scholarly journals Effects of Weaning Age at 21 and 28 Days on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Redox Status in Piglets

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2169
Author(s):  
Dongxu Ming ◽  
Wenhui Wang ◽  
Caiyun Huang ◽  
Zijie Wang ◽  
Chenyu Shi ◽  
...  

The study objective was to assess effects of different weaning ages on growth performance, intestinal morphology and redox status in Duroc × Landrace × Large White piglets (n = 96) fed diets without antibiotic growth promoters. Piglets were selected from 24 litters based on similar body weight at 14 d of age. All piglets were allocated to two groups in a completely random design with six replicates and eight pigs per replicate (four barrows and four gilts), which were weaned at 21 (n = 48; BW = 6.87 ± 0.33 kg) and 28 (n = 48; BW = 8.49 ± 0.41 kg) days of age. After weaning, pigs were fed a corn–soybean meal-based diet. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion (F:G), diarrhea incidence, gastrointestinal pH, intestinal morphology and redox status were determined. Pigs weaned at 28 d displayed increased ADG from d 8 to 14 (p < 0.01) compared with pigs weaned at 21 d. Pigs weaned at 28 d had a higher ADFI from d 0 to 7 (p < 0.01), d 8 to 14 (p < 0.01), d 15 to 28 (p < 0.05) and during the entire experimental period (p < 0.01) compared with pigs weaned at 21 d. Pigs weaned at 21 d had an improved F:G from d 15 to 28 (p < 0.05) compared with pigs weaned at 28 d. Pigs weaned at 28 d had decreased diarrhea incidence from d 8 to 14 (p < 0.01) and the entire experimental period (p < 0.01) compared with pigs weaned at 21 d. On d 28, the pH of the stomach contents in pigs weaned at 21 d was significantly higher compared with pigs weaned at 28 d (p < 0.01). On d 14, the morphology of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum in pigs weaned at 28 d was improved compared with pigs weaned at 21 d. During the experiment period, the antioxidant abilities of pigs weaned at 28 d of the heart, liver, kidney, intestinal and serum were better than pigs weaned at 21 d. In conclusion, intestinal morphology, pH of the stomach and antioxidant status of pigs weaned at 28 d were better than pigs weaned at 21 d. These factors supported better growth performance and decreased diarrhea incidence.

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 1947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Mazutti ◽  
Leandro Batista Costa ◽  
Lígia Valéria Nascimento ◽  
Tobias Fernandes Filho ◽  
Breno Castello Branco Beirão ◽  
...  

For the last several decades, antimicrobial compounds have been used as feed additives to promote piglet growth at weaning, through the prevention of subclinical and clinical disease. However, few studies have assessed the influence of these antibiotics on the immune response of nursery pigs, as well as the relation between performance, health, and immunity of animals that receive feed additives. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of colistin and tylosin when used as feed additives on the performance, incidence of diarrhea, and immune response of nursery pigs. In this study, 72 weaned pigs (average age, 28 days) were allotted into one of three treatment groups: a control group (feed with no antibiotics), tylosin group (feed containing 22 ppm tylosin), and colistin group (feed containing 20 ppm colistin). Weekly, during a five week period, the average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio of the pigs were evaluated. Stools were scored daily, in accordance with a fecal texture scale. Blood samples were collected on the day of housing (d0) and on d7, d21, d28, and d35 for immune cell phenotyping. The results of this study showed that piglets in both the colistin and tylosin groups exhibited a significantly higher average daily feed intake, resulting in a higher body weight at the end of the experimental period (d35) when compared with piglets from the control group. Colistin and tylosin also significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhea. Colistin and tylosin modulated the piglets’ immune responses, particularly on d28, by changing the percentage of circulating B lymphocytes, CD4+CD8+ T cells, and the CD4:CD8 ratio.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3316
Author(s):  
Min Ma ◽  
James K. Chambers ◽  
Kazuyuki Uchida ◽  
Masanori Ikeda ◽  
Makiko Watanabe ◽  
...  

