Italian Journal of Animal Science (Dec 2023)

The role of dietary monoglycerides and tributyrin in enhancing performance and intestinal health function in nursery piglets

  • Keila Abadia Barbosa,
  • Jansller Luiz Genova,
  • Mayara Larissa Pazdziora,
  • Julia Fairuz Hennig,
  • Liliana Bury de Azevedo,
  • Bruno Rafael de Melo Veiga,
  • Gustavo de Amorim Rodrigues,
  • Silvana Teixeira Carvalho,
  • Diovani Paiano,
  • Alysson Saraiva,
  • Newton Tavares Escocard de Oliveira,
  • Paulo Levi de Oliveira Carvalho

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2023.2226166
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 626 – 638

Abstract

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This study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary monoglycerides and tributyrin on performance, blood metabolites, and intestinal health function in nursery piglets. A total of 96 crossbred entire male piglets (7.70 ± 0.49 kg) were allotted for 35 d in a complete block design to one of four treatments: (1) negative control (NC): no feed additive, (2) positive control (PC) containing 60 mg halquinol/kg diet, (3) diet containing 2 g monoglyceride blend/kg diet (MGD), and (4) diet containing 2 g tributyrin/kg diet (TBT). The growth phases were defined as pre-starter (day 0–20), and starter (day 20–35). No treatment effect on performance was observed. Pre-starter piglets fed NC showed higher diarrhoea occurrence (DO) than those fed PC and TBT (p < .05), and a lower DO was observed in starter piglets fed PC, MGD, and TBT compared to NC (p < .001). Pre-starter piglets fed TBT showed lower alkaline phosphatase concentration than in PC, and a lower aspartate aminotransferase concentration compared to PC and MGD (p < .05). Plasma urea concentration was higher in starter piglets fed MGD than in NC and TBT (p < .05). Piglets fed TBT showed higher jejunum villous height:crypt depth ratio than other treatments (p < .05). Piglets on MGD had higher ileum cellular infiltrate than in PC but lower Enterobacteriaceae family in the piglets jejunum compared to other treatments (p < .05). Our results suggest that dietary tributyrin improves intestinal function structures, without affecting the microbial population as exhibited in nursery piglets fed monoglyceride-based diets.HIGHLIGHTS The use of antimicrobial growth promoters has been widely banned in piglet diets. The feed additives tested appeared to be potential alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters. Piglets fed a tributyrin diet showed improvements in the structure of the intestinal epithelium. Diets containing a blend of monoglycerides reduced the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in nursery piglets.

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