Chicory （Cichorium intybus L.） and cereals differently affect gut development in broiler chickens and young pigs

Dietary fiber, resistant to host-mediated digestion in the small intestine due to lack of endogenous enzymes, impacts many facets of animal health and is associated with gut development especially in young monogastrics. Furthermore, it can be used as in-feed antibiotic alternative. Chicory （Cichorium intybus L.） forage with high content of pectin （uronic acids as building blocks） is a novel class of dietary fiber that is chemically different from cereal grains （with high content of arabinoxylans）. In the present study, we investigated effects of dietary inclusion of chicory forage on digestibility, gut morphology and microbiota in broilers and young pigs. In the chicken experiment, 160 1-d old broiler chicks were fed 3 nutritionally balanced diets for 30 d including a cereal-based diet and 2 diets with part of the cereals substituted with 60 and 120 g/k9 chicory forage （CF60 and CF120], whereas in the pig experiment, 18 seven-wk old Yorkshire pigs were fed 3 diets for 18 d including a cereal-based diet and 2 diets with 80 and 160 g/kg chicory forage inclusion （CF80 and CF160）. Our results showed that young pigs were capable to utilize chicory forage well with higher total tract apparent digestibility （TTAD） of all fiber fractions, particularly uronic acid, compared with the control （P 〈 0.01）. In contrast, a decreased TTAD of all fiber fractions was observed in chickens fed on diet CF120 （P 〈 0.05）. Moreover, diet induced changes in gut morphology were observed in the large intestine of chickens. The alteration of cecal mucosal thickness was further positively correlated with TTAD of non-starch polysaccharides （NSP） and its constituent sugars （P 〈 0.05）. In addition, in pigs, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism （T-RFLP） analysis of intestinal microbiota revealed substantial dietary effects （cereal control diet vs. chicory forage inclusion） on the relative abundance of 2 dominant bacterial phylotypes （Prevotella sp. vs. Roseburia sp.） respective     

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and cereals differently affect gut development in broiler chickens and young pigs

Dietary fiber, resistant to host-mediated digestion in the small intestine due to lack of endogenous enzymes, impacts many facets of animal health and is associated with gut development especially in young monogastrics. Furthermore, it can be used as in-feed antibiotic alternative. Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) forage with high content of pectin (uronic acids as building blocks) is a novel class of dietary fiber that is chemically different from cereal grains (with high content of arabinoxylans). In the present study, we investigated effects of dietary inclusion of chicory forage on digestibility, gut morphology and microbiota in broilers and young pigs. In the chicken experiment, 160 1-d old broiler chicks were fed 3 nutritionally balanced diets for 30 d including a cereal-based diet and 2 diets with part of the cereals substituted with 60 and 120 g/kg chicory forage (CF60 and CF120), whereas in the pig experiment, 18 seven-wk old Yorkshire pigs were fed 3 diets for 18 d including a cereal-based diet and 2 diets with 80 and 160 g/kg chicory forage inclusion (CF80 and CF160). Our results showed that young pigs were capable to utilize chicory forage well with higher total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) of all fiber fractions, particularly uronic acid, compared with the control (P < 0.01). In contrast, a decreased TTAD of all fiber fractions was observed in chickens fed on diet CF120 (P < 0.05). Moreover, diet induced changes in gut morphology were observed in the large intestine of chickens. The alteration of cecal mucosal thickness was further positively correlated with TTAD of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and its constituent sugars (P < 0.05). In addition, in pigs, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of intestinal microbiota revealed substantial dietary effects (cereal control diet vs. chicory forage inclusion) on the relative abundance of 2 dominant bacterial phylotypes (Prevotella sp. vs. Roseburia sp.) respectively (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data showed that chicory forage (Cichorium intybus L.), a novel dietary fiber source in animal nutrition, have potential beneficial properties as fiber ingredient in diets for both pigs and chickens.     