This study assessed the feasibility of using a vegetable extract, MGM-P (quebracho tannin product), as an alternative to antibiotics for weaned piglets; it investigated MGM-P effects on growth performance, diarrhea, and overall health in early-weaned piglets. In total, 24 piglets were allocated to three treatment groups fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.2%, or 0.3% MGM-P for 20 days. The addition of 0.3% MGM-P to the diet of early-weaned piglets improved diarrhea incidence, hematological parameters, and intestinal mucosa structure. Furthermore, the addition of 0.2% or 0.3% MGM-P to the diet of early-weaned piglets did not affect their overall health. Importantly, MGM-P had no effects on average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), or feed conversion ratio (FCR). Gut morphology analysis showed that treatment with 0.3% MGM-P enhanced the jejunal villus height (p < 0.05) while reducing the ileal crypt depth (p < 0.05) and colon mucosal thickness (p < 0.05). Collectively, the findings suggested that the use of MGM-P as an alternative to dietary antibiotics could improve diarrhea incidence in early-weaned piglets without negative effects on growth performance or overall health.


Author(s):  
Wen-Chao Liu ◽  
Yan Guo ◽  
Zhi-Hui Zhao ◽  
Rajesh Jha ◽  
Balamuralikrishnan Balasubramanian

This study aimed to determine the efficacy of dietary algae-derived polysaccharides (ADPs) from Enteromorpha on growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal permeability, and antioxidant capacity in serum, liver, and intestinal mucosa of broilers. Three hundred and ninety six day-old male chicks were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments containing 0 (Control), 1,000, 2,500, 4,000, 5,500, and 7,000 mg ADP/kg basal diet in a 35 day feeding trial. During day 1–21, compared with the control group, dietary 1,000–7,000 mg/kg ADP supplementation improved the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (p &lt; 0.05). Overall (day 1–35), dietary inclusion of 1,000 mg/kg ADP increased the final body weight and ADG (p &lt; 0.05). Besides, on day 21, dietary 2,500 mg/kg ADP supplementation increased the serum catalase (CAT) and liver total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities (p &lt; 0.05), whereas dietary 1,000–5,500 mg/kg ADP supplementation decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in serum and liver (p &lt; 0.05). On day 35, supplementation of 1,000 mg/kg ADP increased the serum glutathione peroxidase and CAT activities and liver T-SOD activities (p &lt; 0.05). It decreased the MDA level of serum and liver (p &lt; 0.05). Also, dietary 2,500 mg/kg ADP increased the villus height of jejunum and ileum on day 21 (p &lt; 0.05), and dietary 4,000 mg/kg ADP increased the villus height of duodenum and ileum on day 35 (p &lt; 0.05). On day 21, dietary 4,000 mg/kg ADP increased the CAT activities of the duodenum and T-SOD activities of jejunum and ileum and decreased the MDA contents in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (p &lt; 0.05). On day 35, dietary inclusion of 1,000–7,000 mg/kg ADP reduced MDA contents of duodenum and jejunum (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, dietary inclusion of ADP at 1,000–7,000 mg/kg decreased serum DAO activities at day 21 and day 35 (p &lt; 0.05), and the serum D-lactic acid concentration was reduced by dietary supplementation of 1,000, 2,500, and 7,000 mg/kg ADP on day 21. In conclusion, dietary ADP exerted beneficial effects on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and gut health in broilers; based on the studied parameters, the appropriate recommended dose is 1,000–4,000 mg/kg. These findings provided new insights into the potential application of ADP as natural growth promoters in broilers.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1196
Author(s):  
Akshat Goel ◽  
Beom-June Kim ◽  
Chris-Major Ncho ◽  
Chae-Mi Jeong ◽  
Vaishali Gupta ◽  
...  

