The effect of dietary spray-dried bovine colostrum and plasma on the response of pigs to enterotoxigenic E. coli challenge after weaning

Twenty four, 21-d-old female pigs were fed diets containing either skim milk powder (CON+), spray-dried bovine colostrum (7.5%, BC+) or spray-dried bovine plasma (7.5%, BP+) and were dosed orally with 1 × 10⁹ CFU of E. coli O149:K88. Another group of 8 unchallenged pigs was fed the skim milk powder diet (CON−). On d 19 of the experiment all piglets were euthanased. Adverse effects of the E. coli challenge were observed variously throughout the small intestine in pigs consuming either the BC+ or BP+ diets. In this experiment, similar responses to the E. coli challenge were observed in both plasma and colostrum fed pigs, which suggests that spray-dried bovine colostrum may be a potential alternative to spray-dried bovine plasma.     

Resistant starch for weaning pigs — Effect on concentration of short chain fatty acids in digesta and intestinal morphology

We investigated the effect of potato starch, a source of resistant starch (RS), in diets for newly weaned pigs on production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and intestinal morphology. At weaning, at 4 weeks of age, 24 pigs were divided into 3 groups and fed diets containing 0 (C), 80 (P80) or 160 (P160) g raw potato starch per kg feed for 12 days. Pigs fed P160 had the longest villi whereas pigs fed P80 had the deepest crypts. Villous height at the mid-small intestine and average daily gain were positively correlated (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). The daily gain tended to be lower (P = 0.08) for pigs fed P80 than for pigs fed C or P160. The colon weight increased in pigs fed RS which coincided with an increased crypt depth in the colon. The concentration of SCFA increased in the large intestine with increasing amount of RS. The proportion of acetic acid decreased and the proportion of butyric acid increased in pigs fed P80 and P160. The increased SCFA production, especially of butyrate, may explain the colonic growth.     

A comparison of the effects of dietary spray-dried bovine colostrum and animal plasma on growth and intestinal histology in weaner pigs

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary spray-dried bovine and porcine plasma and spray-dried bovine colostrum on growth performance and intestinal histology in weaner pigs. Thirty-two 21-day-old piglets (6.65 ± 0.14 kg) were allocated to receive one of four dietary treatments: control, bovine plasma, porcine plasma, and bovine colostrum at weaning and another 8 piglets were killed at weaning to provide baseline data. The experimental diets were offered ad libitum for one week, after which animals were killed and post-mortem measurements obtained. No differences in average daily feed intake and growth rate were observed among dietary treatment groups (P > 0.05). Baseline piglets had taller villi and shallower crypts (P < 0.05) in the proximal jejunum, mid jejunum and distal ileum than those observed a week after weaning, irrespective of dietary treatment. Weaning-related expansion of intestinal lamina propria CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte populations was observed (P < 0.05). Complex and variable treatment effects on villus height, crypt depth, villus and crypt goblet cell density, and lamina propria T cell density were observed, suggesting that the tested protein sources do not share a common or simple mode of action.     

Interference of the humoral immune response against resident and nonresident intestinal commensal strains in weaning pigs

Not nocuous bacteria are important for the maturation and the modulating activity of the gut immune system. However, the humoral immune response against commensal and probiotic bacteria is less documented, particularly in farmhouse animals. Blood serum and saliva were collected in two trials where probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LbR), well-defined human isolate (Trial A), and a novel and abundant porcine commensal, Lactobacillus sobrius strain 001^T (LbS) (Trial B), were supplemented to weaning pigs. Anti-LbR IgA were present in serum of pigs before treatment with LbR, but also after 1 or 2 weeks in control pigs, notwithstanding the absence of DNA from LbR in colon. Pigs fed or not LbS for 1 or 2 weeks had LbS-specific IgA, in saliva and in serum. Colon contents of control subjects were positive for DNA from LbS. We hypothesized that part of this IgA strain-specific activity is partially related to immune cross-reactivity between different Lactobacillus-species. With the procedure of Shu et al. [Shu, Q., Bird, S.H., Gill, H.S., Rowe, J.B., 1999. Immunological cross-reactivity between the vaccine and other isolates of Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus. FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol. 26, 153–158], after ELISA test on blood serum or saliva pre-incubated with LbR or LbS, each strain blocked a relevant part of IgA specific for the other. So bacteria with different affinity for the pig present reciprocal crossed immune activity. When probiotics are supplied to weaning pigs, the possible action of already present multi-effective IgA should be considered. The mechanism of IgA induction by certain probiotics needs to be addressed in further studies.     