Weaned piglets display low gastrointestinal digestion of pea (Pisum sativum L.) lectin and pea albumin 2

A study was conducted to investigate the biochemistry of digestion of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) albumins and globulins in the stomach and along the small intestine of weaned piglets with a particular emphasis on the respective roles of these compartments in pea protein digestion. Twenty-four piglets were weaned at 28 d of age. They were allocated to 2 diets (control and pea) and 3 slaughter times (3, 6, or 9 h after the last meal) in a 2 x3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design. Pea flour provided 30% of total dietary protein in the pea diet. The diets were fed for 2 wk after weaning. After slaughter, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) compartments were weighed, digesta were collected, and pH was measured. Digesta from the stomach and cranial, middle, and caudal small intestine (SI) were extracted for soluble proteins and analyzed for specific pea proteins using SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, and mass spectrometry. Tissue weight of the whole GIT (P = 0.015), cecum (P <0.001), and colon (P <0.001) was greater in the pea diet. Digesta pH in the stomach and caudal SI was lower (P = 0.02) in the pea diet than the control diet. In the stomach, vicilin, lectin, and pea albumin 2 were not digested, whereas legumin was only partly digested. Legumin and vicilin were totally digested in the SI in less than 3 h. A resistant peptide of 15 kDa located at the N-terminus of pea albumin 2 was transiently detected at 3 h. A protein band at 20 kDa was consistently identified as lectin. It was present in high intensity in intestinal digesta of pea-fed piglets at all times after the meal compared with those fed the control diet (P <0.001). Various proteins of, presumably, endogenous origin displayed differential digestion patterns between the control and the pea-fed piglets (P<0.05). In conclusion, differences in digestion between specific pea proteins were observed along the GIT of piglets. They could be partly explained by differences in protein digestion in the stomach.     

Adaptive capacity of faecal microbiota from piglets receiving diets with different types of inulin-type fructans

An in vitro experiment was conducted to assess the microbial activity of faeces from unweaned and weaned piglets. Diets of weaned piglets were supplemented with various fructans. Weaned piglets received a corn–soy based basal diet supplemented with either corn starch (control; CON), oligofructose (OF), chicory root (CHR), a mixture of chicory pulp and oligofructose (MIX; 60:40) or corn starch and antibiotic (CON_AB). Faecal inocula collected from unweaned (5 kg body weight (BW)) and weaned piglets (15 kg BW) were introduced in airtight 100-mL bottles containing 0.5 g of substrate (basal or mix) in pre-warmed buffered medium. The organic matter cumulative volume (OMCV) was measured for 48 h, and a mono-phasic model was fitted to the data. The concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia (NH₃) was determined after fermentation. Incubation of substrate mix with the different inocula gave a significant higher OMCV compared to substrate basal, except for the inoculum from piglets of the CON_AB group. In addition, substrate mix gave a higher R_max and a lower T_max compared to substrate basal. With the exception of inoculum obtained from chicory root supplemented animals (CHR) no substrate effects were observed in fermentation end-products (VFA and NH₃). However, the proportions of acetic acid were significantly higher and those of butyric acid lower when inocula were incubated with substrate mix. Inocula from weaned pigs tended to show higher proportions of propionic acid when incubated with substrate mix, whilst inocula from unweaned piglets showed the opposite. The differences in fermentation kinetics between substrates after incubation with inocula from weaned and unweaned piglets in combination with an altered composition in VFA, points to a modified faecal microflora following weaning.     

The dynamics of the piglet gut microbiome during the weaning transition in association with health and nutrition

Background: Understanding the composition of the microbial community and its functional capacity during weaning is important for pig production as bacteria play important roles in the pig's health and growth performance. However,limited information is available regarding the composition and function of the gut microbiome of piglets in early-life.Therefore, we performed 16 S rRNA gene and whole metagenome shotgun sequencing of DNA from fecal samples from healthy piglets during weaning to measure microbiome shifts, and to identify the potential contribution of the early-life microbiota in shaping piglet health with a focus on microbial stress responses, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism.Results: The analysis of 16 S rR NA genes and whole metagenome shotgun sequencing revealed significant compositional and functional differences between the fecal microbiome in nursing and weaned piglets. The fecal microbiome of the nursing piglets showed higher relative abundance of bacteria in the genus Bacteroides with abundant gene families related to the utilization of lactose and galactose. Prevotel a and Lactobacil us were enriched in weaned piglets with an enrichment for the gene families associated with carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. In addition, an analysis of the functional capacity of the fecal microbiome showed higher abundances of genes associated with heat shock and oxidative stress in the metagenome of weaned piglets compared to nursing piglets.Conclusions: Overal, our data show that microbial shifts and changes in functional capacities of the piglet fecal microbiome resulted in potential reductions in the effects of stress, including dietary changes that occur during weaning.These results provide us with new insights into the piglet gut microbiome that contributes to the growth of the animal.     

