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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of bump feeding for the final third of gestation on the performance of sows and their litters and on colostrum nutritional quality. Seventy hyperprolific sows of a commercial genetic line were selected according to their reproductive history. Sows were assigned to two treatments, no increase of feed (control, 2.4 kg/d of 3.25 Mcal/kg diet) or with increased feed (Bump feeding, 3.0 kg/d) from 81 days of gestation to farrowing with 35 replicates per treatment. No differences were observed for treatments on sow weight, weight gain, piglet birth weight, litter birth weight, coefficient of variation, number of total births, stillbirths, live births, and placental efficiency. The treatments also did not influence the calcium, phosphorus, ash, lactose, crude protein, zinc, ether extract, and crude energy content of the colostrum. Based on the results of the present study, the use of bump feeding in the final phase of gestation of sows becomes questionable, due the lack of effect on sow and litter performance.

The demand for animal protein is a fact of relevance for the production systems, especially pork, the most consumed animal protein source in the world. In this sense to ensure the efficient production during the pigs raising the use of Prophylactic Antibiotics (PA) is a common practice, but there is a great potential for the occurrence of resistance to antibiotics. However, the use of PA may not be necessary for certain groups of pigs for example with high sanitary status within the production system. The study lasted for 76 days. Seventy-two barrows at 63 days of age with initial weight of 26.11±3.55 kg were used. Two treatments were performed, without the use of prophylactic antibiotics or with the use for five days, being given at 63 days of age with Doxycycline and at 105 days of age with Tiamulin. PA use worsened ADG (p = 0.035) by 5.0% and body weight by 3.0% (p = 0.039) of pigs at 105 days of age when compared to pigs that did not receive Doxycycline. After the second use of PA the pigs at 117 days of age which received Tiamulin presented better ADG of 7.0% (p = 0.035) and a greater body weight of 1.2% (p = 0.038) compared to control group. The animals of the control group presented 6.0% greater loin depth (p = 0.023) than the animals that received the PA, however pigs of the PA group presented greater hot carcass weight of 0.6% (p = 0.005) and greater carcass compactness of 2.4% (p = 0.004) compared to the control group. The use of PA should be studied with caution and in a holistic way, considering the sanitary characteristics of management to verify if its use is really justified, as observed in the present study if used in inopportune moments its use can impair the performance of the pigs.

RESUMO Objetivou-se, com este estudo, verificar a influência da suplementação com diferentes associações entre minerais orgânicos sobre o desempenho e as características de carcaça, bem como avaliar sua viabilidade econômica, para suínos em terminação. Foram utilizados 88 machos castrados, divididos entre quatro tratamentos: controle com dieta basal e suplementação com CrFe, MgSe e CrFeMgSe, durante os 28 dias que antecederam o abate. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com parcela experimental representada por dois animais. Os animais suplementados com CrFeMgSe apresentaram piores índices de peso final, ganho de peso diário e consumo durante todo o período, com consequente redução no peso de carcaça, menor profundidade de lombo, área de olho-de-lombo e menor quantidade de carne magra na carcaça. Houve um aumento no custo da dieta para os grupos CrFe, MgSe e CrFeMgSe, respectivamente. O uso de cromo mais ferro e magnésio mais selênio, associados dois a dois, não altera os parâmetros de desempenho e as características de carcaça. A associação dos quatro minerais, no entanto, promove piora nessas características e aumenta o custo da dieta.

The intestinal gene expression of RelA/p65 (NF-κB), insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), and Na+/dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) were evaluated in response to benzoic acid, yeast culture, L-glutamine, and oregano essential oil, using an ex vivo model. Six piglets weighing approximately 20 kg each were sacrificed, and their jejunum was collected and segmented into five 2-cm explants. Each explant was immersed in cell culture medium according to one of the following treatments: control (without additive), 0.5% benzoic acid, 1% yeast culture, 1% L-glutamine, and 0.015% oregano oil. Gene expression was evaluated using RT-PCR. Yeast culture up-regulated the gene expression of RelA/p65, IGF-1, GLUT2, and SGLT1 in comparison with control. In addition, jejunal exposure to L-glutamine and oregano oil increased mRNA levels of GLUT2 compared with the control treatment. Exposure to oregano oil increased intestinal SGLT1 gene expression, while benzoic acid reduced SGLT1 expression compared with the control. Feed additives can differently modulate the gene expression of immune response, gut development, and glucose absorption in jejunal explants. These findings can contribute for a better understanding of the trophic action of these feed additives into the diets to optimize animal performance.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on performance, measurement of thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), body temperature and relative organ weights of weaned piglets exposed to a heat stress or a thermoneutral environment. One hundred and forty-four piglets with initial BW of 5.82 ± 0.33 kg (28 d old) were used. The experimental design was a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement, four plasma levels (0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5%) and two environments (34o [heat stress (HS)] and 24°C [thermoneutral (TN)]). SDPP was fed from weaning (28 d of age) to the end of the trial (piglets were weighed at the beginning, 7, 21 and 35 days of trial). Rectal, neck, shoulder and leg temperatures were measured every seven days. At 21 days of trial, one piglet per pen was slaughtered to determine the weight of the carcass and organs. Blood samples were collected at 18 and 35 days of trial to determine levels T3 and T4. The rectal, neck, shoulder and leg temperatures were increased (p

