• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.12
• /
• pp.1753-1759
• /
• 2008

Forty weanling piglets ($5.6{\pm}0.5kg$ and 26 to 30 d of age) were used in a 28-d experiment to determine the effects of ${\beta}$-glucan from Paenibacillus polymyxa and L-theanine on growth performance. Piglets were randomly allotted to four groups (n = 10, 2 animals per pen) provided with the basal feed (control), ${\beta}$-glucan 400 mg/kg feed, L-theanine 80 mg/kg feed or ${\beta}$-glucan plus l-theanine (combination of the above-mentioned concentrations). Body weight and feed consumption were recorded during four weeks. Subsequently, the immunomodulatory effects of ${\beta}$-glucan and L-theanine were investigated for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine production in vitro and in vivo on day 28. Although there were no significant differences in the growth performances among the treatment groups, ${\beta}$-glucan plus L-theanine had 5.6% greater ADG (p = 0.074) on day 21 to 28. ${\beta}$-Glucan alone or plus L-theanine increased interleukin (IL)-10 levels and decreased interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ levels in cultured medium by LPS treatment (p<0.05). Plasma IL-10 levels were also increased in the piglets fed with ${\beta}$-glucan alone or plus L-theanine after LPS challenge ($25{\mu}g/kg$, i.p.), whereas plasma IFN-$\gamma$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels were decreased (p<0.05). The levels of IFN$\gamma$ in piglets fed with ${\beta}$-glucan plus L-theanine showed the greatest inhibition after LPS challenges. In conclusion, treatment of ${\beta}$-glucan alone or plus L-theanine might lessen inflammatory responses against Gram-negative bacterial infection via the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and enhancement of anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Further studies are needed to determine an optimal concentration of ${\beta}$-glucan and L-theanine for improved growth performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.61 no.4
• /
• pp.216-224
• /
• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hot melt extrusion (HME) nano-iron as an alternative for the common ferrous sulfate on iron (Fe) bioavailability, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and intestinal microbiota of weanling pigs. A total of 200 piglets (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire ${\times}$ Duroc) were randomly allotted to seven treatments on the basis of initial body weight (BW) and sex. Treatments were the INO100 (100 ppm Fe as $FeSO_4$), HME-Fe levels (50, 75, and 100 ppm nano-Fe as $FeSO_4$). ORG100 (100 ppm Fe as iron methionine). In phase 1, the HME50 pigs showed the lowest Fe content in feed and feces. Plasma Fe concentration was increased in HME100 and ORG100 pigs. In phase 2, there were significantly lower concentration of Fe in feed and feces of HME50 pigs (p < 0.01). A lower Fe concentration in the plasma and liver were observed in HME50 pigs compared with HME100 pigs. Concentration of red blood cell (RBC) was the lowest (p < 0.01) for HME50 pigs. During phase 2, the HME100, HME75, and ORG100 pigs showed a higher RBC and hemoglobin values compared with HME50 pigs. Digestibility of gross energy (GE) and crude protein (CP) were significantly higher in HME100 pigs compared with HME50 pigs. There was an increased (p < 0.01) villus height in the duodenum and jejunum of HME100 pigs compared with HME50 pigs. It is concluded that dietary Fe does not improve growth performance of weanling pigs; however, increasing the dietary iron concentration in weanling piglets increased the RBC and hemoglobin. In addition, the potential ability of HME to be used at a lower level (HME75) was observed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.1635-1640
• /
• 2004

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate developmental gene expression of antimicrobial peptide PR-39 and effect of zinc oxide on gene regulation of PR-39 in piglets using semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis. In experiment 1, fifteen female Tai-Hu pigs (a local breed in China) in five groups, each of three pigs at 1, 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age were used to determine effect of age and weaning on mRNA expression of PR-39. In experiment 2, nine groups of pigs (total seventy-two female 36 days-age weanling Tai-Hu piglets) were assigned to three treatments (${ZnO}_0$, ${ZnO}_{100}$ and ${ZnO}_{3000}$). The feeding experimental period lasted 15 days. After feeding experiment, nine pigs with three animals in each treatment were chosen to determine the effect of ZnO on PR-39 mRNA expression of pigs. The results showed that PR-39 mRNA levels increased steadily in postnatal day 1-28 (preweaning), and weaning significantly decreased PR-39 mRNA expression of piglets (p<0.05). ${ZnO}_{3000}$ (3,000 mg zinc/kg diet) significantly increased PR-39 mRNA expression (p<0.05) when piglets were feed ${ZnO}_{3000}$ diet for 15 days. ${ZnO}_{100}$ (100 mg zinc/kg diet) also increased PR-39 gene expression, but the result was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The result was in accordance with the effect of ${ZnO}_{3000}$ and ${ZnO}_{100}$ on weight gain of piglets and prevention of diarrhea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.10
• /
• pp.1414-1421
• /
• 2000

