This study aimed to assess the effects of β-mannanase supplementation in metabolizable energy (ME)-reduced diets containing xylanase-phytase on performance, fecal score, blood biochemical and immunological profile, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), digesta passage rate, fecal microbiome, carcass traits and meat quality in finisher pigs (n = 40 entire male hybrid, 26.0 ± 0.9 kg) randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: a control diet containing isolated phytase and xylanase valued at 40 kcal of ME/kg (CD0), CD0 + β-mannanase (0.3 g/kg valued at 30 kcal of ME/kg) (CD70), CD0 + β-mannanase (0.3 g/kg valued at 45 kcal of ME/kg) (CD85), and CD0 + β-mannanase (0.3 g/kg valued at 60 kcal of ME/kg) (CD100), with 10 pen replicates. Pigs fed CD0 diet showed (P = 0.002) greater ADFI. However, pigs fed CD0 diet showed (P = 0.009) lower G:F than those provided CD70 or CD85 diets. A greater (P < 0.001) superoxide dismutase concentration was observed in pigs fed CD70 diet. Pigs fed CD85 diet showed (P = 0.002) greater digestible protein than pigs fed CD0 or CD100 diets. Pigs fed CD70 diet showed an increase of 11.3% in digestible protein than those fed CD0 diet. In addition, greater (P < 0.001) digestible energy was observed in pigs fed CD85 diet. Pigs fed CD0 or CD100 diets showed greater (P < 0.05) Firmicutes:Bacteroidota ratio than those fed CD85 diet. The Muribaculaceae was more abundant (P = 0.030) in pigs fed CD70 diet than in those fed CD0 diet. The Prevotella was more abundant (P = 0.045) in pigs fed CD85 diet than in those fed CD100 diet. In conclusion, β-mannanase supplementation in diets containing xylanase-phytase allows reducing 85 kcal of ME/kg because it improves gain to feed ratio, energy and protein usage, and backfat thickness without metabolic and intestinal ecosystem disorders in finisher pigs.

Weaning is considered the “critical window” in the piglet’s life because it is associated with several stress factors, such as loss of contact with the mother and original litter, solid diet, environmental and structural changes, and the establishment of a new hierarchy. During this abrupt period, several events such as reduced feed intake, high morbidity, susceptibility to enteric infections and post-weaning diarrhoea are observed. The nutritional landscape of the piglet gut is modified, which can compromise the maturity of the gastrointestinal system, the stable intestinal microbiome and the active immunity developed as an indicator of intestinal health. However, with increased awareness of feed safety issues and the development of drug-resistant bacteria, the interest in producing pigs without the use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) is increasing, since long-term use and therapeutic doses of AGP can contribute to the reduction of bacterial diversity and increase of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thus, the most widely researched alternatives include the use of feed additives, feeding strategies, nutraceuticals/functional foods and available handling that can reduce the risk of IBD beyond basic nutritional functions. Studies have reported intestinal alkaline phosphatase as a new nutritional therapy associated with intestinal health which may be a “key additive” in the AGP replacement. In this review article, the purpose is to show some current aspects of feed additive research, addressing a concept of the “intestinal health” from different points of view and properties of alkaline phosphatase.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) added to diets on growth performance, diarrhoea incidence (DI), blood metabolites, relative organ weight, and intestinal morphometry of weaned piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 (K88). A total of 64 crossbred entire male piglets (25-day-old and 7.16 ± 0.28 kg body weight) were allocated into four treatments: control diet (CD^–), CD^– + antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP), CD^– + 15 mg IAP/kg of diet and CD^– + 30 mg IAP/kg of diet, with eight replications. At 15 days, all piglets were orally challenged with 6 ml of a solution containing K88 (10⁶ colony forming units/ml). Microencapsulated IAP in acid solution showed 14.43% solubility and pH values of 1.69, 1.72, 1.51, and 1.52 at the different times measured (0.5 h, 1.0 h, 17.0 h, and 24 h); differently, IAP in basic solution had 4.10% solubility and pH values increased (5.95, 6.10, 6.32 and 6.63) according to the different times, respectively. On days 25–35, piglets that received 30 mg IAP and CD^– showed a better feed conversion ratio (P = 0.075) compared to those fed 15 mg IAP. Piglets that consumed 30 mg IAP or CD^– had higher (P = 0.004) average daily gain on days 35–44. On days 35–44, the piglet average daily feed intake was lower (P = 0.033) with 15 mg IAP compared to AGP. In the entire period, piglets fed 15 mg IAP showed a reduction in average daily gain (P = 0.040) and average daily feed intake (P = 0.092). Piglets on 30 mg IAP showed an improvement (P ≤ 0.05) in DI in the pre-and post-challenge periods. The relative spleen weight of the piglet increased (P = 0.043) in response to 30 mg IAP. Overall, the addition of 30 mg IAP to diets improves the growth performance, attenuates DI, and promotes an increase in spleen relative weight to maintain the healthy state of piglets.