发酵香菇渣对断奶仔猪生长性能、结肠挥发性脂肪酸含量及微生物结构的影响

为研究发酵香菇渣（fermented shiitake residues,FSR）对断奶仔猪生产性能、十二指肠消化酶活性、空肠紧密连接蛋白相关基因表达、结肠挥发性脂肪酸及结肠微生物区系的影响,本研究选用100头健康的壹号土猪断奶仔猪（小耳花猪×杜洛克猪,公母各50头）,随机分为2组,每组5个重复,每个重复10头猪,进行饲养试验。对照组饲喂基础饲粮（NC组）,试验组饲喂基础饲粮+5%发酵香菇渣。试验期33 d。饲养试验结束时,从每个组中选择6头仔猪（公母各半）进行屠宰取样。检测指标包括生长性能、十二指肠黏膜消化酶活性、空肠紧密连接蛋白mRNA相对表达量、结肠挥发性脂肪酸含量和肠道微生物结构。结果显示,与对照组相比,试验组显著提高了断奶仔猪的末重和平均日增重（P<0.05）,显著降低了料重比（P<0.05）;显著提高了十二指肠黏膜胰蛋白酶和β-淀粉酶活性（P<0.05）;显著提高了结肠挥发性脂肪酸丙酸、丁酸、异丁酸和异戊酸水平（P<0.05）;显著增加了结肠纤维杆菌门（Fibrobacteres）和链球菌属（Streptococcus）的相对丰度（P<0.01;P<0.05）,对空肠紧密连接蛋白1（TJP1）和紧密连接蛋白2（TJP2）基因mRNA的表达无显著影响（P>0.05）。综上所述,饲粮中添加5%发酵香菇渣可提高断奶仔猪肠道消化酶活性,增加结肠挥发性脂肪酸含量,调节肠道微生物区系组成,有利于提高断奶仔猪的生长性能。     

有效微生物群对仔猪生产性能的影响初探

对产后母猪和断奶仔猪饲喂有效微生物菌群(EM),研究其对仔猪生产性能的影响。从产前7d开始给母猪基础饲料中添加5mL/kg的EM菌液,选产仔数不少于8头的3头母猪及其仔猪连续饲喂EM菌28d,仔猪进行断奶,统计母猪的增重、仔猪初生重、断奶重,仔猪成活率等,分析添加EM菌后对母猪生产性能的影响。在这24头断奶仔猪饲料中添加EM菌的饲料,饲喂至60日龄,统计仔猪的增重、采食量、料重比、发病数等,分析EM菌断奶仔猪生产性能的影响。另外选取3头同品种、同批次生产、产仔数相同的母猪及其仔猪饲料中不添加EM菌作为对照。结果表明,母猪产后日均采食量较对照组提高12.07%,仔猪的初生重较对照组提高15.90%,产活仔数提高了12.09%,断奶重增加9.09%,断奶头数增多20.99%,断奶成活率提高8.81%。断奶后仔猪试验组的平均采食量较对照组提高10.26%,料重比降低了7.14%,发病率下降了50.03%。说明EM菌对母猪和仔猪的生产性能均有提高作用,研究结果为EM菌在生猪养殖中的应用提供了基础资料。     

早期断奶仔猪的消化生理及饲粮组合研究

仔猪早期断奶受心理、环境及营养应激影响，常表现为“仔猪早期断奶综合症”。主要是营养应激，即仔猪由液态母乳转向固体饲料。由于仔猪消化系统尚未发育成熟，不能适应这种营养物质的骤变。因此配制适合早期断奶仔猪消化生理的饲粮是克服早期断奶综合症的最有效方法。     

复合益生菌和纤维寡糖对断奶仔猪生长性能、粪便微生物及血清指标的影响

本试验旨在研究复合益生菌和纤维寡糖对断奶仔猪生长性能、粪便微生物及血清指标的影响。选用120头初始平均体重为(9.72±2.25)kg的断奶仔猪,随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复10头。分别饲喂基础饲粮(对照组)、基础饲粮+0.30%复合益生菌(A组)、基础饲粮+0.08%纤维寡糖(B组)、基础饲粮+0.30%复合益生菌+0.08%纤维寡糖(C组),试验预试期4 d,正试期35 d,正试期分为第1阶段(1~14 d)和第2阶段(15~35 d)2个阶段。结果表明:1)除试验15~35 d时C组试验仔猪料重比(F/G)显著低于对照组外(P0.05),其余各阶段各组试验仔猪平均日采食量(ADFI)、平均日增重(ADG)、料重比均无显著差异(P0.05);试验1~14 d时A、C组试验仔猪腹泻率(DR)均显著低于对照组(P0.05)。2)试验第14、35天时各组试验仔猪粪便中芽孢杆菌数、乳酸菌数和大肠杆菌数均无显著差异(P0.05)。3)各组试验仔猪各项血清指标也均无显著差异(P0.05)。由此可见,本试验条件下,添加复合益生菌和纤维寡糖可改善断奶仔猪断奶后1~14 d的腹泻情况,提高断奶仔猪断奶后15~35d的饲料利用效率。     

