Effects of fermentation products of Ganoderma lucidum on growth performance and immunocompetence in weanling pigs

The purpose of this study was to test fermentation, for its products of a Chinese medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum, cultured by submerged fermentation for its effect on growth performance and immunocompetence in weanling piglets. In Experiment 1, 72 weanling piglets were allotted to one of four treatments receiving these fermentation products (GLF, expressed as amount of β-glucans) at 0 (control), 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg feed for 4 weeks. The results showed that at a supplementation level of 50 mg/kg feed, GLF caused the best growth performance, the highest pseudorabies antibody titre, and a decrease of blood glucose level. It was also demonstrated that GLF up-regulated the cell-mediated immune response related cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) expression in different lymphoid tissues. After challenging with porcine circovirus (PCV) type 2 (Experiment 2), a supplementation with 50 mg GLF per kg feed also inhibited PCV-2 virus amplification, and ameliorated lymphocyte depletion in different lymphoid tissues. Conclusively, feed supplemented with GLF at 50 mg/kg could be beneficial to counteract the physiological stress in weanling piglets.     

Dietary supplementation with zinc oxide decreases expression of the stem cell factor in the small intestine of weanling pigs

Dietary supplementation with a high level of zinc oxide (ZnO) has been shown to reduce the incidence of diarrhea in weanling pigs, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Intestinal–mucosal mast cells, whose maturation and proliferation is under the control of the stem cell factor (SCF), play an important role in the etiology of diarrhea by releasing histamine. The present study was conducted to test the novel hypothesis that supplementing ZnO to the diet for weanling piglets may inhibit SCF expression in the small intestine, thereby reducing the number of mast cells, histamine release, and diarrhea. In Experiment 1, 32 piglets (28 days of age) were weaned and fed diets containing 100 or 3000 mg zinc/kg (as ZnO) for 10 days (16 piglets per group). In Experiment 2, two groups of 28-day-old piglets (8 piglets per group) were fed the 100- or 3000-mg zinc/kg diet as in Experiment 1, except that they were pair-fed the same amounts of feed. Supplementation with a high level of ZnO reduced the incidence of diarrhea in weanling piglets. Dietary Zn supplementation reduced expression of the SCF gene at both mRNA and protein levels, the number of mast cells in the mucosa and submucosa of the small intestine and histamine release from mucosal mast cells. Collectively, our results indicate that dietary supplementation with ZnO inhibits SCF expression in the small intestine, leading to reductions in the number of mast cells and histamine release. These findings may have important implications for the prevention of weaning-associated diarrhea in piglets.     

壳聚糖对大肠杆菌攻毒仔猪生长性能和抗氧化状况的影响

为探讨壳聚糖对仔猪生长性能和抗氧化力的影响,50头21 d断奶仔猪被随机分为五组,预试期用大肠杆菌攻毒,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组分别在基础日粮中添加50 mg/kg金霉素和200 mg/kg、300 mg/kg、400 mg/kg壳聚糖,连续饲喂21天.结果表明:与对照组相比,1)各试验组日采食量提高(P＞0.05)...     

Effect of Dietary Supplementation With α-Galactosidase Preparation and Stachyose on Growth Performance,Nutrient Digestibility and Intestinal Bacterial Populations of Piglets

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with f -galactosidase preparation and stachyose on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal bacterial populations of piglets. In Experiment I 72 crossbred piglets were allotted to three treatments, i.e. 1) control (basal) diet, 2) f -Gal1 and 3) f -Gal5, the basal diet supplemented with 0.01% and 0.05% f -galactosidase preparation ( f -Gal), respectively. Average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not influenced by f -Gal supplementation. In Experiment II 72 crossbred weanling piglets were randomly assigned to four treatments with a complete factorial design, i.e. 1) basal diet, 2) basal diet with 0.01% f -Gal supplementation, 3) basal diet with 1% stachyose supplementation and 4) basal diet with 1% stachyose and 0.01% f -Gal supplementation. Average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were influenced by f -Gal and stachyose supplementation. The ileal digestibility of stachyose, raffinose, gross energy and crude protein was improved significantly by f -Gal supplementation. The microbial populations in the intestine were modified by both f -Gal and stachyose supplementation. The data suggested that stachyose supplementation had an adverse effect on the growth performance of piglets and f -Gal supplementation could ameliorate it, especially in younger pigs.     