Sawdust and wood shavings are the major industrial waste from wood and its related industries. Steam-explosion treatment enhances the utilizable fiber fraction in pinewood particles. This study investigated the effects of adding up to 2% of steam-exploded pine particles (SPPs) in diets on the growth performance and cecal microbiome of broilers. On the 8th day of age, 216 Ross 308 broilers were allocated to three treatments of 72 broilers/group, with 12 replicates of 6 broilers each, to receive 0%, 1%, and 2% SPPs in their diets. The experimental period was from the 8th to 28th day of age. The parameters recorded included growth performance, relative organ weight (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, liver, and spleen), absolute organ length (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum), blood biochemicals (glucose, total protein, triglyceride, and cholesterol), and microbial analysis from cecum samples. Growth performance parameters, such as the average daily gain, average feed intake, feed conversion ratio, organ weight, length, and blood biochemical parameters, were not influenced by dietary supplementation of SPP. The abundance of fibrolytic bacterial genera, such as Mediterraneibacter and Anaerobutyricum, was increased in 2% SPP-supplemented chickens. An unknown bacterial genus was also enhanced in 2% SPP-supplemented diets related to the family of fiber-degrading bacteria and needs further investigation. In conclusion, 2% SPP can be supplemented in chicken diets as a source of fiber from wood industry-related waste without having any harmful effects on broiler chickens.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 469-470
Author(s):  
Cátia F Martins ◽  
Manolis Matzapetakis ◽  
David D Ribeiro ◽  
Mário Pinho ◽  
João Pedro Bengala Freire ◽  
...  

Abstract Pig production relies on expensive imported protein feedstuffs namely soybean meal. It is very important to use less conventional feedstuffs such as microalgae. Spirulina has been used in pig feeds as an additive (inclusion levels below 1%). Recently, its use as a protein feedstuff has been proposed. In order to study the effect of Spirulina on growth, intestinal mucosa morphology microscopy, plasma profiles and small intestine and liver metabolomics (1H NMR) of weaned 12 kg piglets, an experiment with 40 male animals was carried out. Animals were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals (Control, 10% Spirulina, 10% Spirulina + Rovabio® and 10% Spirulina + Lysozyme). Piglets were fed ad libitum. All diets had the same protein and energy levels. Piglets were weighed weekly; experimental period was 4 weeks. Animals were sacrificed and blood, liver and small intestine sampled. Variance analysis was used to test diet effect on growth, intestinal morphology and plasma parameters. Metabolomics data were analysed using PCA and PLS-DA. For the same feed intake, the average daily gain was reduced by 14% and feed-conversion ratio increased by 10% in the three diets with Spirulina in comparison to Control. No significant differences (P &gt; 0.05) were found for microvilli height and width or crypt depth. Plasma cholesterol, total lipids and liver aminotransferases (ALT, AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations were higher in animals fed on Spirulina diets. Metabolic profiles for the two tissues were similar for the four groups, although PLS-DA analysis showed a tendency for the three Spirulina diets to cluster together, separately from the control group. Betaine and glycerol-3-phosphocholine were the most discriminant metabolites. In conclusion, although Spirulina had no significant effects on small intestinal morphology and metabolomics profiles, its use for piglet feeding in incorporation levels of 10% leads to losses in growth performances.


Author(s):  
Lukáš Bujňák ◽  
Pavel Naď ◽  
Iveta Maskaľová ◽  
František Zigo

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of replacing part of soybean meal (SBM) with 15% treated rapeseed meal (tRSM) on growth performance, blood parametres and nutrient digestibility in young growing pigs. A total of 12 crossbred growing pigs (Slovakian White x Landrace) with an average initial body weight of 15.70 ± 1.83 kg were divided into two dietary treatments according to their body weight and sex (six pigs in each group). The experiment lasted 34 days. The rapeseed meal was treated with the product that neutralizes the negative effects of glucosinolates contained in rapeseed by-products for pigs feeding. In our study, we did not observe negative effects of tRSM on body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. In blood profile, serum urea, albumin, glucose and total chlosterol were not influenced by dietary tRSM treatment. Concentration of total proteins was decreased at the end of the experimental period in the experimental group (P<0.01). For apparent total tract digestibility acid-insoluble ash was used as marker. Partially replacing of SBM with tRSM had no significant negative effects on the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and crude fat. Finally, the inclusion of 15% of treated RSM in growing pig diets had no negative effects on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and selected blood characteristics.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 359
Author(s):  
Dongxu Ming ◽  
Caiyun Huang ◽  
Wenhui Wang ◽  
Zijie Wang ◽  
Chenyu Shi ◽  
...  