早期断奶对仔猪空肠和回肠兴奋性氨基酸载体1表达的影响

本试验旨在研究仔猪出生后10~20 d,早期断奶仔猪小肠谷氨酸转运载体基因表达情况与哺乳仔猪的差异。试验分别从40头不同母猪的仔猪中各选出体重相近,10日龄的"杜×长×大"三元杂交仔猪1头,共40头仔猪,随机不配对分为2组,每组20头仔猪,对照组(哺乳组)为哺乳仔猪,随母猪喂养;试验组(断奶组)为断奶仔猪,隔离断奶饲养;试验期10 d。饲养结束,每组随机取12只仔猪,宰杀取空肠和回肠,测定谷氨酸转运载体兴奋性氨基酸转运载体1(EAAC1)蛋白质表达情况和游离氨基酸含量。结果显示,断奶显著降低了仔猪空肠和回肠EAAC1(57和73 ku)及其相关蛋白谷氨酸转运联合蛋白(GTRAP3-18)(50 ku)的蛋白质和mRNA表达量(P0.05)。断奶提高了仔猪空肠游离谷氨酸和总氨基酸含量,却降低了仔猪回肠游离谷氨酸和总氨基酸含量,差异显著(P0.05)。结果提示,早期断奶降低EAAC1和GTRAP3-18的蛋白质含量,这可能与早期断奶仔猪遭受营养谷氨酸缺乏导致的肠道氨基酸吸收转运障碍有关。     

复合活菌制剂对断奶仔猪生长性能及血清溶菌酶含量的影响

选择长白二元杂交断奶仔猪90头进行试验,断奶日龄为35d。共分为五个组,每组设3个重复,每个重复随机选取健康仔猪6头。试验1组:饲喂基础日粮+0.1%复合制剂(纳豆杆菌、双歧杆菌、罗伊氏乳杆菌);试验2组:饲喂基础日粮+0.1%复合制剂(纳豆杆菌、双歧杆菌、干酪乳杆菌);试验3组:饲喂基础日粮+0.1%复合制剂(纳豆杆菌、双歧杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌);试验4组:饲喂基础日粮+0.1%复合制剂(纳豆杆菌、双歧杆菌、罗伊氏乳杆菌、干酪乳杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌)。对照组饲喂基础日粮。其中复合制剂中益生菌活菌数为l09cfu/g。饲养30d后观察复合活菌制剂对断奶仔猪生长性能及血清溶菌酶含量的影响。结果:在日增重、饲料效率及血清溶菌酶方面,试验1组和2组显著高于对照组(P<0.05);在腹泻率方面,试验组均显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。研究表明,在仔猪日粮中添加复合活菌制剂可提高每头断奶仔猪平均日增重及饲料效率,降低腹泻的发病率,且增高了仔猪血清溶菌酶含量,提高了仔猪的免疫机能,从而提高了经济效益。     

