In-Feed Supplementation of Resin Acid-Enriched Composition Modulates Gut Microbiota, Improves Growth Performance, and Reduces Post-Weaning Diarrhea and Gut Inflammation in Piglets

Abstract

The weaning process represents a delicate phase for piglets, and is often characterized by lower feed intake, lower weight gain, diarrhea, and ultimately increased mortality. We aimed to determine the effects of RAC supplementation in diets on improving piglet growth and vitality, reducing post-weaning diarrhea, and enhancing gut health. In a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment, we selected forty sows and their piglets. Piglets were followed until seven weeks of age. There were no significant differences found between RAC treated and control piglets until weaning (p = 0.26). However, three weeks after weaning, RAC treated piglets had higher body weight and average daily growth (ADG) than the control piglets (p = 0.003). In addition, the piglets that received RAC after weaning, irrespective of mother or prior creep feed treatment, had lower post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) and fecal myeloperoxidase (MPO) level than control piglets. Gut microbiota analysis in post-weaning piglets revealed that RAC supplementation significantly increased Lachnospiraceae_unclassified, Blautia, Butyricicoccus, Gemmiger and Holdemanella, and decreased Bacteroidales_unclassified. Overall, RAC supplementation to piglets modulated post-weaning gut microbiota, improved growth performance after weaning, reduced post-weaning diarrhea and reduced fecal myeloperoxidase levels. We therefore consider RAC to be a potential natural feed supplement to prevent enteric infections and improve growth performance in weaning piglets.

Diets Partially Replaced With Cassava Residue Modulate Antioxidant Capacity, Lipid Metabolism, and Gut Barrier Function of Huanjiang Mini-Pigs

“…Escherichia-Shigella is known to be an opportunistic pathogen in animals and humans, which is associated with numerous disorders and infectious diseases ( 31 ). Ruminococcaceae plays a particularly important role in fiber degradation to obtain more energy by its digestive enzyme function ( 32 ). Further analysis of LEfSe confirmed that the impacts of dietary CR or FCR supplementation on the intestinal microbial enrichment in the ileum and colon of piglets.…”

Dietary micro-fibrillated cellulose improves growth, reduces diarrhea, modulates gut microbiota, and increases butyrate production in post-weaning piglets

“…Several mechanisms may be responsible. First, this might be due to less energy loss through reduced diarrhea incidence; hence this energy could improve piglet body weight 51 . Another mechanism might be attributed to the high water-holding capacity of MFC, which results in the increased size of their digestive organs 52 .…”

The Ameliorative Effect and Mechanisms of Ruditapes philippinarum Bioactive Peptides on Obesity and Hyperlipidemia Induced by a High-Fat Diet in Mice

“…Deferribacterota and Campilobacterota are reported to be related to inflammation [ 58 ], which is closely correlated with obesity and hyperlipidemia [ 59 ]. Campilobacterota is associated with gastroenteritis [ 60 ], whereas the increased abundance of Deferribacteres is accompanied by the aggravation of intestinal inflammation [ 61 ]. Moreover, intestinal inflammation in the early stages of HFD may lead to obesity and related insulin resistance [ 59 ].…”