Inclusion of linseed and linseed expeller meal in piglet diets affects intestinal gene expression profiles

Linseed as a feed ingredient contains a number of constituents, such as mucilage, gel forming polysaccharides, structural carbohydrates and ω-3 fatty acids, which could have functional properties in relation to maintaining and supporting gastro-intestinal health in post weaning piglets. Intestinal gene expression was studied in weanling piglets fed diets containing either or not linseed or linseed expeller meal. Piglets were either or not orally challenged with an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli K88. Pairwise comparisons identified several mRNAs expressed significantly different, in particular between treatments C− (control, not challenged) and LS− (linseed, not challenged) and LS+ (linseed, challenged) and LSM+ (linseed expeller meal, challenged). The intestinal micro-array technique is a promising tool to study the relationship between nutrition and feeding and gut tissue responses under defined conditions.     

纳米银对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道绒毛形态及微生物菌群的影响

文章旨在研究日粮添加不同水平的纳米银对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道形态及微生物菌群的影响。本研究共进行3个试验,试验1收集8头断奶后7 d仔猪的回肠内容物,在体外37℃条件下分别添加0、20、40和80μg/kg纳米银,孵育4 h。结果显示,随着纳米银添加水平的升高,回肠内容物大肠杆菌和乳酸杆菌的含量显著线性降低(P<0.05),但对乳酸杆菌比例无显著影响(P>0.05)。试验2分为3个组,每组10头21 d断奶的仔猪,日粮中分别添加0、20和40 mg/kg纳米银,结果发现随着纳米银添加水平的升高,断奶后2周仔猪的日增重表现为显著线性升高(P<0.05),同时回肠大肠杆菌含量有显著线性降低的趋势(P=0.07),显著降低了细菌总量和奇异菌属含量(P<0.05)。20 mg/kg纳米银组产气荚膜杆菌与梭菌比例最低(P<0.05)。试验3分为3组,每组选择10头21 d断奶仔猪,日粮中分别添加0、20和40 mg/kg纳米银,结果发现,日粮纳米银添加水平对仔猪断奶后前两周绒毛形态无显著影响(P>0.05),而隐窝深度有降低趋势(P=0.08)。20 mg/kg纳米银组仔猪在断奶前两周表现为最高(P<0.05),之后随着纳米银添加水平的升高在3~4周显著降低(P<0.05),料比显著升高(P<0.05)。日粮添加低剂量的纳米银可以改善断奶仔猪的采食量和日增重,适宜添加水平为20~40 mg/kg。     

肠道微生物区系对断奶仔猪肠道黏膜免疫功能的调节作用研究进展

断奶仔猪肠道中定植了大量微生物,这些微生物及其代谢产物可参与断奶仔猪的肠道黏膜免疫过程。肠道微生物对断奶仔猪肠道黏膜免疫的调节机制主要是通过TLRs和NLRs通路分子分别发生作用。本文对肠道黏膜免疫的特点及断奶仔猪肠道微生物区系的组成进行了综述,并深入探讨了肠道微生物对断奶仔猪肠道黏膜免疫功能的调节作用,以及肠道微生物对肠道黏膜免疫系统调控的潜在机制,旨在为进一步利用断奶仔猪肠道黏膜免疫维持机体健康的相关研究提供参考。     

Effects of feeding linseed and linseed expeller meal to newly weaned piglets on growth performance and gut health and function

The effects were evaluated of the inclusion of full fat linseed (125 g/kg) (LS) or linseed expeller meal (85 g/kg) (LSM) in diets for weaned piglets on growth performance and parameters of gut health and function. The diets were fed to groups of 12 post weaning single housed piglets. Three of the five treatments (Control (C)+, LS+, LSM+) were challenged with an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli on day 6. Two treatments were not challenged (C− and LS−). The main response criteria were daily feed intake, body weight gain, faecal shedding of the E. coli, faecal consistency score, faecal nutrient digestibility and gut wall morphology and histology of the jejunal mucosa on day 18/19 of the study. Over the total experimental period (day 0–18) feed intake and body weight gain were highest in treatment C− and lowest in treatment LSM+ (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio did not differ between treatments over the total experimental period. Over day 10–12 of the study, the faecal digestibility of dry matter, ash and energy was higher for treatments C− and C+ compared to treatments LS−, LS+ and LSM+ (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the faecal shedding of E. coli between treatments C+, LS+ and LSM+. Intestinal mucosal histology and morphology were only slightly affected by the dietary treatments. It was concluded that the use of full fat linseed or linseed expeller meal did not show to be functional ingredients in diets for post-weaning piglet in terms of supporting gut health.     