香芹酚和百里香酚对断奶仔猪结肠微生物的影响研究

试验旨在研究日粮添加香芹酚和百里香酚对断奶仔猪结肠微生物群落结构和代谢通路的影响。选取28日龄、体重8.5 kg±1.0 kg断奶仔猪64头,随机分为4组,每组16个重复,每个重复1头猪。A组（对照组）饲喂基础日粮＋抗生素,B组饲喂基础日粮＋20 g/t香芹酚,C组饲喂基础日粮＋20 g/t百里香酚,D组饲喂基础日粮＋20 g/t香芹酚-百里香酚混合物（质量比2：1）。试验期30 d。基于Illumina HiSeq测序平台,利用双末端测序（Paired-End）的方法进行测序。通过对OTUs聚类,进行物种注释及丰度分析;进一步进行α多样性、β多样性分析及显著物种差异分析和功能基因预测分析。结果显示：①各试验组结肠微生物多样性均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;②D组结肠中厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）相对丰度极显著高于对照组（P<0.01）,显著高于B和C组（P<0.05）,拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）相对丰度显著高于对照组和C组（P<0.05）,Epsilonbacteraeota、螺旋体门（Spirochaetes）、变形菌门（Proteobacteria）相对丰度极显著低于对照组（P<0.01）。D组结肠中弯曲杆菌属（Campylobacter）相对丰度极显著低于对照组（P<0.01）,D组理研菌科RC9肠道群（Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group）相对丰度显著高于B组（P<0.05）,D组罗斯氏菌属（Roseburia）相对丰度极显著高于对照组（P<0.01）,D组螺杆菌属（Helicobacter）相对丰度极显著低于对照组（P<0.01）;③D组结肠微生物脂质代谢水平极显著高于对照组（P<0.01）,结肠微生物碳水化合物代谢、其他次生代谢物的生物合成和其他氨基酸代谢水平显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,结肠微生物能量代谢水平极显著低于对照组（P<0.01）。综上,在本试验条件下,断奶仔猪日粮中添加20 g/t的香芹酚-百里香酚混合物,改善了断奶仔猪结肠微生物群落结构,结肠中有益菌的相对丰度提高,有害菌的相对丰度降低,促进了结肠微生物的代谢功能。     

Effects of Carvacrol and Thymol on Colonic Microorganisms in Weaned Piglets

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of carvacrol and thymol on the relative abundance of colonic microorganisms in weaned piglets and their metabolic pathways.A total of sixty four 28-day-old (8.5 kg±1.0 kg) weaned piglets were divided into 4 groups with 16 replicate of 1 piglet:Group A (control group,basal diet),group B (basal diet＋20 g/T carvacrol),group C (basal diet＋20 g/T thymol),and group D (basal diet＋20 g/T carvacrol-thymol blend (mass ratio 2:1)).The experiment lasted 30 d.The sequencing was taken based on the Illumina HiSeq sequencing platform,and using paired-end sequencing (Paired-End) method.Perform species annotation and abundance were analysized by clustering OTUs,and alpha diversity analysis、beta diversity analysis、significant species difference analysis and functional gene prediction analysis were further conducted.The results showed as follow:①The colonic microorganisms biodiversity of the experimental groups were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05).②The relative abundance of Firmicutes in the colon of group D was extremely significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01),significantly higher than groups B and C (P<0.05),the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was significantly higher than that of control group and group C (P<0.05),and the relative abundance of Epsilonbacteraeota,Spirochaetes and Proteobacteria were extremely significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.01).The relative abundance of Campylobacter in the colon of group D was extremely significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.01),that of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group in group D was significantly higher than that of group B (P<0.05),that of Roseburia in group D was extremely significantly higher than that of group A (P<0.01),that of Helicobacter was extremely significantly lower than that of group A (P<0.01).③The lipid metabolism level of colonic microorganisms in group D was extremely significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01),and colonic microbial carbohydrate metabolites,biosynthetic of other secondary metabolites and other amino acid metabolism level were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05),and energy metabolism level of colonic microorganisms was extremely significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.01).In conclusion,under the condition of this experiment,dietary supplementation with 20 g/t carvacrol-thymol improved the microbial community structure of colonic microorganisms in weaned piglets.The relative abundance of colonic beneficial bacteria was increased,the relative abundance of colonic harmful bacteria was decreased,and positively affected the metabolic function of colonic microorganisms.     

断奶日龄对仔猪心肌、背最长肌和半腱肌抗氧化功能的影响

为研究不同断奶日龄对仔猪心肌、背最长肌和半腱肌抗氧化功能的影响,试验选取受试仔猪24头,随机分为4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复1头仔猪,各处理仔猪分别在14日龄、21日龄、28日龄和35日龄断奶,所有仔猪在42日龄宰杀取样.测定仔猪相应组织的MDA含量和抗氧化酶活性.结果表明,随着断奶日龄的推迟,仔猪心肌、背最长肌和半腱肌中MDA含量逐渐降低,35日龄断奶组仔猪心肌MDA含量显著低于14日龄组（P＜0.05）,28日龄和35日龄断奶组背最长肌和半腱肌MDA含量显著低于14日龄组（P＜0.05）;与28日龄和35日龄断奶组相比,14日龄断奶组心肌T-SOD、GSH-Px活性（P＜0.05）以及半腱肌GSH-Px活性均显著降低（P＜0.05）,各断奶日龄组仔猪背最长肌抗氧化酶活性无显著差异.以上结果提示,仔猪断奶日龄越早,其肌肉组织脂质过氧化反应越强,抗氧化功能越低.     

