The effects of dietary supplementation with porous zinc oxide on growth performance,intestinal microbiota,morphology, and permeability in weaned piglets

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with porous zinc oxide (HiZox) on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, morphology, and permeability in weaned piglets. A total of 128 weaned piglets [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of (6.55 ± 0.25 kg; 21 d of age) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: (1) a corn‐soybean basal diet; (2) basal diet + 3,000 mg/kg conventional ZnO; (3) basal diet + 200 mg/kg HiZox; (4) basal diet + 500 mg/kg HiZox. The experiments lasted for 28 days. Incremental HiZox in the diet increased ADG (linear p = 0.015; quadratic p = 0.043) and ADFI (linear p = 0.027; quadratic p = 0.038), and the diarrhea index decreased linearly and quadratically (p < 0.01) as HiZox supplemented increased. Furthermore, supplementation with HiZox increased the amounts of Lactobacillus spp. (p < 0.05) in the ileum and cecum in comparison with that of control treatment or 3,000 mg/kg ZnO treatment, while decreased the populations of Escherichia coli, Clostridium coccoides, and Clostridium. leptum subgroup (p < 0.05) in the ileum and cecum relative to those in control treatment. The addition of HiZox increased the villus height and villus‐to‐crypt ratio (VC) of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (p < 0.05), while decreased the crypt depth of jejunum (p < 0.05) and tended to reduce the crypt depth of duodenum (p < 0.10) compared with the control treatment. Piglets fed with 500 mg/kg HiZox had lower serum D‐lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) than those fed with basal control diet or 3,000 mg/kg ZnO diet (p < 0.01). The results suggested that supplementation with HiZox modulated intestinal microbial composition and improved intestinal morphology, which may exert protective effects on the integrity of the mucosal barrier function of weaned piglets, was as efficacious as pharmaceutical doses of ZnO in enhancing growth performance, indicating that the HiZox may be a promising alternative to pharmaceutical doses of ZnO.     

维生素A对海南和牛抗氧化指标及血液生化指标的影响

试验在海南和牛日粮中添加不同水平的维生素A,研究其对海南和牛血液生化指标和抗氧化性的影响。选体重和胎次相近的海南和牛12头,随机分为4个处理组,每个处理组设3个重复,每个重复1头牛,对照组饲喂干稻草基础日粮,试验组在对照组日粮基础上分别添加2500、5000、7500 IU/kg维生素A,试验期为40 d。结果表明:①维生素A的添加水平对海南和牛的血清抗氧化性指标的影响差异不显著(P＞0.05),但随着日粮中维生素A添加水平的提高,海南和牛的血清抗氧化能力逐渐增强;②维生素A的添加水平可显著提高血液中葡萄糖的含量(P＜0.05),同时随着维生素A添加水平的提高还可以提高血液中一些关键酶的活性(P＞0.05)。因此,日粮中添加维生素A可以提高海南和牛血液中一些关键酶的活性和血清的抗氧化能力,并以添加7500 IU/kg组效果最好。     

Milk selenium content and speciation in response to supranutritional selenium yeast supplementation in cows

The effects of selenium (Se) yeast supplementation on performance, blood biochemical and antioxidant parameters, and milk Se content and speciation were evaluated. Thirty-six mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) control (basal diet containing Se at 0.11 mg/kg DM), 2) basal diet + 0.5 mg supplemental Se/kg DM (SY-0.5), and 3) basal diet + 5 mg supplemental Se/kg DM (SY-5). Selenium was supplemented as Se yeast. The trial consisted of a 1-week pretrial period and an 8-week experimental period. Milk somatic cell score decreased with SY-5 supplementation (P < 0.05), but other performance parameters were not affected (P > 0.05). The serum Se concentration increased with the increasing levels of Se yeast supplementation (P < 0.05), however, blood biochemical parameters showed few treatment effects. The antioxidant capacity of dairy cows was improved with Se yeast supplementation reflected in increased serum glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.05) and total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.08), and decreased malondialdehyde concentration (P < 0.05). Milk total Se concentration increased with Se dose (P < 0.05). Also, the selenomethionine concentration increased with Se dose from 13.0 ± 0.7 μg/kg in control to 33.1 ± 2.1 μg/kg in SY-0.5 and 530.4 ± 17.5 μg/kg in SY-5 cows (P < 0.05). Similarly, selenocystine concentration increased from 15.6 ± 0.9 μg/kg in control and 18.9 ± 1.1 μg/kg in SY-0.5 to 22.2 ± 1.5 μg/kg in SY-5 cows (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Se yeast is a good organic Se source to produce Se-enriched cow milk with increased Se species including selenomethionine and selenocystine. The results can provide useful information on milk Se species when a high dose Se yeast was supplemented in the cow diet.     