Effects of dietary allicin on health and growth performance of weanling piglets and reduction in attractiveness of faeces to flies

To investigate the effect of dietary allicin on health and growth performance of weanling piglets, at 21 days of age. Two hundred and twenty-five piglets were weaned and randomly allocated into five groups. Piglets in the control group were fed diets supplemented with antibiotics. Those in the treatment groups were fed diets without antibiotics, but supplemented with allicin product (25% pure allicin oil) in the proportion of 0.10 g/kg, 0.15 g/kg, 0.20 g/kg and 0.25 g/kg in the diet, respectively. During the 28 days of the experiment, average daily weight gain increased linearly (P < 0.0001) and quadratically (P = 0.0014) as the level of dietary allicin increased. The feed gain ratio decreased linearly (P < 0.0001) and quadratically (P < 0.0001). As the dietary allicin level increased, the incidence of diarrhoea in the treatment piglets, especially female piglets decreased linearly (P = 0.0003) and tended to decrease quadratically (P = 0.0716). The number of flies alighting on the surface of the faeces of the piglets at each counting time point decreased linearly (P < 0.0001), quadratically (P < 0.0001) and cubically (P < 0.0001) as the dietary allicin level increased. In conclusion, supplementation of the diet with allicin may improve growth performance, reduce the incidence of diarrhoea and possibly improve their local environmental conditions by reducing the attractiveness of faeces to flies.     

Interaction and imbalance between indispensable amino acids in young piglets

Lowering protein level in diets for piglets urge to have knowledge on the piglet’s requirements for essential amino acids (AA) and their interactions. The present studies aimed to determine the interaction between the dietary level of valine (Val) and tryptophan (Trp) and the effect of AA imbalance at two levels of dietary Val on the growth performance of post-weaning piglets. In Experiment 1 (duration 4 weeks), the effects of supplementation of free l-Val (1.0 g/kg) and/or l-Trp (0.5 g/kg) in a low-CP diet (CP 17.7%), marginal in Trp and Val, was studied in a 2×2 factorial design and using an additional reference treatment (CP 19.5%). In Experiment 2 (duration 5 weeks), the influence of a stepwise increase in excess supply of isoleucine (Ile), histidine (His) and leucine (Leu), up to 10, 10% and 30% relative to their requirement values respectively, was evaluated at 60% or 70% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Val relative to SID lysine, using a 3×2 factorial design. In Experiment 1, over the whole experimental period, feed intake (FI) was affected by dietary Trp level (P<0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) by both the level of Trp and Val in the diet (both P<0.05). Increasing Trp level increased FI and decreased FCR while increasing dietary Val level reduced FI and increased FCR. For BW gain (BWG), there was an interaction between dietary level of Trp and Val (P<0.05). Valine supplementation decreased BWG using a diet marginal in Trp, whereas it increased BWG when using a Trp sufficient diet. Piglets fed the low-CP diet with adequate levels of Val and Trp showed at least same performance compared to piglets fed the high CP reference diet. In Experiment 2, increasing dietary Val improved FI and BWG (P<0.001) and tended to improve FCR. Dietary AA excess for Ile, His and Leu reduced FI and BWG (P<0.05) and only affected FCR (P<0.01) in the 1^st week of the study. Dietary level of Val and AA excess did not show interactive effects, except for FCR over the final 2 weeks of the study (P<0.05). In conclusion, an interaction exists between dietary supply of Val and Trp on the zootechnical performance of post-weaning piglets and dietary AA excess for Ile, Leu and His, reduces growth performance of piglets in low-protein diets, independent of the dietary level of Val.     

