Effect of diet complexity, multi-enzyme complexes, essential oils, and benzoic acid on weanling pigs

Benzoic acid supplementation improves the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen metabolism of weaned lambs

Nitrogen is one of the essential components of proteins and nucleic acids and plays a crucial role in the growth and development of ruminants. However, the nitrogen utilization rate of ruminants is lower than that of monogastric animals, which not only reduces protein conversion and utilization, but also increases manure nitrogen discharge as well as causing environmental pollution. The lamb stage is an important period in the life of sheep, which can affect the production performance and meat quality of fattening sheep. The purpose of this experiment was to explore effects of benzoic acid supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and plasma parameters of weaned lambs. A total of 40 weaned male Hu sheep lambs with similar body weight were randomly divided into 4 groups: control with no benzoic acid (0 BA) and the lambs in other 3 groups were fed 0.5, 1, and 1.5% benzoic acid on the basis of experimental diet (0.5, 1, and 1.5 BA, respectively). The experiment lasted for 60 days. Results showed that the average daily gain of 1 BA group was significantly increased (p < 0.05) when compared to 0 and 1.5 BA groups, while an opposite tendency of dry matter intake to average daily gain ratio was observed. The dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber digestibility of 1 BA group was significantly increased (p < 0.05) as compared with 0 and 1.5 BA groups as well as plasma albumin content. Also, the urinary hippuric acid and hippurate nitrogen concentrations in 1 and 1.5 BA groups were higher (p < 0.05) than those in 0 and 0.5 BA groups. Additionally, the nitrogen intake in 0.5 and 1 BA groups was significantly increased (p < 0.05) when compared to other groups. At 1 h after morning feeding, the plasma benzoic acid concentration of 1 BA group reached up to maximum value and was higher (p < 0.05) than other groups, and then began to decrease. Similarly, the hippuric acid concentration in plasma of 1 and 1.5 BA groups was higher (p < 0.05) than that of 0 BA group from 1 to 4 h post morning feeding. At 3 h after feeding, the urea nitrogen concentration in plasma of 0 BA group was higher (p < 0.05) than that of 1.5 BA group. Overall, the appropriate supplementation of benzoic acid (1%) in the diet can improve growth performance and nitrogen metabolism of weaned lambs.

Dietary supplementation of proteases on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics and gut microbiota of growing pigs fed sorghum-based diets

Low-tannin sorghum is an excellent energy source in pig diets. However, sorghum contains several anti-nutritional factors that may have negative effects on nutrient digestibility. The impacts of proteases on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and gut microbiota of growing pigs fed sorghum-based diets were studied in this study. Ninety-six pigs (20.66 ± 0.65 kg BW) were allocated into three groups (eight pens/group, four pigs/pen): (1) CON (control diet, sorghum-based diet included 66.98% sorghum), (2) PRO1 (CON + 200 mg/kg proteases), (3) PRO2 (CON + 400 mg/kg proteases) for 28 d. No differences were observed in growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients between CON and PRO1 groups. Pigs fed PRO2 diet had increased (P < 0.05) BW on d 21 and 28, and increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain during d 14-21 and the overall period compared with pigs fed CON diet. In addition, pigs fed PRO2 diet had improved (P < 0.05) ATTD of gross energy, CP, and DM compared with pigs fed CON and PRO1 diets. Pigs fed PRO2 diet had lower (P < 0.05) plasma globulin (GLB) level and higher (P < 0.05) plasma glucose, albumin (ALB) and immunoglobulin G levels, and ALB/GLB ratio than pigs fed CON and PRO1 diets. Furthermore, pigs fed PRO2 diet had decreased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Acidobacteriota at the phylum level and increased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Prevotella_9 at the genus level. The linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis also showed that pigs fed PRO2 diet had significantly enriched short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, such as Subdoligranulum and Parabacteroides. In conclusion, protease supplementation at 400 mg/kg improved the growth performance of growing pigs fed sorghum-based diets, which may be attributed to the improvement of nutrient digestibility, host metabolism, immune status and associated with the altered gut microbiota profiles.