Effect of vitamin A and/or E on plasma enzymatic antioxidant systems and total antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens challenged with carbon tetrachloride

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitamin A and E supplementation on the antioxidant defences of broiler chickens against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced oxidative stress at 4 weeks of age. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities as well as total antioxidant (TAO) level were analysed before and after CCl(4) challenge. Day-old Lohman broiler chickens (n = 144) were randomly assigned to six factorially arranged dietary treatments consisting of vitamin A [1.35 (control) or +20 mg/kg] and vitamin E [20 (control), +40 or +60 mg/kg]. The background of vitamins A and E in the basal diet was 4500 IU (1.35 mg) and 30 IU (20 mg) respectively. At 4 weeks of age, eight chickens from each treatment were bled before interperitoneal injection with 1 ml of CCl(4) (mixed with olive oil in a ratio of 1:1) and bled again 24 h post-injection. Vitamin E supplementation decreased (p < 0.05) the activity of both SOD and GPX and showed a tendency (p = 0.07) for TAO reduction. CCl(4) attenuated SOD and GPX activities as well as TAO level. The decrease was profound (p < 0.05) in chickens fed the basal diet as well as those fed basal diet supplemented with 20 mg vitamin A. TAO levels behaved similarly when chickens were challenged with CCl(4). After CCl(4) injection, SOD activities of all experimental groups were equivalent. The presence of vitamin A decreased (p < 0.05) plasma GPX activity in chickens fed the basal diet supplemented with 40 mg/kg of vitamin E. Results of this experiment suggested that vitamin E supplementation elevated antioxidant enzyme activities while vitamin A supplementation attenuated this effect. Vitamin E supplementation improved the total reducing power by maintaining comparable levels of TAO upon CCl(4) challenge. Further experiments need to be carried out to investigate the role of vitamin A in oxidative stress and to evaluate the lipid peroxidation products.     

Effects of composite antimicrobial peptide on growth performance and health in weaned piglets

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of composite antimicrobial peptide (CAP) on growth performance and health status in weaned piglets. Over 28 days, 36 weaned piglets (body weight, 10.58 ± 0.99 kg) underwent three treatments: negative control (NC, basal diet), positive control (PC, basal diet + 20 mg/kg colistin sulphate + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin), and CAP treatment (CAP, basal diet with 400 mg/kg CAP). Average daily gain of piglets fed the CAP diet was greater (P < 0.05) than that of piglets fed the PC or NC diet during days 1–7, 8–14 and 15–21. Diarrhea rates of piglets fed the CAP or PC diet were lower (P < 0.05) than those of NC‐fed piglets during days 1–7. Apparent total tract digestibility for dry matter and crude ash in CAP‐fed piglets was greater (P < 0.05) than that of NC‐fed piglets. In the CAP group, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts were greater (P < 0.05) and Escherichia coli counts were lower (P < 0.05) than numbers for the NC group. Our results indicate that dietary CAP had beneficial effects on growth performance and health status in weaned piglets.     

饲粮维生素A添加水平对7～12月龄梅花鹿生长性能、血清生化指标及初角茸生长的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮维生素A添加水平对7~12月龄梅花鹿生长性能、血清生化指标及初角茸生长的影响。选取40只7月龄平均体重为(39.64±4.10)kg的健康雄性梅花鹿,随机分成4组,每组10个重复,每个重复1只,分别饲喂在基础饲粮(含5 mg/kgβ-胡萝卜素)中添加0(对照组)、2 500、5 000和10 000IU/kg维生素A的试验饲粮。试验期从7月龄开始至12月龄结束。结果表明:1)饲粮维生素A添加水平对梅花鹿生长性能无显著性影响(P0.05)。2)与对照组相比,饲粮添加2 500、5 000IU/kg维生素A显著提高梅花鹿血清免疫球蛋白A(IgA)含量、总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性(P0.05),饲粮添加2 500、5 000、10 000IU/kg维生素A显著提高谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P0.05),饲粮维生素A添加水平对血清免疫球蛋白G(IgG)、免疫球蛋白M(IgM)、丙二醛(MDA)、睾酮(T)及雌二醇(E2)含量无显著性影响(P0.05)。3)5 000IU/kg维生素A添加组初角茸干茸重显著高于对照组(P0.05),但与其他2组差异不显著(P0.05)。由此得出,在本试验条件下,适量添加维生素A能够增强7~12月龄梅花鹿免疫和抗氧化功能,提高初角茸干茸重。7~12月龄梅花鹿饲喂以玉米和苜蓿草粉为主的饲粮时,饲粮维生素A适宜添加水平为2 500~5 000IU/kg。     

