Effects of supplementation of β-glucans on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and immunity in weanling pigs

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of beta-glucan on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and immunity in weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, 210 weanling pigs (6.38 +/- 0.92 kg of BW) were fed dietary beta-glucan (0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, or 0.04%) for 5 wk. In Exp. 2, 168 pigs (6.18 +/- 1.31 kg of BW) were fed no beta-glucan or antibiotics (T1), 0.02% beta-glucan (T2), only antibiotics (T3), or 0.02% beta-glucan with antibiotics (T4) for 8 wk. In Exp. 2, the antibiotics fed were apramycin and carbadox in phase I (0 to 2 wk) and carbadox and chlortetracycline in phase II (3 to 8 wk). During Exp. 2, the performance study was conducted for 5 wk, and the immune response was tested until 8 wk. In Exp. 1, there was a trend for a linear increase (P = 0.068) in ADG as the dietary beta-glucan concentration increased in the diet. The digestibilities of DM, GE, CP, ether extract, Ca, and P increased linearly (P < 0.05) in the beta-glucan-supplemented pigs. In Exp. 2, the overall ADG was greater (P < 0.05) in treatment T4 compared with the control group (T1). Also, except for P, this group showed greater (P < 0.05) nutrient digestibilities than the control group. In Exp. 2, at d 15, 24, and 46 antibody titers were measured by ELISA against Pasteurella multocida type A and D after vaccination with atrophic rhinitis, and they differed significantly (P < 0.05) with no particular trend. Flow cytometry was used to determine porcine lymphocyte subpopulations at 4 and 8 wk of Exp. 2. There was an increase in CD4 cells (P < 0.05) and a trend for an increase in CD8 cells (P < 0.10) at 8 wk in pigs fed the T2 diet compared with the other groups. Overall, increasing the dietary concentrations of beta-glucan did not improve ADG without antibiotic, and in weanling pigs antibiotics seem to be more effective in improving nutrient digestibilities and growth performance than beta-glucan.

Influence of beta-glucan and vaccination against Lawsonia intracellularis on selected immune indices in weaned piglets

“…Their bond to specifi c receptors stimulates the activity of phagocytes and triggers signal cascades leading to expression of cytokines and chemokine genes, which was confi rmed in piglets in several in vivo and in vitro studies [18,22,23]. Besides reported higher weight gain, there are also reports of their stimulating effect on increased resistance of suckling piglets against infectious agents, their infl uence on phagocytic activity of cells and production of reactive forms of oxygen, proliferative activity of lymphocytes, and expression of specifi c receptors [24,25]. With this aim, we performed the experiment on weaned piglets, where after immune-modulation of sows and expectation of higher trans-colostral transfer of immunoglobulins, a higher production of specifi c antibodies after oral vaccination of weaned piglets was expected.…”

Supplementation of pigs diet with zinc and copper as alternative to conventional antimicrobials

“…It has been shown that β-glucans possess anti-inflammatory properties enhancing anti-inflammatory cytokine production in pigs (Li et al 2006). In some situations, glucans may stimulate growth and feed intake but also depress piglet's performance (Hahn et al 2006).…”

Natural alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in pig production: can immunomodulators play a role?

“…Whereas the ability of lymphocytes to proliferate is also insensitive to a feed supplementation with glucans (Hiss and Sauerwein, 2003), the production of the different classes of Igs is influenced in a dose-dependent manner with lower and higher doses favouring IgA and IgG responses, respectively (Sauerwein et al, 2007). This could be partly correlated to the different pattern of lymphocyte subclasses (helper and cytotoxic T-cells) observed in response to a supplementation with b-glucans (Hahn et al, 2006). However, those variations are inconstantly reported, and appear to be related to the period of supplementation Hahn et al, 2006).…”

“…This could be partly correlated to the different pattern of lymphocyte subclasses (helper and cytotoxic T-cells) observed in response to a supplementation with b-glucans (Hahn et al, 2006). However, those variations are inconstantly reported, and appear to be related to the period of supplementation Hahn et al, 2006). The effect of dietary supplementation with b-glucans on the response to systemic immunisation has produced contrasting results.…”

“…The effect of dietary supplementation with b-glucans on the response to systemic immunisation has produced contrasting results. For example, whereas b-glucan-supplemented piglets vaccinated with atrophic rhinitis vaccine produced a transiently lower antibody response (Hahn et al, 2006), pigs injected with ovalbumin and receiving b-glucans at a dose of 0.005% mounted a transiently higher antibody response . b-glucans did not enhance the efficiency of a vaccination with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus (Hiss and Sauerwein, 2003), or different EnteroToxinogenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) antigens (Decuypere et al, 1998).…”