Rearing conditions affected responses of weaned pigs to organic acids showing a positive effect on digestibility, microflora and immunity

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to assess the response of weaned pigs to organic acid SF3, which contains 34% calcium formate, 16% calcium lactate, 7% citric acid and 13% medium chain fatty acids. Dietary treatments had no effect on growth performance of piglets (21-day weaning) fed the commercial prestart diet for 1 week before receiving the experimental diets supplemented with SF3 at 0, 3 or 5 g/kg diet (Exp. 1), whereas diarrhea frequency averaged across a week was decreased by SF3 supplementation (5 g/kg diet) in piglets fed the experimental diets immediately after weaning (Exp. 2). In Exp. 3, piglets (28-day weaning) were fed the control (containing pure colistin sulfate and enramycin, respectively, at 20 mg/kg diet) for 1 week and then were fed the control or SF3-supplemented (5 g/kg diet) diet for 2 weeks. The SF3-fed piglets had greater apparent ileal digestibility of calcium and dry matter, while also demonstrating greater overall gross energy, up-regulated jejunal expression of sodium-glucose cotransporter-1 and transforming growth factor-β, down-regulated jejunal expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, higher ileal Lactobacillus, with lower total bacteria content, lower plasma TNF-α but higher IgG levels than the control-fed piglets. Collectively, SF3 consumption improved diarrhea resistance of weaned pigs by improving nutrient digestibility, piglet immunity and intestinal bacteria profile. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

Supplementation with organic acids showing different effects on growth performance, gut morphology and microbiota of weaned pigs fed with highly or less digestible diets

“…The pigs were anesthetized with an intravenous injection of pentobarbital sodium (50 mg/kg BW) before slaughtered. Immediately after death, the abdominal cavity was opened, and ileal, colonic, and caecal content samples were quickly collected as previously described ( Kuang et al, 2015 ; Wang et al, 2016 ), snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at −80 °C until analysis. Two-cm-long segments of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were sampled as previously described and immediately fixed in phosphate-buffered paraformaldehyde (4%, pH 7.6) for histological measurements.…”

“…Stressful factors associated with early weaning often cause digestive disorders, nutrient malabsorption, and a high incidence of diarrhea in pigs ( Boudry et al, 2004 ; Fairbrother et al, 2005 ). The restricted or banned use of antibiotics and high levels of zinc oxide ( ZnO ) poses a great challenge to weaning pigs, and nutritional scientists must find effective alternative antibiotic growth promoters ( AGP ) ( Kuang et al, 2015 ; Wang et al, 2016 ). The effects of the diet on intestinal enzymes and tissue development could therefore be critical during the earlier weaning stages, when abrupt stresses and undernourishment potentially are likely ( Cera et al, 1988 ).…”

Non-antibiotic feed additives in diets for pigs: A review

“…(2014) also reported increased Lactobacillus spp. count in feces from pigs fed a blend of acidifiers and a blend of acidifiers was effective in reducing diarrhea in pigs that were stressed by changing temperatures ( Wang et al., 2016a , Wang et al., 2016b ).…”

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Combination of Tributyrin and Essential Oil on Gut Health and Microbiota of Weaned Piglets

“…The treatment of MT resulted in a significant increase in metabolites, which were catechol, isoleucine, acetoacetate, trisaccharide, lactic acid, serine and phenylalanine (Table 9). Con, the basal diet without antibiotics, tributyrin, oregano or methyl salicylate; OT, the basal diet supplemented with tributyrin plus oregano (1.4 g and 0.6 g per kilogram diet); 1 R.T. represents retention time; 2 VIP = variable importance projection metabolite as listed in table; 3 FC represents the fold change of the peak intensity for the control group against the OT group (n = 6). Con, the basal diet without antibiotics, tributyrin, oregano or methyl salicylate; MT diets, the basal diet supplemented with tributyrin plus methyl salicylate (1.4 g and 0.6 g per kilogram diet); 1 R.T. represents retention time; 2 VIP = variable importance projection metabolite was listed in table; 3 FC represents the fold change of the peak intensity for the control group against the MT group (n = 6).…”

“…However, overusing antibiotics in animal feed results in residues in products and causes antibiotic resistance to pathogenic bacteria [1]. Therefore, it is necessary to find proper alternatives as feed additives to the antibiotics currently used for improving intestinal health and relieving the weaning stress in piglets [2,3]. Plant extracts and essential oils might be used as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters through improving gut health [4,5].…”