Imbalanced dietary methionine-to-sulfur amino acid ratio can affect amino acid profiles,antioxidant capacity,and intestinal morphology of piglets

Animal protein sources such as fishmeal and plasma powder are excellent and indispensable sources of energy, amino acids, and minerals in animal production. Amino acid imbalance, especially methionine-to-sulfur amino acid (Met:SAA) ratio, caused by an imbalance of animal protein meal leads to growth restriction. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of imbalanced Met:SAA ratio supplementation of different animal protein source diets on growth performance, plasma amino acid profiles, antioxidant capacity and intestinal morphology in a piglet model. Twenty-four weaned piglets (castrated males; BW = 10.46 ± 0.34 kg), assigned randomly into 3 groups (8 piglets/group), were fed for 28 d. Three experimental diets of equal energy and crude protein levels were as follows: 1) a corn-soybean basal diet with a Met:SAA ratio at 0.51 (BD); 2) a plasma powder diet with a low Met:SAA ratio at 0.41 (L-MR); 3) a fishmeal diet with a high Met:SAA ratio at 0.61 (H-MR). Results revealed that compared to BD, L-MR significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the activities of plasma total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase, plasma amino acid profiles, and significantly reduced (P < 0.05) villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum. Additionally, L-MR significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression level of solute carrier family 7 member 9 (SlC7A9) in the ileum, and significantly increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expression levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the duodenum, and Claudin-1, ZO-1, sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporters 2 (SNAT2) and SlC7A7 in the jejunum. H-MR significantly increased (P < 0.05) plasma SAA levels, and significantly reduced (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake, villus height, and villus height-to-crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio in the ileum compared to BD. In conclusion, L-MR may result in oxidative stress and villous atrophy but proves beneficial in improving intestinal barrier function and the activity of amino acid transporters for compensatory growth. H-MR may impair intestinal growth and development for weaned piglets. The research provides a guidance on the adequate Met:SAA ratio (0.51) supplementation in diet structure for weaned piglets.     

Dietary dihydroartemisinin supplementation alleviates intestinal inflammatory injury through TLR4/NOD/NF-κB signaling pathway in weaned piglets with intrauterine growth retardation

The aim of present study was to evaluate whether diets supplemented with dihydroartemisinin (DHA) could alleviate intestinal inflammatory injury in weaned piglets with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Twelve normal birth weight (NBW) piglets and 12 piglets with IUGR were fed a basal diet (NBW-CON and IUCR-CON groups), and another 12 piglets with IUGR were fed the basal diet supplemented with DHA at 80 mg/kg (IUGR-DHA group) from 21 to 49 d of age. At 49 d of age, 8 piglets with similar body weight in each group were sacrificed. The jejunal and ileal samples were collected for further analysis. The results showed that IUGR impaired intestinal morphology, increased intestinal inflammatory response, raised enterocyte apoptosis and reduced enterocyte proliferation and activated transmembrane toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Dihydroartemisinin inclusion ameliorated intestinal morphology, indicated by increased villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, villus surface area and decreased villus width of piglets with IUGR (P < 0.05). Compared with NBW piglets, IUGR piglets supplemented with DHA exhibited higher apoptosis index and caspase-3 expression, and lower proliferation index and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in the intestine (P < 0.05). Dihydroartemisinin supplementation attenuated the intestinal inflammation of piglets with IUGR, indicated by increased concentrations of intestinal inflammatory cytokines and lipopolysaccharides (P < 0.05). In addition, DHA supplementation down-regulated the related mRNA expressions of TLR4/NOD/NF-κB signaling pathway and upregulated mRNA expressions of negative regulators of TLR4 and NOD signaling pathway in the intestine of piglets with IUGR (P < 0.05). Piglets in the IUGR-DHA group showed lower protein expressions of TLR4, phosphorylated NF-κB (pNF-κB) inhibitor α, nuclear pNF-κB, and higher protein expression of cytoplasmic pNF-κB in the intestine than those in the IUGR-CON group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, DHA supplementation could improve intestinal morphology, regulate enterocyte proliferation and apoptosis, and alleviate intestinal inflammation through TLR4/NOD/NF-κB signaling pathway in weaned piglets with IUGR.     