Piglet gut microbial shifts early in life:causes and effects

The gut microbiome has long been known to play fundamentally important roles in the animal health and the well-being of its host. As such, the establishment and maintenance of a beneficial gut microbiota early in life is crucial in pigs, since early gut colonizers are pivotal in the establishment of permanent microbial community structures affecting the health and growth performance of pigs later in life. Emphasizing this importance of early gut colonizers, it is critical to understand the factors impacting the establishment of the piglet gut microbiome at weaning. Factors include, among others, diet, in-feed antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotic administration. The impact of these factors on establishment of the gut microbiome of piglets at weaning includes effects on piglet gut microbial diversity, structure, and succession. In this review, we thoroughly reviewed the most recent findings on the piglet gut microbiome shifts as influenced by weaning, and how these microbiome changes brought about by various factors that have been shown to affect the development of microbiota in piglets. This review will provide a general overview of recent studies that can help to facilitate the design of new strategies to modulate the gut microbiome in order to enhance gastrointestinal health, growth performance and well-being of piglets.     

Belly-nosing in early-weaned piglets is not influenced by diet quality or the presence of milk in the diet

Early weaning of piglets can lead to an increase in belly-nosing and other oral-nasal behavior (nosing, chewing, or sucking other piglets), but the causative factors involved in these behavior patterns are largely unknown. Because these behavior patterns resemble massaging the udder and sucking, they may be associated with feeding. The objectives of this study were to determine any effect of diet quality or the presence of milk in the diet on belly-nosing behavior of piglets weaned at 14 to 18 d. During the first 2 wk after weaning, piglets were fed diets differing in quality and inclusion of milk products. Six replicates of eight piglets per replicate, blocked by initial body weight, (n = 192) were offered one of four dietary treatments: HQM: high quality, high in milk products; HQ: high quality, no milk products; PQ: poor quality, no milk products; HQ+MR: high quality, no milk products (as HQ) sprayed with milk replacer five times daily. Thereafter, the piglets were fed a standard nursery diet. Feed intake was measured daily for wk 1 and again at the end of wk 2. Behavior was recorded every 5 min during two 4-h periods on d 2 to 7, 10, 14, 17 and 21 after weaning. Dietary treatment influenced ADFI and ADG during wk 1. Average daily feed intake (P < 0.05) and ADG (P < 0.05) of piglets on PQ were less than those of piglets on the other treatments. During wk 2, ADFI (P > 0.10) and ADG (P > 0.10) were the same across all treatments. Overall, ADFI was not influenced by the inclusion of milk products in the diet or the addition of milk replacer (P > 0.10); however, ADG was. Piglets on HQM had higher ADG than those on HQ during wk 2 (P < 0.05) and 3 after weaning (P < 0.05). However, milk replacer did not influence ADG (P > 0.10). Although the dietary treatments did affect ADFI and ADG, there were no effects on any behavior pattern recorded, including time spent at the feeder (P > 0.10). Lower weight-for-age piglets performed more oral-nasal behavior, in total, than higher weight-for-age piglets (P < 0.03). Neither feeding a poor-quality diet nor the presence of milk in the diet had an effect on belly-nosing or other oral-nasal behavior patterns during the first 3 wk after weaning. Belly-nosing does not seem to be associated with feeding.     