Zinc Oxide–Montmorillonite Hybrid Influences Diarrhea, Intestinal Mucosal Integrity, and Digestive Enzyme Activity in Weaned Pigs

One hundred-eighty piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire), with an average initial weight of 7.4?kg weaned at 27?±?1?days of age, were used to evaluate the effects of dietary zinc oxide?Cmontmorillonite hybrid (ZnO?CMMT) on growth performance, diarrhea, intestinal mucosal integrity, and digestive enzyme activity. All pigs were allotted to five treatments and fed with the basal diets supplemented with 0, 250, 500, and 750?mg/kg of Zn as ZnO?CMMT or 2,000?mg/kg of Zn as ZnO. The results showed that supplementation with 500 or 750?mg/kg of Zn from ZnO?CMMT and 2,000?mg/kg of Zn from ZnO improved average daily gain, enhanced average daily feed intake, decreased fecal scores at 4, 8, and 14?days postweaning, reduced intestinal permeability which was evident from the reduced lactulose recovery and urinary lactulose/mannitol ratio, and improved the activities of protease, amylase, lipase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin both in pancreas and small intestinal contents of pigs as compared with the control. Supplemental 250?mg/kg of Zn from ZnO?CMMT also decreased fecal scores at 8 and 14?days postweaning, decreased urinary lactulose/mannitol ratio, and improved chymotrypsin activity in pancreas and small intestinal contents as well as protease activity in small intestinal contents compared with control. Moreover, the above indexes of weanling pigs fed with 500 or 750?mg/kg of Zn as ZnO?CMMT did not differ from those fed with 2,000?mg/kg of Zn as ZnO. The results demonstrated that supplementation with 500 or 750?mg/kg of Zn from ZnO?CMMT was as efficacious as 2,000?mg/kg of Zn from ZnO in improving growth performance, alleviating postweaning diarrhea, and enhancing intestinal mucosal integrity and the digestive enzyme activities in pancreas and small intestinal contents of pigs. The results that feeding lower concentrations of ZnO?CMMT to weanling pigs maintained performance will be beneficial for the environment and for sustaining swine production.     

The impacts of Macleaya cordata extract and naringin inclusion in post-weaning piglet diets on performance,nutrient digestibility and intestinal histomorphology

The current study investigated the impacts of supplementation of post-weaning piglet diets with Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) and naringin (NAR) on performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal histomorphology. Post-weaning crossbred piglets (28 males and 28 females; age at weaning 25 d) were randomly allotted to 28 pens. The experiment consisted of a control and three treatment groups (MCE60, MCE120 and NAR). For diets MCE60 and MCE120, the control diet was supplemented with 60 and 120 mg Sangrovit® Extra (a standardised premixture of MCE) per kg diet, respectively. Group NAR received 50 mg pure NAR per kg diet. The experiment lasted 42 d (d 25 – 66 of age). At d 66, apparent pre-caecal digestibility (APD) of nutrients was determined and histomorphological changes in mid-jejunum were evaluated. Feeding diets MCE120 and NAR improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of piglets. After feeding diets MCE120 and NAR, the APD of phosphorus and different single and total amino acids were greater than after feeding the control diet. The present data demonstrated that supplementation of post-weaning piglet diets with 120 mg MCE or 50 mg NAR per kg diet could improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility and had no impact on histomorphological variables in the jejunum. These findings indicate the potential of these products to be used as growth promoters in pig nutrition.     