Effects of mixed fibres and essential oils blend on growth performance and intestinal barrier function of piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88

This study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing mixed dietary fibres (MDF) and essential oils blend (EOB) either alone or in combination on growth performance and intestinal barrier function in weaned piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC). Forty-two piglets (28 days old) were randomly allocated into six treatments in a 25-day experiment, and fed the basal diet (CON or ETEC) either with antibiotics (AT), MDF, EOB or MDF + EOB. On Day 22 of the experiment, pigs in CON and challenged groups (ETEC, AT, MDF, EOB and MDF + EOB) were orally administered sterile saline and ETEC containing 6 × 1010  CFU/kg body weight respectively. On Day 26, all pigs were euthanized to collect samples. Before ETEC challenge, piglets in MDF and EOB had lower diarrhoea incidence (p < 0.01) than others. After ETEC challenge, piglets in ETEC had lower average daily gain and higher diarrhoea incidence (p < 0.05) than those of CON. Furthermore, compared to CON, ETEC group increased the serum lipopolysaccharide concentration and diamine oxidase activity, and decreased mRNA levels of genes relating to barrier function (aquaporin 3, AQP3; mucin1, MUC1; zonula occludens-1, ZO-1; Occludin), and increased the concentration of cytokines (interleukin-1β/4/6/10, IL-1β/4/6/10) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in jejunal mucosa (p < 0.05). However, these deleterious effects induced by ETEC were partly alleviated by MDF, EOB, MDF + EOB and AT. Additionally, compared to ETEC group, MDF increased Bifidobacterium abundance in cecal digesta and butyrate concentration in colonic digesta (p < 0.05). Also, EOB improved propionate concentration in cecal digesta, and MDF + EOB decreased IL-10 concentration in jejunal mucosa (p < 0.05) compared with ETEC. Conclusively, MDF and EOB either alone or in combination can improve growth performance and alleviate diarrhoea via improving intestinal barrier function of piglets after ETEC challenge, and all may serve as potential alternatives to AT for piglets.

The effects and mechanisms of acids on the health of piglets and weaners – a review

The rearing of piglets is the most difficult period in the pigs’ production because of their poorly developed digestive system and the low activity of digestive enzymes. Problems in nutrition and stress cause some disorders in the functioning of the digestive system leading to diarrhea and the mortality of piglets. Starting in 2006 in the EU, a total ban on antibiotics in their use as growth promoters was introduced. Since then, new and safe feed additives have been sought in order to replace antibiotics. Organic and inorganic acids as well as their salts were recognized as effective and safe additives. Due to their properties, they can improve feed palatability and digestibility, reduce the buffer capacity of feed, impact the development and functioning of the pig’s digestive system and improve the health and growth parameters. However, the effectiveness of acids is related to their qualitative and quantitative share in the feed additive. In this review, some strategies for using organic acids, their mixtures and also some new multi-component products will be discussed.

Meta-analysis identifies the effect of dietary multi-enzyme supplementation on gut health of pigs

Gut health though is not well defined the role of gastrointestinal tract is vital if an animal must perform well. Apart from digestion, secretion, and absorption gut is harbored with consortium of microbiota which plays a key role in one's health. Enzymes, one of the alternatives for antibiotics with beneficial effects on digestion and consistency of food and its effect on gut health. The effect of enzyme supplementation on gut health is not well established and the objective of this meta-analysis is to investigate if the enzyme supplement has influence on gut. This meta-analysis includes 1221 experiments which has single enzyme studies and or studies with multiple enzyme complexes but not challenged. The ratio of Lactobacillus and E. coli is related to ADFI which showed comparatively lower negative correlation coefficient, with - 0.052 and - 0.035, respectively, whose I2 values are below 25%, showing that these studies show a significantly lower level of heterogeneity. Correlation between villus height, crypt depth, their ratio and fatty acid is also assessed, and it showed that when the animal is supplemented with two enzyme complexes resulted in positive gut health rather than the single or more than two enzymes.

Dietary Supplementation of Inorganic, Organic, and Fatty Acids in Pig: A Review

Simple Summary

The role of acids in pig feed strategies has changed from feed acidifier and preservative to growth promoter and antibiotics substitute. Since the 2006 European banning of growth promoters in the livestock sector, several feed additives have been tested with the goal of identifying molecules with the greatest beneficial antimicrobial, growth-enhancing, or disease-preventing abilities. These properties have been identified among various acids, ranging from inexpensive inorganic acids to organic and fatty acids, and these have been widely used in pig production. Acids are mainly used during the weaning period, which is considered one of the most critical phases in pig farming, as well as during gestation, lactation, and fattening. Such supplementation generally yields improved growth performance and increased feed efficiency; these effects are the consequences of different modes of action acting on the microbiome composition, gut mucosa morphology, enzyme activity, and animal energy metabolism.