饲粮维生素D添加水平对蛋雏鸭免疫及抗氧化功能的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮维生素D添加水平对1～28日龄蛋雏鸭免疫及抗氧化功能的影响,以探讨饲粮维生素D的适宜添加量。试验选取健康、体重相近的1日龄金定蛋雏鸭180只,随机分为5组(Ⅰ～Ⅴ组),每组6个重复,每个重复6只试鸭。采用玉米-豆粕型基础饲粮,Ⅰ组(对照组)试鸭饲喂基础饲粮,Ⅱ～Ⅴ组试鸭分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加110、220、550、1 000 IU/kg维生素D的试验饲粮,试验期4周。结果表明:饲粮添加550 IU/kg维生素D可显著提高胸腺指数、脾脏指数(P<0.05),并显著增强肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P<0.05),降低血清白细胞介素-2(IL-2)及血清和肝脏丙二醛(MDA)含量(P<0.05);饲粮添加220、550 IU/kg维生素D可显著提高血清总蛋白(TP)和白蛋白(ALB)含量(P<0.05),并显著增强血清SOD和GSH-Px活性及血清和肝脏总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)(P<0.05)。综合本试验结果,在玉米-豆粕型基础饲粮中添加适量的维生素D可提高1～28日龄蛋雏鸭的免疫及抗氧化功能。综合考虑各指标,通过二次回归模型估测得出维生素D适宜添加量为512.8～550.0 IU/kg。     

Dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis PB6 improves sow reproductive performance and reduces piglet birth intervals

We investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis PB6 (B. subtilis PB6) during late gestation and lactation on sow reproductive performance, antioxidant indices, and gut microbiota. A total of 32 healthy Landrace × Yorkshire sows on d 90 of gestation were randomly assigned to 2 groups, with 16 replicates per group, receiving basal diet (CON) or the basal diet + 0.2% B. subtilis PB6, containing 4.0 × 10⁸ CFU/kg of feed (BS). The litter sizes (total born) and numbers of piglets born alive were larger in the BS group (P < 0.01), whereas the weights of piglets born alive and the piglet birth intervals were lower in the BS group (P < 0.05). Although the litter weights and piglet bodyweights (after cross-fostering) were lower after BS treatment (P < 0.05), the litter sizes, litter weights, lactation survival rate, and litter weight gains at weaning were higher in BS group (P < 0.05). The concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the sow sera at parturition were lower in the BS group (P < 0.01). The serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) at parturition and the serum catalase (CAT) concentrations on d 21 of lactation were higher in the BS group (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with B. subtilis PB6 (P < 0.05) reduced the serum endotoxin concentrations in the sows and the serum cortisol concentrations of the piglets at d 14 of lactation. The α-diversity indices of microbial were higher in the CON group (P < 0.05). At the phylum level, B. subtilis PB6 supplementation increased the relative abundances of Gemmatimonadete and Acidobacteria (both P < 0.01) and reduced those of Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria (both P < 0.05). At the genus level, B. subtilis PB6 supplementation increased the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013 cc (P < 0.05) and reduced that of Streptococcus (P < 0.05). This study demonstrated that adding 4.0 × 10⁸ CFU/kg B. subtilis PB6 to sows’ feed during late gestation and lactation could shorten piglet birth intervals, enhance the growth performance of suckling piglets, and improve the gut health of sows during late gestation.     

