Impacts of dietary β-glucan (Morus Alba and Curcuma Longa) supplementation on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, fecal microbial, fecal characteristics, and blood profiles in weanling pigs

Abstract

One hundred twenty crossbred[(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] weanling pigs (8.36 ± 1.64 kg; 21 d) were used in a 42-day trial. Pigs were randomly distributed (6 replicate pens/treatment; 5 pigs/pen) to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: 1) CON, basal diet; 2) A1, CON + antibiotic (39 ppm tiamulin); 3) BG1, basal diet + 5 g kg−1(β-glucan); and 4) BG2, basal diet + 10 g kg−1(β-glucan). On overall, average daily gain of pigs fed with A1(385 g) and BG1(388 g) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared to pigs fed with CON(342 g) and gain to feed ratio of pigs fed with A1(0.74), BG1(0.74) and BG2(0.71) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared to pigs fed with CON(0.63). On d42, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter(DM) in pigs fed with BG1(83.35%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared to pigs fed with CON(81.36%). Meanwhile, ATTD of nitrogen(N) in pigs fed with A1(81.84%) and BG1(81.35%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared to pigs fed with CON(78.54%) diet. Pigs fed with A1(8.21 log10cfu/g) and BG2(8.11 log10cfu/g) had significant higher (P < 0.05) Lactobacillus population as compared to pigs fed with CON(7.43 log10cfu/g). In conclusion, β-glucan shows a beneficial effect on growth, nutrient digestibility of DM and N, and beneficial microbial Lactobacillus of weanling pig.

Keywords

• Antibiotic
• β-glucan
• apparent total tract digestibility
• lactobacillus
• weanling