear, P < 0.05) with greater inclusion of hybrid rye in the diet. Organ weights increased (linear, P < 0.05) with increased dietary hybrid rye. In conclusion, pigs fed hybrid rye consumed less feed in phase 1, resulting in reduced ADG, but growth performance for the entire growing-finishing period did not differ among treatments. Hybrid rye may replace all the corn in growing and finishing pig diets without diminishing growth performance or carcass quality, but feed intake may be reduced at high inclusion rates.

Download Full-text

Effects of increasing copper from either copper sulfate or combinations of copper sulfate and a copper–amino acid complex on finishing pig growth performance and carcass characteristics1,2

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txz112 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 1263-1269 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Corey B Carpenter ◽

Jason C Woodworth ◽

Joel M Derouchey ◽

Mike D Tokach ◽

Robert D Goodband ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Copper Sulfate ◽

Control Diet ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Acid Complex ◽

Distillers Grains With Solubles ◽

Amino Acid Complex ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract A total of 1,089 pigs (PIC 280 × 1050; initially 37.3 ± 2.8 kg) were used to determine the effects of increasing Cu provided from either CuSO4 alone or a 50:50 blend of CuSO4 and a Copper–amino acid complex (Cu-AA) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Pens of pigs were blocked by body weight; within blocks, pens were randomly allotted to one of six dietary treatments. The six dietary treatments consisted of a control diet which contained 17 mg/kg Cu from CuSO4 from the trace mineral premix, or the control diet with either added CuSO4 to provide 70 and 130 mg/kg total Cu or a 50:50 blend of Cu from CuSO4 and Cu-AA (CuSO4/Cu-AA blend) to provide 70, 100, and 130 mg/kg total Cu. Experimental diets were corn–soybean meal-dried distillers grains with solubles-based and fed in meal form in five phases (approximately 37 to 46, 46 to 63, 63 to 77, 77 to 103, and 103 to 129 kg body weight). From d 0 to 43, neither Cu source nor level influenced growth performance. From d 43 to 105, average daily feed intake (ADFI) decreased (P = 0.037) for pigs fed the CuSO4/Cu-AA blend compared to those fed added Cu from CuSO4 alone. Gain:feed ratio (G:F) tended to be improved (linear, P = 0.056) as Cu concentration increased. Overall, d 0 to 105, neither Cu level nor source influenced average daily gain (ADG). Pigs fed 70 or 130 mg/kg total added Cu from the CuSO4/Cu-AA blend had lower (P = 0.045) ADFI but G:F tended to be improved (P = 0.051) compared with those fed the same amount of total Cu from only CuSO4. Owing to the decreased ADFI and improved G:F of pigs fed the CuSO4/Cu-AA blend, carcass G:F also improved (P = 0.033) compared with those fed added Cu from CuSO4 alone. In conclusion, providing a 50:50 blend of CuSO4 and Cu-AA improved G:F on both a live and carcass weight basis compared to CuSO4 alone with no differences in ADG or carcass ADG observed.

Download Full-text

Supplemental Choline Modulates Growth Performance and Gut Inflammation by Altering the Gut Microbiota and Lipid Metabolism in Weaned Piglets

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/nxaa331 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 151 (1) ◽

pp. 20-29

Author(s):

Yueqin Qiu ◽

Shilong Liu ◽

Lei Hou ◽

Kebiao Li ◽

Li Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Bile Acids ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Control Diet ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Mrna Abundance ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Gut Inflammation