维生素A水平对生长猪生产性能、肝脏维生素A含量和血清免疫参数的影响

试验研究饲粮添加不同水平维生素A(VA) (0、1300、2600、5000、10000、15000IU/kg)对22 -50kg生长猪生产性能、胴体品质、胴体无脂瘦肉增重、肝脏和血浆中VA含量、血清免疫参数的影响。结果表明 ,添加VA1300 -10000IU/kg 提高了日增重 (P>0.05)、极显著地降低料重比 (P<0.01) ;但VA添加水平从1300IU/kg增加至10000IU/kg,料重比显著提高 (P<0.05) ,采食量也极显著提高 (P<0.01)。各组屠宰率、瘦肉率、脂肪率、背膘厚、胴体瘦肉成分都无显著差异 (P>0.05) ,眼肌面积则随VA水平的升高而趋于增大(P>0.05)。胴体瘦肉和无脂瘦肉日增重在添加VA1300IU/kg 和10000IU/kg两组间很接近 ,而且优于其它组 (P<0.05)。随着VA水平的提高 ,肝脏中VA含量极显著提高 (P<0.01) ,至添加VA10000IU/kg组最高 ,之后略下降 ;添加VA有使血浆中VA含量升高的趋势 (P>0.05)。各组血清中IgG、IgA、IgM含量都无显著差异 (P>0.05) ,添加VA使T淋巴细胞中CD3+ 和CD8+ 亚群比例趋于升高 (P>0.05),随着添加VA水平提高 ,血清T淋巴细胞中CD4+/CD8+比值趋于下降 ,至添加VA10000IU/kg 组最低 ,在VA15000IU/kg 组又明显上升 (P>0.05)。以肝脏中VA含量为指标 ,生长猪VA适宜水平为在基础饲料上添加10000IU/kg ,但根据生产性能等其它指标 ,添加1300IU     

Effects of dietary supplementation with epidermal growth factor on nutrient digestibility,intestinal development and expression of nutrient transporters in early‐weaned piglets

The abnormalities in intestinal morphology and digestive function during weaning are associated with the loss of milk‐borne growth factors. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to stimulate the growth of animals. This study was to determine the effect of dietary EGF on nutrient digestibility, intestinal development and the expression of genes encoding nutrient transporters in weaned piglets. Forty‐two piglets were weaned at 21 days and assigned to one of three treatment groups: (1) basal diet (control), (2) basal diet + 200 µg/kg EGF or (3) basal diet + 400 µg/kg EGF. Each treatment consisted of 14 replicates, and seven piglets from each treatment were sampled on day 7 and 14. The EGF supplementation significantly elevated (p < 0.05) the coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility of crude protein, calcium and phosphorus, but tended to decrease sucrase activity (p < 0.10) than the control group. At day 7 post‐weaning, animals receiving EGF diets showed a tendency (p < 0.10) towards greater ileal villus height (VH), jejunal crypt depth (CD) and duodenal VH:CD when compared with the control group. Moreover, the mRNA levels of glucose transporter 2 (Slc2a2), neutral amino acid transporter (Slc6a19) and calbindin D9k (S100G) tended to be higher (p < 0.10) for EGF groups than the control group. By day 14, EGF supplementation markedly enhanced (p < 0.05) the VH, CD and VH:CD in the jejunum compared to the control group. This addition also up‐regulated (p < 0.05) the mRNA level and the protein abundance of peptide transporter 1 than the control group. These findings demonstrated that dietary EGF beneficially enhanced nutrient digestibility, improved intestinal development and increased the mRNA expression of nutrient transporters in weaned piglets.     

Effects of essential oil supplementation of a low‐energy diet on performance,intestinal morphology and microflora,immune properties and antioxidant activities in weaned pigs

A total of 144 weaned piglets were used to evaluate the effects of essential oil (EO) supplementation of a low‐energy diet on performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, small intestinal morphology, intestinal microflora, immune properties and antioxidant activities in weaned pigs. Pigs received a low‐energy diet (negative control, NC, digestible energy = 3250 kcal/kg), NC plus 0.025% EO or a positive control diet (PC, digestible energy = 3400 kcal/kg) for 28 days. Growth performance was similar between the EO group and PC group. However, EO supplementation increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain and the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and energy compared with pigs fed the NC diet. Greater (P < 0.05) villus height and lower (P < 0.05) counts of Escherichia coli and total anaerobes in the rectum in the EO group were observed compared with NC or PC groups. Pigs fed EO diet had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of albumin, immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG and total antioxidant capacity and lower fecal score than pigs fed the PC and NC diets. Above all, this study indicates that supplementation of EO to a low‐energy pig diet has beneficial results and obtains similar performance compared with normal energy (PC) diet.     