Sixteen specific pathogen free 4-wk-old crossbred weanling pigs were allotted into a $2{\times}2$ factorial experiment to evaluate the effects of chromium (Cr) on the immune responses after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Two factors included (1) no Cr or 400 ppb Cr supplementation from chromium picolinate (CrPic) and (2) LPS injection ($200{\mu}g/kg$ BW, intraperitoneally) on day 21 (d 21) and 35 (d 35) as compared with saline application. Plasma samples were obtained from all piglets before (0 h) and at 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, and 24 h after LPS injection. The changes in tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and leukocyte populations after LPS injection were not significant on d 21. On d 35, the plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ level was increased at h 2 postinjection, and supplemental Cr reduced the $TNF-{\alpha}$ level. The leukocyte populations had changed profoundly and lymphocyte subsets of $CD2^+$ and $CD8^+$ were reduced at 8 h postinjection. The blood granulocytes were increased and the percentage of $CD2^+$ was reduced in the Cr-fed group on d 35. Furthermore, Cr supplementation decreased the blastogensis of concanavalin A-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) on d 21. These results suggest that 400 ppb Cr supplementation from CrPic in diets may modulate the immune responses in weanling pigs during LPS injection.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.62 no.3
• /
• pp.365-373
• /
• 2020

This study was designed to evaluate the influence of dietary supplementation of Tenebrio molitor larvae (TM) as an alternative source of protein to fish meal on growth response, retention of nutrient, hematological factors, immune system, and intestinal integrity in weaned pigs. A total of 180 weanling pigs (initial bodyweight of 6.27 ± 0.15 kg; 21 d) were distributed based on the bodyweight between 3 treatments with 6 replicates in each treatment including 10 piglets per replicate. The diets corresponding to treatments consisted of a fish meal diet (CON), a fish meal-dried mealworm diet (TM1, 50% replacement of fish meal with TM meal), and a dried mealworm diet (TM2, 100% replacement of fish meal with TM meal). This study was performed in two phases as phase 1 (d 0 to 14) and phase 2 (d 15 to 28). The pigs in the TM2 treatment showed a greater gain to feed ratio compared with the TM1 pigs in phase 1. Throughout the experimental period, the average daily gain (ADG) of the TM1 pigs was significantly greater than that of the TM2 treatment. The IgG concentration was increased in the TM1 and TM2 treatments compared with the CON pigs in phase 1. In conclusion, the supplementation of TM meal (50% replacement of fish meal) did not show any adverse effects in the performance of weanling pigs, however, 100% replacement of fish meal with TM meal is not recommended.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.174-179
• /
• 1999

The effect of a chronic inflammation (cell-mediated immune response) on energy metabolism and growth performance was assessed in weanling piglets. Twenty four barrows of 4 wk of age were assigned to one of two immunization treatments : Control group [CON: immunized with Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (lFA)] or Immunization group [IMMU: immunized with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)]. On d0, piglets were weaned and subcutaneously immunized at the medial side of the femur with 2 ml of IFA or CFA, respectively. Energy and nitrogen balances were measured per group during 13-d balance period, and total $(HP_{tot})$, activity-related ($(HP_{act})$) and non-activity-related $(HP_{cor})$ heat production were determined every 9-min by indirect calorimetry. Ig total titers to Mycobacterium butyricum, which is present in CFA, were higher (p<0.01) in IMMU than in CON on d13 (2.5 vs 1.8) and d20 (2.9 vs 1.8) after immunization. There were no differences (p>0.10) between treatments in rectal temperature, performance, feed intake, and availability and partitioning of energy during the balance period. Average daily feed intake was numerically higher in IMMU than in CON (0.34 vs 0.32 kg/d), but there was no difference (p>0.10) in metabolizability of the dietary energy between treatments. $HP_{act}/HP_{tot}$ was 16.24 and 16.89%, and retained energy was 251 and 268 $268\;kJ{\cdot}kg^{0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ for CON and IMMU, respectively. Numerically, maintenance requirement of IMMU was even lower than that of CON $(419\;vs\;427\;kJ{\cdot}kg^{0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1})$. The present study suggests that a chronic inflammation has no effect on energy metabolism and growth performance, in spite of the difference in systemic antibody responses. The reason was considered to be due to locally induced immune response, resulting from the possible encapsulation at the site of injection, and/or to a low systemic immune stress which is within a functionally acceptable physiological range for the piglets.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.1752-1759
• /
• 2022