ABSTRACT Background Whether dietary choline and bile acids affect lipid use via gut microbiota is unclear. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of choline and bile acids on growth performance, lipid use, intestinal immunology, gut microbiota, and bacterial metabolites in weaned piglets. Methods A total of 128 weaned piglets [Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire), 21-d-old, 8.21 ± 0.20 kg body weight (BW)] were randomly allocated to 4 treatments (8 replicate pens per treatment, each pen containing 2 males and 2 females; n = 32 per treatment) for 28 d. Piglets were fed a control diet (CON) or the CON diet supplemented with 597 mg choline/kg (C), 500 mg bile acids/kg (BA) or both (C + BA) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Growth performance, intestinal function, gut microbiota, and metabolites were determined. Results Compared with diets without choline, choline supplementation increased BW gain (6.13%), average daily gain (9.45%), gain per feed (8.18%), jejunal lipase activity (60.2%), and duodenal IL10 gene expression (51%), and decreased the mRNA abundance of duodenal TNFA (TNFα) (40.7%) and jejunal toll-like receptor 4 (32.9%) (P < 0.05); additionally, choline increased colonic butyrate (29.1%) and the abundance of Lactobacillus (42.3%), while decreasing the bile acid profile (55.8% to 57.6%) and the abundance of Parabacteroides (75.8%), Bacteroides (80.7%), and unidentified-Ruminococcaceae (32.5%) (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with diets without BA, BA supplementation decreased the mRNA abundance of colonic TNFA (37.4%), NF-κB p65 (42.4%), and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (42.5%) (P ≤ 0.01); BA also increased colonic butyrate (20.9%) and the abundance of Lactobacillus (39.7%) and Faecalibacterium (71.6%) and decreased that of Parabacteroides (67.7%) (P < 0.05). Conclusions Choline supplementation improved growth performance and prevented gut inflammation in weaned piglets by altering gut microbiota and lipid metabolism. BA supplementation suppressed intestinal inflammation with no effect on growth performance, which was associated with changed gut microbiota and metabolites.

Download Full-text

Encapsulated Mixture of Methyl Salicylate and Tributyrin Modulates Intestinal Microbiota and Improves Growth Performance of Weaned Piglets

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9061342 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 1342

Author(s):

Yusen Wei ◽

Jiangdi Mao ◽

Jingliang Liu ◽

Yu Zhang ◽

Zhaoxi Deng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Methyl Salicylate ◽

Control Diet ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Physiological Status ◽

Microbiological Analysis ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Animal Blood

Tributyrin and essential oils have been used as alternatives to antimicrobials to improve gut health and growth performance in piglets. This study was to evaluate the effects of a dietary supplement with two encapsulated products containing different combinations of tributyrin with oregano or with methyl salicylate on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters related to the physiological status, intestinal microbiota and metabolites of piglets. A total of 108 weaned crossbred piglets (Yorkshire × Landrace, 21 ± 1 d, 8.21 ± 0.04 kg) were randomly divided into three groups. Piglets were fed with one of the following diets for 5 weeks: a basal diet as the control (CON); the control diet supplemented with an encapsulated mixture containing 30% of methyl salicylate and tributyrin at a dosage of 3 kg/t (CMT); and the control diet supplemented with an encapsulated mixture containing 30% of oregano oil and tributyrin at a dosage of 3 kg/t (COT). At the end of the feeding trial, six piglets from each group were slaughtered to collect blood and gut samples for physiological status and gut microbiological analysis. The study found that the CMT group was larger in feed intake (FI) (p < 0.05), average daily gain (ADG) (p = 0.09), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) (p < 0.05), blood total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.05), and crypt depth in the ileum (p < 0.05) compared with the CON group. The genus abundance of Tissierella and Campylobacter in the CMT group was significantly decreased compared with the CON group. The CMT group also resulted in significantly higher activity in amino acid metabolism and arginine biosynthesis compared with the CON group. The COT group was larger in T-AOC, and the genus abundance of Streptophyta and Chlamydia was significantly increased in the ileum compared with the CON group. Data analysis found a significantly high correlation between the genus abundance of Chlamydia and that of Campylobacter in the ileum. The genus abundance of Campylobacter was also positively correlated with the sorbitol level. In general, the results indicated that the supplementation of both encapsulated mixtures in diet of weaned piglets could improve the animal blood antioxidant capacity. Additionally, the encapsulated mixture of methyl salicylate plus tributyrin improved the growth performance and resulted in certain corresponding changes in nutrient metabolism and in the genus abundance of ileum microbial community.

Download Full-text