The research was implemented to assess the safety of feeding excess of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium (PQQ·Na2) to 108 Duroc × Landrace × Large White weaned pigs (BW = 8.38 ± 0.47 kg). Pigs were weaned at 28 d and randomly distributed to one of three diets with six replicates and six pigs per replicate (three males and three females). Pigs in the control group were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet (without growth promoter) while the two experimental diets were supplied with 7.5 and 75.0 mg/kg PQQ·Na2, respectively. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion (F:G), diarrhea incidence, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ index and general health were determined. Diets supplementation with 7.5 mg/kg PQQ·Na2 in weaned pigs could increase ADG during the entire experimental period (p < 0.05). And there was a tendency to decrease F:G (p = 0.063). The F:G of weaned pigs fed 7.5 and 75.0 mg/kg PQQ·Na2 supplemented diets was decreased by 9.83% and 8.67%, respectively, compared to the control group. Moreover, pigs had reduced diarrhea incidence (p < 0.01) when supplemented with PQQ·Na2. No differences were observed between pigs supplemented with 0.0, 7.5 and 75.0 mg/kg PQQ·Na2 diets on hematological and serum biochemical parameters as well as histological assessment of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney. At day 14, pigs had increased activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), catalase (CAT) (p < 0.05) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.05), and the serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased (p < 0.01) with PQQ·Na2 supplementation. At day 28, pigs had increased activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) (p < 0.01), GSH-Px (p < 0.01), CAT (p < 0.05) and T-AOC (p < 0.01), and serum concentration of MDA was lower (p < 0.01) with PQQ·Na2 supplementation. In conclusion, PQQ·Na2 can improve weaned pigs growth performance and serum antioxidant status. Meanwhile high PQQ·Na2 inclusion of 75.0 mg/kg does not appear to result in harmful effects on growth performance of pigs.


Author(s):  
Gleise M Silva ◽  
Lautaro R Cangiano ◽  
Thiago F. Fabris ◽  
Victoria R Merenda ◽  
Ricardo C Chebel ◽  
...  

Abstract This experiment evaluated the effects of providing artificial shade during summer on activity, behavior, and growth performance of pregnant grazing beef heifers. Thirty-six black-hided Angus and Angus crossbred pregnant heifers [418 ± 9 kg body weight (BW); approximately 90 d of gestation] were stratified by breed, blocked by BW, and allocated to 12 ‘Pensacola’ bahiagrass pastures (Paspalum notatum Flüggé; 1.3 ha, n = 3 heifers/pasture) with or without access to artificial shade (SHADE vs. NO SHADE; 6 pastures each) for 7 wk during summer. The shade structures were composed of shade cloth (11 × 7.3 m length, 2.4 m height: 26.8 m 2 of shade per heifer). Shrunk BW was recorded on enrollment (d 0) and wk 7 (d 47), whereas full BW was obtained on wk 2 (d 14), 4 (d 28), and 6 (d 42) to assess average daily gain (ADG). Vaginal temperature was recorded for five consecutive days during wk 1, 3, 5, and 7 using an intravaginal digital thermo-logger, and individual GPS devices were used to quantify the use of shade for an 8-h period. Activity was monitored using automated monitoring devices (HR-LDn tags SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel) through the experimental period. Vaginal temperature was lower (P &lt; 0.01) for heifers in the SHADE compared with heifers in the NO SHADE treatment from 1200 to 1600 h and 1100 to 1900 h for wk 1 and 3, respectively. Heifers in the SHADE treatment spent 70% of the 8-h period evaluated under the shaded structure. Provision of shade increased (P &lt; 0.01) daily lying time (11.4 ± 0.2 vs. 10.3 ± 0.2 h/d) and standing bouts per day (P &lt; 0.01; 12.6 ± 0.4 vs. 10.8 ± 0.4 bouts/d), whereas it reduced (P &lt; 0.01) standing bout duration (61.6 ± 3.0 vs. 82.9 ± 3.0 min/bout) relative to heifers without access to shade. The interaction between treatment and hour affected (P &lt; 0.01) daily rumination time because heifers with access to SHADE had greater rumination between 1000 and 1200 h. Although ADG tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for the heifers in the SHADE treatment (0.20 vs. -0.02 kg, respectively), the access to shade did not (P = 0.79) affect the final BW. In conclusion, providing artificial shade during summer to pregnant grazing beef heifers was effective in reducing vaginal temperatures and exerted changes in heifer behaviors that translated into slight improvements in growth performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 201-201
Author(s):  
Sudario Roberto Silva Junior ◽  
Rhuan F Chaves ◽  
Maíra Resende ◽  
Ygor Henrique De Paula ◽  
Kenio De Gouvêa Cabral ◽  
...  