The effects of a novel synthetic emulsifier product on growth performance of chickens for fattening and weaned piglets

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of a novel synthetic emulsifier product (AVI-MUL TOP) on the growth performance of chickens for fattening and weaned piglets. The emulsifier product consists of 50% vegetal bi-distillated oleic acid emulsified with 50% glyceryl polyethyleneglycol ricinoleate. In experiment 1, 480 1-day-old female Cobb500 chickens for fattening were assigned to two treatments: (1) a control diet (CTR); and (2) the control diet+the emulsifier (AMT, 1 g/kg from day 0 to day 10, 0.75 g/kg from day 10 to day 20 and 0.5 g/kg from day 20 to day 34 of the trial). AMT supplementation increased BW on days 20 and 34 (P<0.01). Dietary AMT increased the average daily gain and average daily feed intake (ADFI) from day 10 to day 20, from day 20 to day 34 and from day 0 to day 34 (P<0.01). A reduced feed conversion ratio was observed in the AMT group from day 10 to day 20 (P<0.01). In experiment 2, 96 Stambo HBI×Dalland piglets were weaned at 24 days and assigned to two treatments (the basal diet without the product (CTR) or with 2 g/kg emulsifier from day 0 to day 14 and 1.5 g/kg from day 14 to day 42 (AMT)). There was an increase in the ADFI associated with AMT supplementation from day 14 to day 42 (P=0.04). These results indicated that supplementation with the synthetic emulsifier may significantly improve the growth performance of chickens for fattening and numerically improve that of weaned piglets.     

Bacteriophage cocktail and multi-strain probiotics in the feed for weanling pigs: effects on intestine morphology and targeted intestinal coliforms and Clostridium

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of bacteriophage cocktail, probiotics and a combination of these two supplements on performance and gut health of weanling pigs. In Experiment 1, 150 weaned piglets were randomly allotted to three treatments on the basis of BW. The dietary treatments included a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg bacteriophage cocktail. Pigs fed 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg bacteriophage product had greater (P<0.05) average daily gain (ADG), apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter from day 22 to 35, ileal Lactobacillus spp., villus height (duodenum and jejunum), and fewer coliforms (ileum) and Clostridium spp. (ileum). In Experiment 2, 200 weaned piglets were randomly allotted to four treatments. Dietary treatments included basal diet, basal diet supplemented with 3.0 g/kg fermented probiotic product (P), 1.0 g/kg bacteriophage cocktail (B) and combination of 1.0 g/kg bacteriophage cocktail and 3.0 g/kg fermented probiotic product. Pigs fed bacteriophage cocktail diets had greater (P<0.05) overall ADG, gain to feed ratio (G:F), fecal score from day 8 to day 21, and pigs fed bacteriophage cocktail diets had fewer coliforms (ileum) Clostridium spp. (ileum and cecum). Probiotics significantly increased G:F, colonization of Lactobacillus spp. in ileum. At day 35, bacteriophage treatment group showed greater (P<0.05) villus height of the duodenum, but a deeper crypt in duodenum. The present results indicate that the bacteriophage cocktail had a potential to enhance the performance and gut health of weanling pigs, however their combination with probiotics did not show an interaction.     

Effect of dietary bovine lactoferrin on performance and antioxidant status of piglets

The experiment investigated the effect of dietary bovine lactoferrin (bLF) on growth performance and antioxidant systems of piglets. Duroc–Landrace–Yorkshire crossbred female piglets (n = 120, 35 days of age, live-weight 9.70 ± 0.71 kg) were fed a diet containing 0, 1250 or 2500 mg/kg bLF for 30 days. After completion of the feeding experiment, eight animals from each treatment were randomly selected to determine malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), copper–zinc–superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) activities in serum and longissimus muscle, and CuZnSOD, GPx and CAT mRNA levels in longissimus muscle. Results showed that supplementation with bLF improved average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and reduced diarrhea ratios of piglets with the linear and quadratic polynomial contrasts being significant (P<0.01). The highest weight gain and the best feed conversion occurred at 2500 mg/kg bLF. Serum and longissimus muscle CuZnSOD and GPx, and serum TAOC linearly and quadraticly increased (P<0.01), serum CAT and longissimus muscle CAT and TAOC linearly increased (P<0.01), whereas MDA concentrations in serum and longissimus muscle linearly decreased (P<0.01) as dietary bLF supplementation increased. Increasing dietary bLF levels improved (P<0.01) mRNA expression of CuZnSOD and CAT in longissimus muscle of piglets. The results indicated that exogenous antioxidant bLF was effective in improving growth performance and enhancing antioxidant enzymes activity and mRNA levels of piglets.     