断奶日龄对五指山仔猪生长性能和血清生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究断奶日龄对五指山仔猪生长性能和血清生化指标的影响。选取日龄相近(±1 d)、体重[(0.56±0.07)kg]相近的五指山仔猪96头,随机分成4组,每组设4个重复,每个重复6头猪。4组仔猪分别在21、28、35和42日龄断奶。试验从8日龄开始,至56日龄结束,试验期间定期测定体重、采食量和血清生化指标。结果表明:各组仔猪断奶后平均日增重(ADG)出现不同程度的下降,且断奶日龄越早,ADG下降幅度越大;35日龄断奶组和42日龄断奶组21~28日龄、28~35日龄、35~42日龄、49~56日龄阶段的ADG显著高于21日龄断奶组(P0.05)。各组仔猪断奶后平均日采食量(ADFI)显著增加(P0.05),42日龄以后,各组ADFI无显著差异(P0.05)。21日龄断奶组、28日龄断奶组、35日龄断奶组血清总蛋白(TP)、白蛋白(ALB)、免疫球蛋白G(IgG)、免疫球蛋白M(IgM)含量以及谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性在断奶后7 d均发生显著变化(P0.05),并以21日龄断奶组波动最大;与35日龄断奶组和42日龄断奶组相比,21日龄断奶组28、35日龄时血清TP、ALB、IgG、IgM含量显著降低(P0.05),ALT、AST、LDH活性显著提高(P0.05),到56日龄时,血清TP、IgG、IgM含量仍显著低于35日龄断奶组和42日龄断奶组(P0.05)。21日龄断奶组血清甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(CHOL)含量在28~56日龄间存在显著变化(P0.05),35日龄断奶组和42日龄断奶组血清TG、CHOL含量在整个试验期内均无显著变化(P0.05)。35日龄断奶组血清TP、ALB、IgG、IgM含量以及ALT、AST、LDH活性除在42日龄时与42日龄断奶组存在显著差异(P0.05)外,其余时间点与42日龄断奶组均无显著差异(P0.05)。由此得出,35或42日龄断奶的五指山仔猪在生长性能、血清生化指标及免疫机能方面优于21日龄断奶的五指山仔猪。     

植物精油提取物对断奶仔猪生产性能及血液生化指标的影响

试验旨在研究植物精油提取物对断奶仔猪生产性能及血液生化指标的影响,并探讨其在断奶仔猪日粮中的适宜添加量。选用体重相近、健康的28日龄断奶杜×长×大三元杂交仔猪144头,采用单因子试验设计,随机分为4个处理,在玉米-豆粕型日粮中分别添加50、100和200g/t的植物精油提取物,对照组饲喂基础日粮,每个处理6个重复,每个重复6头猪,试验期30d。试验结果表明:日粮中添加适量植物精油提取物能提高断奶仔猪的平均日增重、平均日采食量、血清总蛋白(P0.05);降低料肉比、腹泻率和尿素氮(P0.05);谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶与超氧化物歧化酶的活力显著提高(P0.05)。研究表明,断奶仔猪日粮中添加适量的植物精油提取物(100g/t)可提高仔猪的生产性能和抗氧化能力。     

碎米替代玉米对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清生化及蛋白质代谢的影响

文章旨在研究日粮用碎米完全替代玉米对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清生化及蛋白质代谢的影响.试验将180头21?d断奶、平均体重为(6.48±0.04)kg的仔猪随机分为2组,每组5个重复,每个重复18头.两组断奶仔猪分别饲喂以45％玉米和碎米为主的日粮,试验共持续14?d.结果:与玉米组相比,碎米组仔猪断奶后8～14?d平均日...     

Potential use of ground brown rice for weanling pigs

The purpose of the current study was to assess the effects of substituting corn with ground brown rice on growth performance, immune status, and gut microbiota in weanling pigs. Seventy-two weanling pigs (28 d old with 6.78 ± 0.94 kg body weight [BW]) were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments with six pens and six pigs (three barrows and gilts) per pen within a randomized complete block design. The control pigs were fed a typical diet for weanling pigs based on corn and soybean meal diet (control diet: CON), and the other pigs were fed a formulated diet with 100% replacement of corn with ground brown rice for 35d (treatment diet: GBR). Growth performance, immune status, and gut microbiota of weanling pigs were measured. The substitution of corn with GBR did not affect growth performance or diarrhea frequency. Additionally, there were no differences in white blood cell number, hematocrit, cortisol, C-reactive protein, and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels between pigs fed CON or GBR for the first 2 wk after weaning. However, weanling pigs fed GBR had lower (P < 0.05) serum transforming growth factor-beta 1 level than those fed CON. Furthermore, weanling pigs fed GBR had increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes and genus Lactobacillus and Streptococcus and decreased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes and genus Clostridium and Prevotella in the gut microbiota compared with those fed CON. In conclusion, there was no significant difference in growth performance when corn was replaced with ground brown rice in diets for weanling pigs. Furthermore, the substitution of corn with ground brown rice in weaning diet modulated immune status and gut microbiota of pigs by increasing beneficial microbial communities and reducing harmful microbial communities. Overall, ground brown rice-based diet is a potential alternative to corn-based diet without negative effects on growth performance, immune status, and gut microbiota changes of weanling pigs.