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Background Homeopathic products (HP) have been proposed for the prevention of disease and as a complementary dietary additive in pig farming, with resulting improved performance and quality of life of the animals and with benefits for food safety. The aim of this study was to assess the addition of HP to pig feed and its effects on growth performance, dietary protein utilization, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and economic feasibility. Methods A total of 80 male pigs, body weight 32.8±2.3kg, were allocated in a randomized design, with two treatments of 10 replications and four animals per experimental unit. Treatments were composed of a control diet (CD) or CD+HP (Finalvitaplus+Figotonus, 1.1kg/ton feed of each product). The outcome measures used were growth performance (body weight gain) and feed efficiency (body weight gain per unit of feed consumed), efficiency of dietary protein utilization (blood urea nitrogen), nutrient digestibility (apparent digestibility coefficient and apparent nutrient digestibility), meat quality (including pH, temperature, color, liquid loss by cooking and thawing, intramuscular fat and meat tenderness), and economic feasibility (cost of the diets). Results There was no effect (p >0.05) of treatments on growth performance of the pigs, though the group that received HP showed an 8.93% greater feed efficiency than the control group (p=0.077). The animals in the control group had a 14.37% higher blood urea nitrogen concentration in the finishing I phase (70–100kg body weight) compared with those fed HP (p=0.028), indicating lower protein utilization in the controls. There was comparative improvement in digestibility coefficient and in nutrient digestibility in pigs fed HP in the growing–finishing phase (p <0.05). There was no differential effect of treatments on meat quality or economic feasibility (p >0.05). Conclusion The addition of HP to the diet of growing–finishing pigs produced some improvement in their dietary protein utilization, nutrient digestibility and feed efficiency, though it did not affect their growth performance, meat quality or economic feasibility.

The aim of this study was to assess the addition of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) to diets on the count of bacterial populations, pH of digestive organ contents, histopathological description, proinflammatory markers, hepatic glycogen reserve, and diarrhoea incidence of piglets challenged with Escherichia coli. Sixty-four crossbred piglets (7.16±0.28 kg body weight, 25-days-old) were assigned to four treatments in a completely randomised block design: negative control (NC), NC + antibiotic (ANT), NC + 15 mg IAP, or NC + 30 mg IAP kg −1 of diet, eight replications of two piglets per experimental unit. All piglets were orally challenged with 6 mL of a solution containing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 at 10 6 CFU mL −1 at 15 days of experimentation. The study lasted for 19 days. At the end of the experimental period, the piglets were slaughtered (six animals per treatment). Enterobacteriaceae in caecum and colon was lower in piglets on 30 mg IAP than with ANT and NC, ANT or 15 mg IAP, respectively. Enterobacteriaceae adhered to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) was greater in piglets fed ANT than the other treatments. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count in caecum was greater in piglets fed NC and ANT. In MLN, LAB count was greater in ANT and 30 mg IAP-fed piglets compared with 15 mg IAP. Piglets in 30 mg IAP in diet showed a tendency for lowering tissue necrosis compared with NC or ANT. Piglets fed 30 mg IAP showed a reduction in diarrhoea incidence in the pre-and post-challenge compared with 15 mg IAP and all other treatments, respectively. Based on the criteria, addition of 30 mg IAP to diet inhibits Enterobacteriaceae population and suggests a potential effect in mitigating intestinal injuries, as observed in piglets in the NC for some of the parameters investigated.

The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional-energetic value of guava seed meal (GSM) for piglets in the starter phase and its effects on feed digestibility, growth performance, plasma parameter and diarrhea incidence. Assay I (digestibility testing) involved 16 entire male piglets with average initial body weight of 18.91 ± 1.36 kg were distributed in a randomized block design, allocated to two treatments with eight replications. Treatments consisted of a reference diet and a test diet with a 20% replacement by GSM. In assay II (performance testing), 128 entire male piglets and average initial body weight of 14.47 ± 2.09 kg were distributed in a randomized block design, with four treatments repeated four times in two blocks. Treatments consisted of increasing levels of GSM (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%). Values higher were found for glutamine and arginine. The high GE value of the GSM was reflected in an elevated AMCGE of the feed, with greater DM and CP digestibility. There was difference (P < 0.05) for average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, urea and diarrhea. In conclusion, GSM does not affect apparent nutrient digestibility, and it promotes greater feed intake up to 10% inclusion and 15% improves diarrhea incidence.

The effects of β-mannanase supplementation in metabolizable energy (ME)-reduced diets containing xylanase-phytase were investigated on performance, fecal score, carcass attributes, blood profile, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), digesta passage rate, and fecal microbiome in grower pigs (n = 40, 26.09 ± 0.96 kg) randomly assigned within 4 treatments: a control diet containing isolated phytase and xylanase valued at 40 kcal of ME/kg (CD0), CD0 + β-mannanase (0.3 g/kg valued at 30 kcal of ME/kg) (CD70), CD0 + β-mannanase (0.3 g/kg valued at 45 kcal of ME/kg) (CD85), and CD0 + β-mannanase (0.3 g/kg valued at 60 kcal of ME/kg) (CD100). Performance was supported. Pigs with CD100 had lower serum IL-1β concentration, and lower IL-10 was observed in pigs on CD0 than those fed β-mannanase. Greater ATTD was evidenced in animals fed CD85 or CD100. Pigs with CD85 had higher alpha diversity richness but lower Firmicutes:Bacteroidota ratio. Acidaminococcaceae and Ruminococcaceae were more abundant in pigs fed CD0, but lower for Christensenellaceae NSJ-63 and NSJ-63 sp014384805. Pigs in CD85 showed higher abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Prevotella, and lower of Streptococcaceae and Streptococcus. In conclusion, supplementation of β-mannanase in diets containing xylanase-phytase saved 85 kcal of ME/kg by supporting performance, improving nutrient digestibility and fecal microbiome in grower pigs.