Effect of a bovine colostrum whey supplementation on growth performance, faecal Escherichia coli population and systemic immune response of piglets at weaning

This study examined the effect of a bovine colostrum whey supplementation on growth performance, feed intake, faecal Escherichia coli population and systemic immune response of piglets at weaning. A total of 96 piglets weaned at 26 ± 2 days of age were assigned for 4 weeks to one of the two treatments: (1) the control (commercial diet with bovine milk whey powder) and (2) the colostrum (commercial diet with freeze-dried bovine colostrum whey) treatments. The two supplements were incorporated in the diet at a level of 20 g/kg during the first 2 weeks after weaning and lowered to a level of 10 g/kg for the next 2 weeks. BW and feed intake were measured weekly. Faecal E. coli counts were determined weekly on specific culture media. Blood samples were collected weekly and submitted to a cell counter analyser for their main components (red and white blood cells, platelets) and flow cytometry was used to determine the lymphocyte population (B, T, Th and Tc). Finally, total seric immunoglobulin (IgM, IgG and IgA) concentrations were determined by the ELISA method. During the first week of the trial, the piglets from the colostrum treatment had improved average daily gain (170 g/day v. 81 g/day, P < 0.001), average daily feed intake (346 g/day v. 256 g/day, P = 0.03) and feed efficiency (BW gain/feed intake) (0.48 v. 0.31, P = 0.04). The pigs fed the colostrum treatment had also a 25% increase in circulating IgA (P = 0.03) compared with the control treatment the first week. It is concluded that a distribution of bovine colostrum whey (20 g/kg diet) during the first week post-weaning induces a systemic IgA response and has a beneficial action on growth performances and feed efficiency.     

Selenium and Glutathione Peroxidase Levels in Lambs Receiving Feed Supplemented with Sodium Selenite or Selenomethionine

Twenty-one 6 months old female lambs were divided into 7 groups and fed a basal diet containing 0.13 mg Se/kg. The basal diet was further supplemented with 0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg Se/kg either as sodium selenite or as selenomethionine, and was fed for 10 weeks. Both feed additives produced an increase in the selenium concentration in the tissues analysed. Significant correlations were found between the concentrations of selenomethionine or sodium selenite added to the feed and the subsequent tissue levels. However, the selenium levels seemed to plateau at approximately 0.5 mg Se/kg of supplemented sodium selenite. The total glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of the tissues increased when the selenium supplementation increased from 0 to 0.1 mg/kg for both selenium compounds. With further increase in selenium supplementation the GSH-Px activity in the tissues plateaued except in the blood where the activity continued to rise with increasing selenomethionine supplementation. The selenium dependent GSH-Px activity in the liver rose with increasing selenomethionine supplementation, but approached a plateau when 0.1 mg Se/kg as sodium selenite was added to the feed. The selenium concentration in whole blood responded more rapidly to the selenium supplementation than did GSH-Px activity. The experiment indicates that the optimal selenium concentration in the feed is considerably higher than 0.1 mg Se/kg, and that selenium levels of 1.0 mg/kg in the feed do not result in any risk for the animals or the consumers of the products.     

