Effect of Dietary Pomelo Peel Powder on Growth Performance, Diarrhea, Immune Function, Antioxidant Function, Ileum Morphology, and Colonic Microflora of Weaned Piglets

Abstract

This trial evaluated how dietary-accommodated pomelo peel powder (PPP) affected average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG), diarrhea, antioxidation, and colonic microbial in weaned piglets. Thirty piglets weaned at 28 d were divided into three groups: a basal diet (CON); a CON containing 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CTC); and a CON containing 8 g/kg (PPP). This trial had a period of 28 days. Piglets supplemented with PPP had higher ADFI and ADG than piglets in CTC and CON (p p p p p p p p > 0.05). The Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria relative abundances in PPP and CTC (p p p p p < 0.05). PPP can improve ADFI and ADG, relieve diarrhea, and enhance the colonic microflora of weaned piglets. Therefore, PPP is expected to replace CTC as a feed additive to alleviate weaning stress and ensure normal growth and development of piglets.

Keywords

• pomelo peel powder
• antibiotic substitute
• weaned piglets
• growth performance
• intestinal microorganisms