Tannic acid extracted from gallnut prevents post-weaning diarrhea and improves intestinal health of weaned piglets

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of tannic acid (TA) on growth performance, diarrhea rate, nutrient digestibility and intestinal health in weaned piglets. A total of 180 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, 24 d of age, initial average BW = 7.77 ± 0.17 kg) were allotted to 5 groups (6 pigs/pen and 6 replicates/group) in a randomized complete block design according to their gender and body weight. Piglets were fed a basal diet, or the basal diet supplemented with 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2% or 0.4% TA for 28 d. The supplementary levels of TA in the diets were obtained by adding tannalbin containing 51% TA and 40.17% protein. The results showed that, compared with the CON group, dietary TA did not affect ADFI, ADG or F:G, and linearly reduced (P < 0.01) the diarrhea rate and diarrhea index of piglets. There were no significant effects on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) in the 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2% TA groups, while negative effects (P < 0.05) on apparent digestibility of crude protein and gross energy were observed in the 0.4% TA group. In addition, the nutrient digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy linearly decreased (P < 0.01) with the increase of TA dosage. Supplementation of TA increased (P < 0.05) the villus height of the duodenum and jejunum, as well as increased (P < 0.05) catalase (CAT) activity in serum. Dietary TA improved (P < 0.05) the Bacillus counts in cecal digesta. Further, TA significantly improved (P < 0.05) Bacillus counts and reduced (P < 0.05) the Escherichia coli counts in colonic digesta. The concentration of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isovaleric acid in cecal digesta were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression level of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), zonula occludens-2 (ZO-2), and claudin-2 (CLDN-2) in the jejunum were greater (P < 0.05) in TA supplemented groups. The study showed that, compared to the control, TA prevented post-weaning diarrhea and improved intestinal health of weaned piglets, and the appropriate level of TA supplementation would be from 0.1% to 0.2%.     

Differential responses of weaned piglets to supplemental porcine or chicken plasma in diets without inclusion of antibiotics and zinc oxide

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of spray-dried porcine plasma protein (SDPP) or spray-dried chicken plasma protein (SDCP) supplementation in diets without the inclusion of antibiotics and zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, fecal score, and fecal microbiota in early-weaned piglets. A total of 192 healthy weaning piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, 21 d old) were blocked by BW (6.53 ± 0.60 kg) and randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments: negative control (NC, basal diet), positive control (PC), basal diet + ZnO at 2 g/kg and antibiotics at 0.8 g/kg), SDPP (containing 5% SDPP), and SDCP (containing 5% SDCP). The experiment lasted 14 d. The SDPP group had higher (P < 0.05) final BW, average daily gain and average daily feed intake than the NC and SDCP groups. The percentage of piglets with fecal scores at 2 or ≥2 was higher (P < 0.05) in the NC and SDCP groups than in the PC group. A decreased (P < 0.05) bacterial alpha diversity and Bacteroidetes abundance, but increased (P < 0.05) Firmicutes abundance were observed in the PC and SDPP groups when compared to the NC group. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus was higher (P < 0.05) in the SDPP than in the SDCP group, and that of Streptococcus was higher (P < 0.01) in the PC and SDPP groups than in the NC group. The PC group also had higher (P < 0.01) Faecalibacterium abundance than the NC and SDCP groups. Additionally, the SDCP group had higher (P < 0.05) serum urea nitrogen than those fed other diets, and lower (P < 0.10) short-chain fatty acids to branched-chain fatty acids ratio than the PC and SDPP groups. Overall, SDPP was a promising animal protein for piglets in increasing feed intake, modifying gut microbiota profile, reducing gut protein fermentation and alleviating diarrhea frequency, thus promoting growth performance, under the conditions with limited in-feed utilization of antibiotics and ZnO.     

Mixed organic acids as an alternative to antibiotics improve serum biochemical parameters and intestinal health of weaned piglets