哺乳期使用植物小肽对断奶后仔猪肠道微生物及肠道形态的影响

选用(25±2)日龄的PIC五元杂交断奶仔猪300头,根据哺乳期使用的4种不同的日粮(对照日粮,以及含有2%血浆蛋白、2%植物小肽和4%植物小肽日粮)分为4组,每组设3个重复,每个重复25头,探讨哺乳期使用植物小肽对断奶后仔猪肠道微生物和肠道形态的影响。结果表明,与对照组相比,哺乳期日粮中使用植物小肽,对减少断奶后仔猪肠道内大肠杆菌和沙门菌的繁殖,增加断奶仔猪肠道内有益菌属乳酸菌的繁殖有一定作用(P>0.05)。使用4%植物小肽提高了十二指肠、空肠和回肠的绒毛高度(P>0.05)和绒腺比(P<0.05),减小了隐窝深度(P<0.05)。植物小肽能够刺激断奶后仔猪肠道发育,使断奶后仔猪肠道绒毛高度增加,隐窝深度变浅,这种趋势随着植物小肽添加量的增加而提高。     

Dietary protein and fermentable carbohydrates contents influence growth performance and intestinal characteristics in newly weaned pigs

Increasing the dietary amount of fermentable carbohydrates (FC) may counteract the negative effects of protein fermentation in newly weaned piglets. To study this hypothesis, 272 newly weaned piglets were allotted to 4 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with low and high FC (7.5 and 13.5%) and crude protein (CP, 15 and 22%) content as respective factors. Intestinal histology, enzyme activity, microbiota and fermentation products were determined in 8 pigs per treatment 7 days post-weaning.

In the 4 wk experimental period, interactions between dietary CP and FC content were found for feed intake (P = 0.022), daily gain (P = 0.001), and gain:feed (P = 0.033). The high-FC content reduced daily gain by 50 g/d in the low-CP diet, whereas the FC content did not affect growth performance in the high-CP diet. Over the 4 wk experimental period, daily gain (350 g/d) and feed intake (519 g/d) were highest for piglets on the low-CP low-FC diet. The high-FC content resulted in an increase in number of lactobacilli (P = 0.047) and a decrease of total coliforms (P = 0.06) in the small intestine. It increased the lactic acid content (P = 0.08) and reduced the ammonia content (P = 0.04) in the small intestine and increased the VFA content in the colon (P = 0.009). The reduction in CP content reduced ammonia concentration in the small intestine (P = 0.003). We concluded that dietary FC influenced microbial population and fermentation products in the gut. However, this was not reflected in an increased growth performance.     

发酵豆粕对断奶仔猪肠道形态及消化酶活性的影响

为研究枯草芽孢杆菌发酵豆粕(FSBM)对仔猪肠道形态及消化酶活性的影响,试验选择初始体重为(7.5±0.5)kg的纯种大白断奶仔猪60头,随机分为两组,对照组饲喂含豆粕(SBM)饲料,试验组饲喂含发酵豆粕(FSBM)的饲料,试验期30d。试验结束时,每组随机选择6头仔猪,收集小肠内三个不同部位的组织样本观察肠道形态,同时采集肠道内容物样品,测定消化酶活性。结果表明:与SBM组相比,FSBM组仔猪小肠三个不同部位的绒毛高度均显著提高(P<0.05),十二指肠隐窝深度显著降低(P<0.05),十二指肠和空肠总蛋白酶和胰蛋白酶的活性显著提高(P<0.05),仔猪胰腺胰蛋白酶活性显著下降(P<0.05)。综上,FSBM能改善断奶仔猪肠道形态和消化酶活性。     