Effects of dietary supplementation with grape seed procyanidins on nutrient utilisation and gut function in weaned piglets

Grape seed procyanidins (GSPs), widely known for their beneficial health properties, fail to bring about the expected improvement in piglets’ growth performance. The effects of dietary supplementation with GSPs on nutrient utilisation may be a critical influencing factor. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with GSPs on nutrient utilisation and gut function in weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty crossbred piglets were allocated randomly to four treatment groups, with three replicate pens per treatment and 10 piglets per pen. Each group was given one of the four dietary treatments: the basal diet (control group) or the basal diet with the addition of 50-, 100- or 150-mg/kg GSPs. The trial lasted 28 days. Faeces were collected from d 12 to 14 and from d 26 to 28 for measuring the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of the nutrients. Blood samples were collected on d 14 and 28 for detecting the blood biochemical parameters. Two piglets per pen were slaughtered to collect the pancreas and intestinal digesta for evaluating the digestive enzyme activity and the coefficient of ileal apparent digestibility (CIAD) of the nutrients. On d 14 and 28, supplementation with 150-mg/kg GSPs significantly decreased the CTTAD of DM and CP in piglets. On d 14, GSPs supplementation at a concentration of 150 mg/kg led to a remarkable decrease in the CIAD of CP and gross energy (GE). On d 28, GSPs supplementation at a dose of 150 mg/kg generated a marked decline in the CIAD of DM, GE, CP and ether extract. Grape seed procyanidins supplementation at concentrations of 100 or 150 mg/kg inhibited the activities of lipase and amylase. In contrast, the jejunum mucosa maltase and sucrase activities increased due to the inclusion of GSPs at a concentration of 100 mg/kg in the piglet diet. Compared with the levels of the control group, the serum glucose and total protein levels were enhanced significantly by supplementation with GSPs at 100 mg/kg and reduced dramatically at 150 mg/kg. The serum diamine oxidase activity and endotoxin levels were decreased by GSPs supplementation in piglet diets. In conclusion, higher concentrations of GSPs in weaned piglet diets attenuated nutrient digestion and inhibited digestive enzyme activity; however, suitable concentrations of GSPs could promote brush-border enzyme activity, enhance serum glucose and total protein concentrations and decrease epithelial permeability.     

Effects of Selenium- and Chromium-Enriched Diets on Growth Performance,Lipid Profile,and Mineral Concentration in Different Tissues of Growing Rabbits

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with different sources of selenium and/or organic chromium on the growth performance, digestibility, lipid profile, and mineral content of hair, liver, and fore and hind limb of growing rabbits. A total of 150 weanling New Zealand White (NZW) male rabbits were randomly allotted to six dietary treatment groups: (1) basal diet (control group), (2) basal diet + 0.6 mg sodium selenite/kg diet, (3) basal diet + 0.6 mg selenium yeast/kg diet, (4) basal diet + 0.3 mg sodium selenite/kg diet + 0.3 mg selenium yeast/kg diet, (5) basal diet + 0.6 mg chromium yeast/kg diet + 0.6 mg selenium yeast/kg diet, (6) basal diet + 0.6 mg chromium yeast/kg diet. Only the combination between inorganic and organic selenium led to significant improvement in body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. Carcass traits were not different in all groups. Selenium (Se) and chromium (Cr) were deposited in the tissues of rabbits fed diets supplemented with Se and Cr, respectively. Blood serum in both of selenium- and chromium-supplemented groups showed declined total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Group supplemented with organic chromium showed higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) than the other groups. It could be concluded that using a mixture of inorganic and organic Se has a positive effect on the growth performance of growing rabbits. Both Se and Cr have hypocholesterolemic effect. Both of Se and Cr can be deposited in the meat and other tissues of rabbits and that improves meat quality which positively reflects on human acceptance. The combination between inorganic (0.3 mg sodium selenite/kg diet) and organic selenium (0.6 mg selenium yeast/kg diet) improved growth performance traits of growing rabbits.