Abstract

Reduction of antibiotic use has been a hot topic of research over the past decades. The European ban on growth-promoter use has increased the use of feed additivities that can enhance animal growth performance and health status, particularly during critical and stressful phases of life. Pig farming is characterized by several stressful periods, such as the weaning phase, and studies have suggested that the proper use of feed additives during stress could prevent disease and enhance performance through modulation of the gastrointestinal tract mucosa and microbiome. The types of feed additive include acids, minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, yeast, nucleotides, and phytoproducts. This review focuses on commonly used acids, classified as inorganic, organic, and fatty acids, and their beneficial and potential effects, which are widely reported in the bibliography. Acids have long been used as feed acidifiers and preservatives, and were more recently introduced into feed formulated for young pigs with the goal of stabilizing the stomach pH to offset their reduced digestive capacity. In addition, some organic acids represent intermediary products of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and thus could be considered an energy source. Moreover, antimicrobial properties have been exploited to modulate microbiota populations and reduce pathogenic bacteria. Given these potential benefits, organic acids are no longer seen as simple acidifiers, but rather as growth promoters and potential antibiotic substitutes owing to their beneficial action on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

Essential Oil Blend Could Decrease Diarrhea Prevalence by Improving Antioxidative Capability for Weaned Pigs

Simple Summary

Antibiotics have been applied as growth promoters in swine production for many years. Due to increased concern about drug resistance, there is an urgent need to find alternatives to antibiotics for animal production. Present research indicates that essential oils have a beneficial influence on animal nutrition and production due to the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Dietary essential oil supplementation could be an alternative to antibiotics for improving swine production and decreasing diarrhea prevalence during the weaning period.

Abstract

Finding an alternative to in-feed antibiotics is important because of increasing contemporary concern regarding drug residues and the development of drug-resistant bacteria. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that essential oils added to the feed would decrease diarrhea prevalence in post-weaned pigs. Ninety weaned piglets (initial body weight (BW): 8.1 ± 1.4 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three dietary diets: (1) a control diet (CON, the basal diet without antibiotics), (2) an antibiotic diet (AB, CON supplemented with colistin sulfate, 20 mg/kg and bacitracin zinc, 40 mg/kg), or (3) an essential oil diet (EO, CON supplemented with an essential oil blend 100 mg/kg) in a completely randomized block design for a 28-day period. The results revealed that AB and EO improved the average daily gain of the piglets from day (d) 15 to 28 (p < 0.05). The diarrhea prevalence in piglets fed AB and EO was lower than that of piglets fed CON (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the growth performance or diarrhea prevalence between the AB and EO treatments. Nutrient digestibility was measured at d 28. Compared with CON, EO increased the apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy and crude protein (p < 0.05). Villus height in the duodenum and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum for piglets fed AB and EO was greater than those for piglets fed CON (p < 0.05). The essential oil blend improved the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), but decreased the 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine content in serum on d 14 (p < 0.05). Decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl content were observed on d 28 in comparison with CON (p < 0.05). The mucosa in the jejunum of pigs fed EO had greater T-AOC, SOD levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities than that of pigs fed CON (p < 0.05). Pigs fed EO and AB had greater GSH-Px activity in the liver tissue than pigs fed CON (p < 0.05). Not only did jejunal and ileal mucosa have EO upregulated SOD1 mRNA expression (p < 0.05), this was also the case in liver tissue. GPx1 expression in the ileal mucosa and GPx4 expression in the liver tissue were higher for pigs fed EO when compared to those fed CON (p < 0.05). Collectively, a dietary essential oil blend supplementation, which has natural antimicrobial properties, could enhance growth performance and decrease diarrhea prevalence in weaned pigs through increases in antioxidative capacity.

Influence of β-glucanase supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and meat quality in broilers fed wheat–barley–soybean diet

A total of 600 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens with an average body weight of 43.00 ± 0.42 g were used in a 35 d growth assay to investigate the supplemental effects of three levels (600, 1200, and 1800 β-glucanase units kg−1) of β-glucanase on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and meat quality in wheat–barley–soybean-meal-based broiler diet. During days 19–35 and overall period, chickens’ body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) improved linearly following the levels of β-glucanase supplementation. The digestibility of crude protein and gross energy were significantly (P < 0.05) increased linearly with the levels of β-glucanase supplementation. Significant linear increase (P < 0.05) due to increasing β-glucanase supplementation was observed for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration. Increasing β-glucanase supplementation did not influence (P > 0.05) the meat quality. In conclusion, broiler diets supplementation with increasing β-glucanase could improve the growth performance, enhance the digestibility, and modulate the concentrations of BUN linearly. Meat quality was not influenced.