日粮中添加蛋白酶对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道形态和消化酶的影响

为研究日粮中添加蛋白酶对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道形态和消化酶活性的影响,试验采用单因子完全随机试验设计,将50头28日龄断奶仔猪随机分为两组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中添加0.1%复合蛋白酶制剂。结果表明:与对照组相比,试验组断奶仔猪的平均日增重提高5.1%,料重比降低4.67%;试验组空肠的绒毛高度(VH)显著提高40.66μm(P<0.05),且绒毛隐窝比值提高了9.94%(P<0.05);试验组空肠的蛋白酶活性、淀粉酶活性均极显著升高,分别提高了2.89U/mL和23.25U/mL(P<0.01)。综上所述,在饲料中添加蛋白酶明显提高了仔猪的日增重,降低了料重比和成本,且促进了肠道绒毛和隐窝结构的发育和肠道消化酶的活性,改善了仔猪的生长性能。     

Influence of dietary zinc and copper on digestive enzyme activity and intestinal morphology in weaned pigs

The current study was conducted to investigate the effects of high dietary concentrations of Zn as zinc oxide and Cu as copper sulfate on the activity of digestive enzymes in the pancreas and the intestinal mucosa, intestinal morphology, and mucin histochemistry in pigs after weaning. Thirty-two pigs were weaned at 4 wk of age. The pigs were fed standard weaning diets supplemented with Zn (100 or 2,500 ppm) and Cu (0 or 175 ppm) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments for a 14-d period. In pancreatic tissue, the activity of amylase, carboxypeptidase A, chymotrypsin, trypsin, and lipase increased (P < 0.01) in pigs fed 2,500 ppm of Zn, whereas the activity of carboxypeptidase B and carboxylester hydrolase was unaffected. Copper had no effect on the activity of pancreatic enzymes. In small intestinal contents, the total activity of amylase and carboxypeptidase A was greater in pigs fed 100 ppm of Zn (P < 0.05), whereas feeding 2,500 ppm of Zn increased the chymotrypsin activity (P < 0.001). The remaining enzymes were unaffected by dietary Zn concentration. The villi were longer in the cranial small intestine (P < 0.001) in pigs fed 100 ppm of Zn than in pigs fed 2,500 ppm of Zn, but otherwise there were no clear effects of Zn and Cu supplementation on intestinal morphology. In the cranial small intestine, the activity of maltase (P < 0.001), sucrase (P < 0.001), and lactase was greater in pigs fed 100 ppm of Zn, even though there was a Zn x Cu interaction (P < 0.05) in lactase activity. In the middle and caudal small intestine, no clear differences between dietary treatments were observed. The activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in the intestinal mucosa was not affected by dietary Zn or Cu. In pigs fed 100 ppm of Zn, the activity of aminopeptidase N was greater in the caudal small intestine, but dietary Zn or Cu had no effect on aminopeptidase N in the cranial and middle small intestine. No effect of dietary Zn or Cu supplementation was found on carbohydrate histochemistry in the caudal small intestine, whereas high dietary Zn increased the area of neutral, acidic, and sulfomucins in the cecum (P < 0.01) and in the colon (P < 0.001). In summary, high dietary Zn increased the activity of several enzymes in the pancreatic tissue and increased the mucin staining area in the large intestine, whereas Cu had no clear effect on these variables. However, no definite answers were found as to how the growth promoting and diarrhea reducing effects of excess dietary Zn are exerted.     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Inulin‐coated butyrate increases ileal MCT1 expression and affects mucosal morphology in the porcine ileum by reduced apoptosis

Carbohydrates, which were not digested in the jejunum, will be fermented by micro‐organisms to short chain fatty acids. These are transported by the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) through the gut wall and serve as fuels for colonic cells. To deliver butyrate to the distal part of the intestine, inulin with a low precaecal digestibility was chosen as a coating material. Approximately 150 g of inulin‐coated butyrate (containing 81 g butyrate) per day was fed to pigs (mean weight: 97 kg) over a period of 6 days after an adaptation period of 6 days with linear increasing amounts of butyrate. The following observations compared to controls were observed: (1) coating was digested microbially in the ileum; (2) MCT1‐mRNA showed a higher expression in the ileum; (3) apoptosis was reduced in the ileum but mitosis was not changed; and (4) length of villi increased by approximately 25% in the ileum. Feeding inulin‐coated butyrate resulted in an increased ileal surface. Delivery of butyrate to the colon requires a more resistant inulin‐coating.     