     

Effects of Copper-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles on Intestinal Microflora and Morphology in Weaned Piglets

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with copper-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CNP-Cu) on growth performance, intestinal microflora, and morphology in weaned piglets. A number of 90 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire), weaned at 21?days with body weight of 7.2?±?0.81?kg, were randomly divided into three groups by weight and sex, each treatment including three replicates of ten pigs. The piglets were fed the same basal diet supplemented with 0 (the control group), 100?mg/kg CNP-Cu, and 100?mg/kg chlortetracycline (the positive group). The results showed that 100?mg/kg CNP-Cu significantly increased average daily gain and feed intake and decreased feed/gain ratio and diarrhea rate (P?<?0.05). Compared with the control group, the amount of Escherichia coli in duodenum, jejunal, and caecum were significantly decreased by 100?mg/kg CNP-Cu; the number of lactobacillus in jejunal and caecum were increased (P?<?0.05), and the amount of bifidobacterium in duodenum and caecum were also increased (P?<?0.05). Moreover, the villous height of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum mucosa was significantly increased (P?<?0.05), and the crypt depth was significantly decreased (P?<?0.05). The results indicated that CNP-Cu is beneficial to growth and intestinal microflora and morphology and could be a potential substitution of chlortetracycline in diets of weaned piglets.     

Effect of oral polyamine supplementation pre-weaning on piglet growth and intestinal characteristics

A high proportion of piglets fail to adapt to the changing composition of their diet at weaning, resulting in weight loss and increased susceptibility to pathogens. Polyamines are present in sow milk and promote neonatal maturation of the gut. We hypothesised that oral spermine and spermidine supplementation before weaning would increase piglet growth and promote gastrointestinal development at weaning. In Experiment One, one pair of liveweight (LW)-matched piglets per litter from first and third lactation sows received 2 ml of a 0 (Control) or 463 nmol/ml spermine solution at 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 days of age (n=6 piglets/treatment per parity). Villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum were measured at weaning (day 23 postpartum). In Experiment Two, piglets suckling 18 first and 18 third lactation sows were used. Within each litter, piglets received 2 ml of either water (Control), 463 nmol/ml spermine solution or 2013 nmol/ml spermidine solution at 14, 16, 18, 22 and 24 days of age (n=54 piglets/treatment per sow parity). Piglets were weighed individually at 14, 18, 24 (weaning) and 61 days of age. In Experiment One, oral spermine supplementation resulted in a 41% increase in villus height, a 21% decrease in crypt depth and 79% decrease in the villus height : crypt depth ratio compared with control piglets (P<0.01). In Experiment Two, spermine and spermidine-supplemented piglets suckling first lactation sows grew faster (P<0.05) between days 14 and 18 postpartum than control piglets: 0.230±0.011 and 0.227±0.012 v. 0.183±0.012 kg/day, respectively. Spermine supplementation tended (P<0.1) to increase piglet LW gain from weaning to day 37 post-weaning compared with control piglets (0.373±0.009 v. 0.341±0.010 kg/day). In conclusion, spermine supplementation increased villus height at weaning, and appears to have the potential to improve the pre- and post-weaning growth of conventionally weaned piglets.     

Performance of rabbits and oxidative stability of muscle tissues as affected by dietary supplementation with oregano essential oil

The effect of dietary supplementation with oregano essential oil on the performance of rabbits, and the susceptibility of the produced raw and thermally treated muscle tissue to lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage, were investigated. A total of 96 weaned rabbits were separated into four equal groups with three subgroups each. One group was given the basal diet and served as control, two groups were administered diets supplemented with oregano essential oil at levels of 100 and 200 mg/kg diet, whereas the remaining group was given a diet supplemented with alpha-tocopheryl acetate at 200 mg/kg. During the 42-day experimental period, body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly and the feed conversion ratio was calculated. Feeding the experimental diets to rabbits, performance parameters were not affected. Therefore, dietary oregano essential oil exerted no growth-promoting effect on rabbits. With increased supplementation of oregano essential oil, malondialdehyde values decreased in both raw and thermally treated muscles during refrigerated storage. This finding suggests that dietary oregano essential oil exerted a significant antioxidant effect. Dietary supplementation of oregano essential oil at the level of 200 mg/kg was more effective in delaying lipid oxidation compared with the level of 100 mg/kg, but inferior to dietary supplementation of 200 mg alpha-tocopheryl acetate per kg. This study indirectly provides evidence that antioxidant compounds occurring in oregano essential oil were absorbed by the rabbit and increased the antioxidative capacity of tissues.     