Objective: Effects of direct-fed Enterococcus faecium plus bacteriophages (EF-BP) were investigated as potential substitutes for pharmacological ZnO for weanling pigs. Methods: Dietary treatments were supplementations to a basal diet with none (NC), 3,000-ppm ZnO (PC), 1×10¹⁰ colony-forming units of E. faecium plus 1×10⁸ plaque-forming units (PFU) of anti-Salmonella typhimurium bacteriophages (ST) or 1×10⁶ PFU of each of anti-enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (F4)-, K99 (F5)-, and F18-type bacteriophages (EC) per kg diet. In Exp 1, twenty-eight 21-day-old crossbred weanling pigs were individually fed one of the experimental diets for 14 days and euthanized for histological examination on intestinal mucosal morphology. In Exp 2, 128 crossbred weanling pigs aged 24 days were group-fed the same experimental diets in 16 pens of 8 piglets on a farm with a high incidence of post-weaning diarrhea. Results: None of the diarrheal score or fecal consistency score (FCS), average daily gain (ADG), gain: feed ratio, structural variables of the intestinal villus, and goblet cell density, differed between the EF-BP (ST+EC) and NC groups, between EF-BP and PC, or between ST and EC, with the exception of greater gain: feed for EF-BP than for PC (p<0.05) during days 7 to 14 (Exp 1). In Exp 2, ADG was less for EF-BP vs PC during days 0 to 7 and greater for EF-BP vs NC during days 7 to 14. FCS peaked on day 7 and declined by day 14. Moreover, FCS was less for EF-BP vs NC, did not differ between EF-BP and PC, and tended to be greater for ST vs EC (p = 0.099). Collectively, EF-BP was comparable to or slightly less effective than PC in alleviating diarrhea and growth check of the weanling pigs, with ST almost as effective as PC, when they were group-fed. Conclusion: The E. faecium-bacteriophage recipe, especially E. faecium-anti-S. typhimurium, is promising as a potential substitute for pharmacological ZnO.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.998-1003
• /
• 2016

Although exogenous protease enzymes have been used in poultry diets quite extensively, this has not been the case for pig diets. In general, due to their better gut fermentative capacity and longer transit time, pigs have greater capacity to digest dietary proteins than poultry. However, in early-weaned piglets, the stress brought about by weaning adversely affects the digestion of dietary proteins. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the effects of a commercial protease enzyme in weanling pigs. Indices of growth, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microflora, fecal gas emission and fecal scores were measured during the study. A total of 50 weanling pigs ($6.42{\pm}0.12kg$) at 28 d of age were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 2 dietary treatments: i) control diet (corn-soy based) with no supplemental protease (CON), and ii) control diet+200 g/ton protease (PROT) for 42 d. A completely randomized design consisting of 2 treatments, 5 replicates, and 5 pigs in each replicate was used. Growth performance in terms of body weight ($27.04{\pm}0.38kg$ vs $25.75{\pm}0.39kg$; p<0.05) and average daily gain ($491{\pm}7.40g$ vs $460{\pm}7.46g$; p<0.05) in PROT fed pigs were increased significantly, but gain per feed ($0.700{\pm}0.01$ vs $0.678{\pm}0.01$; p>0.05) was similar between treatments at d 42. Relative to CON pigs, PROT fed pigs had increased (p<0.05) apparent total tract digestibility ($84.66%{\pm}0.65%$ vs $81.21%{\pm}1.13%$ dry matter and $84.02%{\pm}0.52%$ vs $80.47%{\pm}1.22%$ nitrogen) and decreased (p<0.05) $NH_3$ emission ($2.0{\pm}0.16ppm$ vs $1.2{\pm}0.12ppm$) in the feces at d 42. Except for a decreased (p<0.05) in blood creatinine level, no differences were observed in red blood cell, white blood cell, lymphocyte, urea nitrogen, and IgG concentrations between treatments. Fecal score and fecal microflora (Lactobacillus and E. coli) were also similar between CON and PROT groups. Overall, the supplementation of protease enzyme in weanling pigs resulted in improved growth rate and nutrient digestibility. Exogenous protease enzyme reduced fecal $NH_3$ emission, thus, potentially serving as a tool in lowering noxious gas contribution of livestock production in the environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.8
• /
• pp.1267-1274
• /
• 2018