Effect of chito-oligosaccharide on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, intestinal morphology and cecal microflora in weaned pigs

A total of 180 weanling pigs (21 ± 3 d of age; 5.98 ± 0.04 kg) were used to investigate the effect of chito-oligosaccharide (COS) on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, intestinal morphology, and cecal microflora. Based on initial BW, gender and litter, the pigs were given 5 treatments during a 14-d feeding experiment, including a basal diet (control), 3 diets with COS supplementation (200, 400, or 600 mg/kg), and a diet with colistin sulfate (CSE) supplementation (20 mg/kg). Six randomly selected pigs from each treatment were used to collect serum, duodenal, jejunal, ileal, and cecal samples on d 7 and 14 postweaning. From d 1 to 7 postweaning, pigs fed COS or CSE had greater ADG and ADFI compared with the control pigs. From d 1 to 14, diets with either 400 or 600 mg/kg COS, or 20 mg/kg CSE increased (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F compared with the control diet. No significant differences were observed in ADG, ADFI, and G:F between the pigs fed COS and CSE. Pigs fed either 400 or 600 mg/kg COS, or 20 mg/kg CSE had less (P < 0.05) diamine oxidase (DAO) in the serum, but greater concentration of (P < 0.05) DAO in jejunal mucosa, than the control pigs on d 7 postweaning. Treatments did not affect villous height and crypt depth of the duodenum, jejunum, or ileum. Pigs fed COS at 400 mg/kg had greater (P < 0.05) concentration of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the cecum than pigs fed the control diet and CSE diet on d 7 postweaning. Supplementation of COS or CSE decreased (P < 0.05) the population of cecal Staphylococcus aureus compared with the control diet on d 7 postweaning. The number of cecal Bifidobacteria in pigs fed 600 mg/kg COS was greater (P < 0.05) than that of pigs fed the control diet or CSE diet on d 14 postweaning. No significant differences were observed in Escherichia coli counts in the cecum among treatments. The present results indicate that dietary supplementation of COS at 400 or 600 mg/kg promotes growth performance and improves gut barrier function, increases the population of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, and decreases S. aureus in the cecum of weanling pigs.     

Feed-and feed additives-related aspects of gut health and development in weanling pigs

The development of new/different management and feeding strategies to stimulate gut development and health in newly-weaned pigs, in order to improve growth performance while minimizing the use of antimicrobial compounds such as antibiotic growth promotants (AGP) and heavy mineral compounds, is essential for the long-term sustainability of the pig industry. Factors including the sub-optimal intake of nutrients and energy, inappropriate microbiota biomass and (or) balance, immature and compromised immune function, and psychosomatic factors caused by weaning can compromise both the efficiency of digestion and absorption and intestinal barrier function through mucosal damage and alteration of tight junction integrity. As a consequence, pigs at weaning are highly susceptible to pathogenic enteric conditions such as post-weaning diarrhea that may be caused by serotypes of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Many dietary components, e.g., protein, fiber, feed additives and minerals, are known to influence microbial growth in the gastrointestinal tract that in turn can impact upon pig growth and health, although the relationships between these are sometimes not necessarily apparent or obvious. In a world climate of increased scrutiny over the use of antibiotics per se in pig production, certain feed additives are seen as alternatives/replacements to antibiotics, and have evolved in some cases to have important roles in everyday commercial pig nutrition. Nevertheless and in general, there remains inconsistency and variability in the efficacy of some feed additives and in cases of severe disease outbreaks, for example, therapeutic antibiotics and/or heavy minerals such as zinc oxide (ZnO) are generally relied upon. If feed ingredients and (or) feed additives are to be used with greater regularity and reliability, then it is necessary to better understand the mechanisms whereby antibiotics and minerals such as ZnO influence animal physiology, in conjunction with the use of appropriate challenge models and in vitro and in vivo techniques.     

Short-term effect of dietary yeast nucleotide supplementation on small intestinal enzyme activities, bacterial populations and metabolites and ileal nutrient digestibilities in newly weaned pigs

In previous studies, dietary nucleotides have been shown to improve performance in single-stomached animals by promoting the renewal of small intestine epithelial cells and by influencing the activity and composition of the microbial community in the digestive tract. The present experiment was carried out with 12 barrows weaned at the age of 18 days and fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum. To determine short-term effects of dietary yeast nucleotides, the piglets received a grain-soybean meal-based basal diet with or without supplementation of 1 g/kg of a dried yeast product containing free nucleotides. Dietary supplementation with yeast did not affect bacterial numbers in the ileum as well as ileal concentrations of individual short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), total SCFA and total lactic acid (p > 0.05). Moreover, there was no effect of supplemental yeast nucleotides on ileal α-amylase, leucine amino peptidase, maltase and lactase activities (p > 0.05), as well as on ileal dry matter, crude protein and crude fibre digestibilities (p > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term supplementation with dietary yeast nucleotides did not affect microbial metabolite concentrations, bacterial numbers and enzyme activities in the ileal digesta as well as ileal nutrient digestibilities of newly weaned pigs.     