Effect of increasing inclusion rates of tofu by-product in diets of growing pigs on nitrogen balance and ammonia emission from manure

To reduce competition with human-edible feed resources, it is of interest to incorporate by-products from the food industry in animal feeds. The current research investigated the effect of including increasing amounts of tofu by-product (TF) in practical pig diets on animal performance, nitrogen balance and ammonia emissions from manure. Two experiments were conducted including a control diet without TF, containing 160 g/kg dietary non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) and three diets including 122, 246 and 360 g TF/kg DM (TF122, TF246 and TF360, respectively) to reach 220, 280 and 360 g/kg NSP. All diets had the same level of CP and protein digestible in the small intestine which particularly was realized by replacing rice bran with TF. Animal performance was assessed in a first experiment with 40 growing barrows with initial BW of 26.6 ± 1.80 kg (M ± SD) being allocated to the 4 treatments, during 2 growth phases (i.e. until 50 kg BW and from 50 to 80 kg BW). In the growth phase until 50 kg, feed intake and average daily gain (ADG) were linearly reduced by dietary TF inclusion, while this negative impact disappeared during the second growth phase (50 to 80 kg BW). Tofu by-product inclusion even positively affected the feed conversion ratio during this second growth phase (3.4 to 2.7 kg feed/kg ADG for 0 to 360 g/kg dietary TF). Over the entire growth period, performance and feed intake were negatively affected at the highest dietary TF level. Experiment 2 was conducted to assess digestibility, nitrogen balance and ammonia emission from manure. For this purpose, 16 pigs with BW of 62.8 ± 3.6 kg (M ± SD) were assigned to either 1 of the 4 treatments. There was no difference in total tract apparent digestibility of dietary organic matter or CP, while NDF digestibility increased with increasing TF level, suggesting increasing importance of the hindgut fermentation when digesting diets with increasing TF levels. Nevertheless, this was not reflected in increasing levels of faecal volatile fatty acids or purines, nor in reduced manure pH. As a result, ammonia emission from slurry was not reduced through dietary TF inclusion, despite the linear decrease in urinary nitrogen. In conclusion, TF can be included in pigs’ diets up to an inclusion rate of 25% without risk of impaired animal performance; however, this dietary strategy fails to mitigate ammonia emission from slurry.     

Proteomic analysis reveals altered expression of proteins related to glutathione metabolism and apoptosis in the small intestine of zinc oxide-supplemented piglets

Zinc is an important dietary factor that regulates intestinal amino acid and protein metabolism in animals. Recent work with the piglet, an established animal model for studying human infant nutrition, has shown that supplementing high levels of zinc oxide (ZnO) to the diet ameliorates weaning-associated intestinal injury and growth retardation. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that zinc supplementation affects expression of proteins related to glutathione metabolism and oxidative stress in the gut. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, we identified 22 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated protein spots in the jejunum of weanling piglets supplemented with ZnO (3,000 mg/kg Zn) compared with the control pigs (100 mg/kg Zn). These proteins are related to energy metabolism (increased level for succinyl-CoA transferase and decreased level for creatine kinase M-type); oxidative stress (decreased levels for 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein and glutathione-S-transferase-ω); and cell proliferation and apoptosis (increased levels for A-Raf-1 and calregulin). Consistent with the changes in protein expression, the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione was increased, whereas glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase activities as well as the protein level of active caspase-3 were reduced in ZnO-supplemented piglets. Collectively, these results indicate that ZnO supplementation improves the redox state and prevents apoptosis in the jejunum of weaning piglets, thereby alleviating weaning-associated intestinal dysfunction and malabsorption of nutrients (including amino acids).