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of zinc amino acid complex (ZnAA) on growth performance, hematological and biochemical parameters in weanling pigs. Methods: In Exp. 1, a total of 216 Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Large White weanling pigs were assigned randomly to 6 dietary treatments. Each treatment had 6 replicates (pens) with 6 pigs each. The diets were corn-soybean meal based with supplementation of 0, 20, 40, 80, 120 mg Zn/kg from ZnAA or 40 mg Zn/kg from feed-grade zinc sulfate. The experiment lasted 42 days. In Exp. 2, a total of 180 weanling pigs were assigned randomly to 3 dietary treatments supplemented with 0, 80, or 800 mg Zn/kg from ZnAA. Results: In Exp. 1, pigs fed 40 to 80 mg Zn/kg from ZnAA had higher (p<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) than the unsupplemented group during d 0 to 14. During d 0 to 42, the pigs fed 20 to 120 mg Zn/kg from ZnAA had increased (p<0.05) ADG. Pigs fed 20 to 120 mg/kg Zn from ZnAA had lower feed:gain (p<0.05), increased the activity of serum Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase on d 14, and increased serum Zn levels on d 42 (p<0.05). In Exp. 2, pigs fed diets with 800 mg Zn/kg had increased average daily feed intake during d 15 to 28 (p<0.05) compared to the unsupplemented group. During d 0 to 28, the pigs fed supplemental Zn had increased ADG (p<0.05). On d 14 and d 28, pigs fed supplemental Zn had higher the serum alkaline phosphatase activities (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the hematological parameters and organ indices. Conclusion: Supplementation with 20 to 80 mg/kg Zn from ZnAA improved the growth performance in weaned pigs. The piglets can tolerate up to 800 mg/kg Zn from ZnAA with limited potential health effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.7
• /
• pp.1032-1037
• /
• 2009

The present experiment was conducted to study the effects of partial replacement of spray-dried porcine protein (SDPP) or fish meal with soybean and shrimp protein hydrolysate (SSPH) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical parameters in weaned pigs. Two hundred and forty 21${\pm}$2 d old pigs ((Pietrain${\times}$Duroc)${\times}$(Landrace${\times}$Large Yorkshire)) with initial weight of 6.9${\pm}$0.5 kg were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments with six replicates per treatment and eight piglets per replicate. The control diet (T1) contained 2% SDPP and 6% fishmeal, and SDPP for experimental diets T2 and T3 was replaced with 1% and 2% SSPH, respectively, on an iso-nitrogenous basis. The fishmeal for experimental diets T4 and T5 was replaced with 1% and 2% SSPH, respectively, also on an iso-nitrogenous basis. The experimental period was 21 days. The results showed that weaned piglets fed the diets containing 1% and 2% SSPH as a replacement for SDPP had similar average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed/gain (F/G), diarrhea rate and serum biochemical indices e.g. blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total serum protein (TP), albumin to globulin ratio (A/G), globulin (GLO), serum glucose (GLU), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) to those fed the control diet during 0-10 d and 0-21 d of the experiment. The substitution of 1% SSPH on an iso-nitrogenous basis for fish meal appeared to be beneficial for ADG (p = 0.59) and ADFI (p = 0.23) of piglets during the overall period. The digestibility of calcium was higher (p<0.01) in pigs fed diets containing SSPH than on the control diet. Addition of 1% SSPH on an iso-nitrogenous basis for fish meal could increase the digestibilities of dry matter and energy of the diet. Dietary replacement of fish meal with 1% and 2% SSPH had no effect on the concentrations of BUN, TP, A/G, GLO, GLU, and IgG. In conclusion, dietary SDPP or fish meal could partially replace SSPH without any adverse effect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical parameters in weaned piglets.