低聚木糖对断奶仔猪肠道pH和肠黏膜形态结构的影响

本试验通过在日粮中添加低聚木糖探讨其对早期断奶仔猪肠道结构功能的影响。试验选用72头35日龄、体重9.81±0.41 kg杜＆#215;长＆#215;大三元杂交仔猪,随机分配成4组,每组3个重复,每个重复6头仔猪,公母各半。第1组为对照组,饲喂玉米-豆粕基础日粮;其余3组分别在各组日粮中添加0.01%、0.02%、0.04%低聚木糖作为试验组。试验预饲期2 d,正试期为28 d。于试验的最后1 d从各重复中随机选取1头仔猪屠宰,并测定胃、十二指肠、空肠、回肠、盲肠和结肠内容物的pH及十二指肠、空肠和回肠黏膜上皮的绒毛高度和隐窝深度。试验结果显示,试验组猪的胃及各肠段的pH比对照组均有所降低,尤其是0.02%低聚木糖组,差异显著（P＜0.05）;试验组各肠段的绒毛高度均高于对照组,差异显著（P＜0.05）,隐窝深度低于对照组,但差异不显著（P＞0.05）,绒毛高度与隐窝深度之比显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。本试验结果表明,在早期断奶仔猪的日粮中添加低聚木糖,能降低胃肠道内容物的pH,改善早期断奶仔猪肠道的形态结构,以0.02%低聚木糖组效果最为明显。     

Identification by isoelectric focusing of creatine kinase-MM isoforms in the plasma and striated muscle of pigs

Total creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MM isoforms were determined in plasma and longissimus dorsi muscle extracts from normal pigs. Based on their total CK activity, the pigs were divided into two groups. Pigs of group 1 (n=16) had a mean plasma total CK of 298±16 U/L and the distribution of the CK-MM isoforms was 65.7±2.5% CK-MM₃, 18.9±1.6% CK-MM₂ and 15.3±1.5% CK-MM. In group 2 (n=18; 826±75 U/L total CK) four isoforms were observed: 3.1±0.9% CK-MM, 67.9±3.0% CK-MM₃, 21.5±2.3% CK-MM₂ and 7.5±1.3% CK-MM₁. The differences between the two groups of pigs were significant (p<0.001) for CK-MM₁ and the presence of CK-MM. Four CK-MM isoforms were also detected in longissimus dorsi muscle homogenates: 45.6±8.1% CK-MM, 32.6±11.7% CK-MM₃, 16.6±2.3% CK-MM₂ and 5.1±2.8% CK-MM₁. The release of CK-MM isoforms from muscle into plasma seems to be unrelated to the concentration of these isoforms in striated muscle.     

Effects of dietary Selenomethionine supplementation on growth performance,antioxidant status,plasma selenium concentration,and immune function in weaning pigs

Background

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of DL-selenomethionine (DL-SeMet) supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant status, plasma selenium (Se) concentration, and immune function of weaning pigs. 216 weaning pigs were randomly allocated to 6 treatments with 6 replicates each according to a complete randomized block design. Each replicate had six pigs. Diet of group one was corn-soybean basal diet without any additional Se supplement. Group 2 was supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg of Se from sodium selenite. Groups 3-6 were supplemented with 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mg/kg of Se from DL-SeMet, respectively. The trial lasted for 42 days.

Results

Pigs supplemented with 0.3 and 0.7 mg/kg DL-SeMet obtained better feed gain ratio (P < 0.05). The best antioxidant ability (serum, liver, and muscle) was shown in 0.1-0.3 mg/kg DL-SeMet groups (P < 0.05). The plasma Se concentration increased as the dietary DL-SeMet level elevated. The immunity among groups was not affected.

Conclusions

DL-SeMet supplementation in the diet significantly improved the growth performance, antioxidant ability and plasma Se content of weaning pigs. DL-SeMet can replace sodium selenite in the diet of weaning pigs.