The primary aim of this experiment was to critically explore the relationship between the different levels of mixed organic acids (MOA) and growth performance, serum antioxidant status and intestinal health of weaned piglets, as well as to investigate the potential possibility of MOA alternative to antibiotics growth promoters (AGP). A total of 180 healthy piglets (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]; weighing 7.81 ± 1.51 kg each, weaned at d 28) were randomly divided into 5 treatments: 1) basal diet (CON); 2) CON + chlorinomycin (75 mg/kg) + virginiamycin (15 mg/kg) + guitaromycin (50 mg/kg) (AGP); 3) CON + MOA (3,000 mg/kg) (OA1); 4) CON + MOA (5,000 mg/kg) (OA2); 5) CON + MOA (7,000 mg/kg) (OA3). This study design included 6 replicates per treatment with 6 piglets per pen (barrow:gilt = 1:1) and the experiment was separated into phase 1 (d 1 to 14) and phase 2 (d 15 to 28). In phases 1, 2 and overall, compared with the CON, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was reduced (P < 0.01) and the average daily gain (ADG) was increased (P < 0.05) in piglets supplemented with AGP, OA1 and OA2. The concentration of serum immunoglobulins G (IgG) was improved (P < 0.05) in piglets supplemented with OA2 in phase 2. In the jejunum and ileum, the villus height:crypt depth ratio was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in piglets fed AGP and OA1. The mRNA expression level of claudin-1 and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) (P < 0.01) was up-regulated in piglets supplemented with OA1 and OA2. The piglets fed AGP, OA1 and OA2 showed an increase (P < 0.05) in the content of acetate acid and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) in the cecum, and butyric acid and TVFA in the colon compared with CON. Also, OA1 lowered (P < 0.05) the content of Lachnospiraceae in piglets. These results demonstrated that MOA at 3,000 or 5,000 mg/kg could be an alternative to antibiotics due to the positive effects on performance, immune parameters, and intestinal health of weaned piglets. However, from the results of the quadratic fitting curve, it is inferred that MOA at a dose of 4,000 mg/kg may produce a better effect.     

Flavor supplementation during late gestation and lactation periods increases the reproductive performance and alters fecal microbiota of the sows

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of flavor on reproductive performance and fecal microbiota of sows during late gestation and lactation. A total of 20 healthy Yorkshire sows were fed a corn-soybean basal diet unsupplemented or supplemented with 0.1% flavor compound from d 90 of gestation to 25 d post-farrowing, and then the piglets were weaned. The reproductive performance and the fecal microbiota of sows were analyzed. Compared with the controls, flavor supplementation in maternal diets increased (P < 0.05) weaning litter weight, litter weight gain, weaning body weight, and average daily gain of piglets. There was a trend of increase in the average daily feed intake of sows (P = 0.09) by maternal dietary flavor addition. The backfat thickness and litter size were not affected by flavor supplementation (P > 0.05). The 16S rRNA analysis showed that flavor supplementation significantly increased the abundance of Phascolarctobacterium (P < 0.05), but significantly decreased genera Terrisporobacter, Alloprevotella, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, and Escherichia-shigella (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that Phascolarctobacterum was positively correlated with the average daily feed intake of sows (P < 0.05), the litter weight gain and average daily gain of piglets (P < 0.05). In contrast, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae were negatively correlated with the litter weight gain and average daily gain of piglets (P < 0.05). Taken together, dietary flavor supplementation improved the reproductive performance of the sows, which was associated with enhanced beneficial microbiota and decreased potentially pathogenic bacteria in the sows.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on growth performance,immune status,antioxidant capacity and selected microbial populations of weaned piglets

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) are a complex mixture of highly branched and partially characterised polysaccharides and proteoglycans extracted from the goji berry. This mixture has great potential as a novel feed supplement for pigs. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation with LBPs on the growth performance, immune status, antioxidant capacity and selected intestinal microbial populations in weaned piglets. In trial 1, a total of 400 weaned piglets [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of 6.34 ± 0.16 kg (21 days of age) were divided into five groups and fed a basal diet (control group) or a basal diet containing 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 or 6,000 mg/kg LBPs (supplemented at the expense of corn). Supplementation with 4,000 or 6,000 mg/kg LBPs for 2 weeks significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the pigs compared with the control group (p < .05). In trial 2, thirty-two 21-days-old weaned piglets (BW: 6.33 ± 0.11 kg) were allotted to a control group (fed with a basal diet) or an experimental group (basal diet containing 4,000 mg/kg LBPs). The experiment lasted for 14 days. Pigs fed LBP diets exhibited an increased ADG and ADFI, and a decreased diarrhoeal incidence compared with those fed the basal diets (p < .05). Supplementation with LBPs increased the serum IgG and IgM levels (p < .05). Dietary LBPs effectively promoted antioxidant defence properties through enhancing the activities of serum, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), in addition to decreasing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < .05). The addition of LBPs increased the amounts of Bacteroidetes in the ileum and caecum and the caecal contents of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. (p < .05), while decreased the populations of Escherichia coli and Firmicutes in the ileum and caecum (p < .05) compared with the control group. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation with LBPs can enhance growth performance, immune status and antioxidant capacity, and improve the intestinal microbial populations of weaned piglets.