Abstract Antibiotics growth promoting (AGP) in animal feed has been restricted. With this, several additives have been tested in order to replace AGP and ensure intestinal health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a blend of additives on growth performance, diarrhea incidence and cecal content microbiota of nursery pigs. A total of 576 weaned pigs (6.21 ± 1.16 kg) were assigned into 4 treatments (12 replicates) in randomized block design: basal diet without additives (NC); basal diet with 120 ppm of halquinol (PC); NC + 0,05% blend of lactic acid (3,5%), benzoic acid (2,5%), flavonoids (3,5%) (B5); NC+ 0,1% of same blend (B10). The pigs were weighed 0 and 42 days into the experiment. On day 10, one animal per pen (10 replicates) was euthanized for microbiota analyses. The diarrhea incidence was calculated by the percentage of visual pens with diarrhea, by day, in the period. The growth performance was analyzed by GLIMMIX procedure and the means were compared with Tukey test (P &lt; 0.050) (SAS, 2009). Diarrhea incidence was analyzed by GENMOD procedure (SAS, 2009). The Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare microbial biodiversity (P &lt; 0.050) by statistical program STAMP. The final weight (P = 0.010) and average daily gain (P = 0.001) of B10 and PC were higher than NC. Regarding diarrhea, it was observed that the B5 and B10 had lower incidence when compared to other groups in the total period. In the microbiome analyses, it was observed that the B5, B10, and PC groups had lower (P = 0.021) biodiversity when compared to the NC piglets. However, the B5 and B10 group had higher biodiversity when compared to the PC group. In conclusion, the supplementation with 0,1% blend of additives can be a substitute for AGP.


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pogány Simonová ◽  
A. Lauková ◽  
L. Chrastinová ◽  
I. Plachá ◽  
V. Strompfová ◽  
...  

Abstract The effect of Enterococcus faecium CCM7420 (EF) - enterocin-producing and probiotic strain of rabbit origin, Eleutherococcus senticosus extract (ES) and their combination (ES+EF) was determined on selected bacteria in faeces and caecum content, leukocytes phagocytosis, blood biochemistry and growth performance. Ninety-six weaned rabbits were divided into 3 experimental (ES, EF, ES+EF) and control group (CG). The rabbits in the groups ES and EF+ES were fed commercial diet enriched with E. senticosus extract (30 g/100 kg feed), rabbits in groups EF and CG were fed untreated diet. The rabbits in the EF and ES+EF groups were administered with an overnight culture of E. faecium CCM7420 strain (500 μl/animal/day into water, 109 CFU/ml). The treatment period lasted 21 days. The microbiological examinations in faecal samples confirmed the presence of E. faecium CCM7420 strain. In groups EF and ES+EF, the reduction of faecal coliforms, Pseudomonas-like sp., Clostridium-like sp. and S. aureus was recorded. Leucocyte phagocytosis significantly increased in all experimental groups (P<0.0001) compared to CG. The lowest GPx values were measured in the ES+EF group. Higher total protein, triglycerides and calcium concentrations were detected in experimental groups compared to CG. The cholesterol concentration decreased in the ES group. The highest average daily gain was recorded in EF group; in ES+EF the better feed conversion ratio and no mortality was recorded. These results indicated that the dietary supplementation with the E. faecium CCM7420 and E. senticosus extract stimulate the leukocytes phagocytosis and reduces the potential pathogens in rabbits digestive tract without oxidative stress and improve the growth performance.


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