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ARTICLE |
1 Animal Nutrition, Management and Welfare Research Group, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
2 Alltech, Alltech Biotechnology Centre, Sarney, Summerhill Road, Dunboyne, Co. Meath, Ireland
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: susana.martin{at}uab.es.
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Abstract |
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The efficacy of a commercial source of mannan-oligosacharides (BM), organic zinc (BP) or their combination to enhance performance, gastrointestinal health and immune response in weaned pigs was evaluated. A total of 128 piglets, weaned at 20 ± 2 d were housed in 32 pens. Animals received 1 of 4 dietary treatments: a control diet (CT) to which 0.2 % of BM (Bio-Mos, Alltech Inc, USA), 80 ppm Zn as BP (Bioplex-Zn, Alltech Inc, USA) or both additives (BMP) were added. The experiment lasted for 5 wk including a pre-starter period of 2 wk and a starter period of 3 wk. Body weight was recorded and daily feed intake was calculated. Fecal consistency was monitored for the first 21 d. After 2 wk, 32 animals were sacrificed and digesta samples from the stomach, ileum, and cecum were collected and pH and short-chain fatty acid profile were determined. Microbiological counts for enterobacteria and lactobacilli were evaluated using quantitative-PCR. Histological parameters in the jejunum and immunoglobulin concentrations in serum and ileal digesta were also measured. Both additives improved G:F during the starter period (0.63, 0.69, 0.67, and 0.68 for CT, BM, BP and BMP, respectively; P < 0.04). Mean fecal score values for the first 21 d were improved by BM and BP that showed decreased values compared to the CT diet (1.22, 0.89, 0.87 and 1.06 for CT, BM. BP and BMP respectively; P = 0.002). The BM addition decreased enterobacteria counts in the jejunum (9.13, 8.05, 8.87 and 7.89 log 16 S rRNA gene copies/g fresh matter for CT, BM, BP and BMP, respectively; P = 0.05). Empty ileal weight, defined as the segment including the continuous Peyer's Patch tended (P = 0.08) to increase with BP treatment (8.9, 9.6, 11.9 and 10.3 g/kg BW for CT, BM, BP and BMP, respectively). Crypt depths in the jejunum were lower in animals fed the combination of the additives (BPM) compared to those fed the control diet (281 vs. 235; P < 0.03). No significant differences were registered in pH, short-chain fatty acids, serum or ileal immunoglobulin concentrations. The results suggest that the use of BM or BP can improve feed efficiency during starter period.
Key Words: Bio-Mos, Bioplex Zn, growth performance, mannan-oligosaccharides, organic Zn, post-weaning diarrhea
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