Search

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydrolysed yeast from Kluyveromyces fragilis(HK) on growth performance, diarrhoea incidence, plasma antioxidant efficiency and immune status, and faecal microbiota of weaned piglets. A total of 100 weaned piglets with BW (7.03 ± 0.14 kg) and age (25 ± 1 days) were randomly allotted to 4 groups with 5 replicates in a 21-day experiment. Piglets were fed with basal diet (NC), NC + 2 g/kg zinc oxide (PC), NC + 7.5 g/kg HK (HK1), or NC + 10 g/kg HK (HK2). Blood and faecal samples were collected on day 21. Significant differences were pointed out in the PC and HK2 piglets compared to the NC group as to the diarrhoea incidence from day 0 to 21 (p < 0.001; p = 0.032), the activity of plasma superoxide dismutase (p = 0.019; p = 0.003) and the concentration of plasma malondialdehyde (p = 0.042; p = 0.010). Moreover, significant differences were pointed out in the HK2 piglets compared to the NC group as to the content of plasma immunoglobulin A (p = 0.005), the Ace index and Chao1 index (p = 0.023; p = 0.018,) and the relative abundance of Campylobacterota and Escherichia-Shigella(p = 0.023; p = 0.032). In conclusion, dietary HK at 10 g/kg alleviated diarrhoea incidence of piglets that might be attribute to the improved plasma antioxidant efficiency and immune status and the regulated faecal microbial community, and could be alternative to the high dose ZnO.HIGHLIGHTSDietary HK improved plasma antioxidant and immune status and reduced the diarrhoea incidence in weaned piglets.The dosage of 10 g/kg HK showed better effect than that of 7.5 g/kg.The supplementation of 10 g/kg HK to post-weaning diet may be an alternative to the high-dose ZnO.

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the effect of dietary Bacillus subtilison growth performance of weaned piglets, and also the effects of dietary B. subtilison serum biochemical parameters and serum growth hormone, cytokines and immunoglobulins levels after Escherichia colichallenge. A total of 24 weaned piglets were housed in single pens and fed the basal diet (NC) either with or without B. subtilis(BS) or chlortetracycline (PC) for a 14-day period. All piglets were orally inoculated with E. coliK88 on day 14, and the blood samples were collected at 6 hours post-challenge. The results showed that dietary BS increased average daily gain and reduced feed conversion rate compared to the NC group. In addition, piglets in the BS group had higher serum growth hormone levels, total protein concentrations and alkaline phosphatase activities than the NC group did. Moreover, dietary BS decreased concentrations of serum IFN-γ and TNF-α and increased concentrations of serum IL-10 compared to the NC group, and BS supplementation increased serum IgA and IgG concentrations compared to those of the NC group. In conclusion, dietary B. subtilisimproved growth performance of weaned piglets and attenuated the serum immune response to E. colichallenge.

AbstractThis study evaluated the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus(LA) and zinc oxide (ZnO) supplementation on the growth performance, jejunal morphology and immune function of weaned piglets challenged with Escherichia coliK88. A total of 96 weaned piglets were randomly allocated to four treatments in a 28-day experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial experiment involving two levels of L. acidophilus(0 and 5 × 1010CFU/kg feed), and two levels of ZnO (0 or 3000 mg/kg feed). One piglet per pen was chosen and orally challenged with Escherichia coliK88 on day 28 and slaughtered at 6 hours post-infection. The results showed that LA supplementation increased the average daily gain from day 0 to day 28 (p = .025). Piglets fed with the diets containing LA or ZnO showed lower feed conversion ratio than the unsupplemented group (p < .05). In addition, LA supplementation increased villus height (VH), villus width and the ratio of VH and crypt depth (CD) compared to the unsupplemented group (p < .001). Administration of ZnO increased VW (p = .001) and VH:CD ratio (p = .039). Moreover, dietary LA and ZnO upregulated the mucin 2 and β-defensin 3 expression in the jejunum (p < .001), and LA supplementation increased immunoglobulin A concentration in the jejunal tissue (p = .019). In conclusion, the administration of LA or ZnO was effective in improving growth performance of weaned piglets, and both supplementations may benefit the jejunal development and immune function of piglets following E. coliK88 challenge.