A total of 224 weaned pigs (DanBred sows x PIC 337 sires) with an average body weight (BW) of 6.37 ± 0.34 kg (21 days of age) were used to evaluate how different levels of benzoic acid fed to weaning pigs orally inoculated with Escherichia coli (K88+ ) affected the nursing and grow-finishing performance, the physicochemical properties of the intestine, the volatile fatty acid concentration in the caecum and the incidence of diarrhoea. Pigs were randomly allocated in an experimental design of randomized blocks in a 4 × 2 factorial design, and they were administered four levels of benzoic acid (0.00%, 0.25%, 0.50% and 0.75%) and inoculated (or not) in two consecutive days with 1 ml solution containing 106 CFU/ml of E. coli (K88+ ). Seven replicates (pens) per treatment were used, and four animals were kept per pen. Supplementation with 0.75% benzoic acid promoted better performance (p < 0.05) in the nursery phase as well as in the subsequent phases until slaughter, and it decreased the incidence of diarrhoea in piglets (p < 0.05). In the piglets fed the benzoic acid diet, the villus height in the jejunum and ileum was greater until 42 days of life (p < 0.05), the crypt depth was decreased in the caecum (p < 0.05), and the butyric acid concentration was increased in the caecal content tendencially (p = 0.0708). In conclusion, supplementation with 0.75% benzoic acid has a positive effect on piglets by reducing diarrhoea, improving intestinal health and promoting the performance from weaning to finishing. Thus, benzoic acid can be considered a potential alternative that can replace growth-promoting antibiotics.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ractopamine (Rac) and Arg fed to pregnant sows from d 25 to 53 of gestation on fetal muscle development as well as the performance and carcass characteristics of the progeny. One hundred sows were divided into 4 treatments including a control diet, the control plus 1% Arg, the control plus 20 mg/kg Rac, and the control diet supplemented with both additives at the same levels as those used separately. During the farrowing process the data evaluated were the weight of placenta to calculate the placental efficiency and the number of piglets born alive, stillborn, and mummified. To evaluate the fiber number and area, 12 male piglets from each treatment were euthanized to harvest semitendinosus muscle. During the lactation, the preweaning mortality, weaned weights, and number of piglets weaned per litter were evaluated. After weaning, the pig performance was evaluated until the slaughter following the sow treatment. At end of finishing phase, 1 male pig of each treatment replicate was selected to evaluation the carcass and pork quality. All variables measured were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS and least squares means were compared using the Tukey test with P < 0.05. The control diet + supplementation of 1.0% of L-Arg + 20 mg/kg of ractopamine HCl from d 25 to 53 of gestation (Arg+Rac) treatment had a greater number of stillborn piglets (P = 0.014) than the control group. Piglet birth weights from sows fed Rac were 11% greater (P = 0.031) than those of piglets of the control treatment. The semitendinosus muscle fiber diameters of piglets at birth from sows that received Arg, Rac, and Arg+Rac were greater (P < 0.0001) than those of control piglets, and as consequence, the fiber number per square millimeter decreased (P < 0.0001). The final nursery BW of progeny from sows fed Arg and Rac individually were greater (P = 0.010) than those of progeny of the control group. At 110 d of age, in the beginning of the finisher 1 phase, pigs from Arg-fed sows were 1.9 kg heavier (P = 0.010) than pigs from the Arg+Rac-fed sows. The HCW were 2.97 and 1.64 kg heavier (P < 0.0001) for progeny of the Arg and Rac sows, respectively, compared with those of progeny of the control. In conclusion, the trial showed that the use of Rac for gestating sows increased the piglets' weight at birth. The size of muscular fiber was increased in the semitendinosus muscle of piglets originating from sows receiving Rac or Arg. However, the combination of both compounds did not have an additive effect in comparison with the control treatment but increased the stillbirth number.

Background: Many strategies, such as the antibiotic growth promoters, have been developed to improve intestinal health and performance of newly weaned piglets. Natural products such as essential oils have been scientifically recognized as growth enhancer feed additives for weanling pigs, replacing the antibiotics. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that Brazilian red pepper could replace performance-enhancing antibiotics also in weanling pig diets. However, one experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary Brazilian red pepper essential oil or antimicrobial growth promoter on intestinal health and growth performance of weanling pigs.; Results: No effects of treatments were observed on performance and organ weights (P > 0.05). Overall, both additives [red pepper essential oil (RPEO) or antibiotic (ANT)] increased gut Lactobacillus counts compared to negative control, as well as reduced villi density (P

SUMMARY The objective of this study was to evaluate the intestinal gene expression of cytokines in pullets, during the tissue exposure to hops β-acids and lipopolysaccharides (LPS), using an ex-vivo model. To analyze the intestinal gene expression, ileum of pullets was collected, and maintained for 1 hour in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) according to the following 6 treatments: Control (DMEM only); DMEM + 30 ppm of hops β-acids (45%); DMEM + 240 ppm of hops β-acids (45%); DMEM + 30 ppm of hops β-acids (45%) + LPS (10 μg/mL); DMEM + 240 ppm of hops β-acids (45%) + LPS (10 μg/mL) and DMEM + LPS (10 μg/mL). The expression of IL-1β; IL-6; IFN-γ; IL-4 and IL-10 was analyzed using Real Time PCR. The hops β-acids or LPS had no effect on IL-4 and IL-10 expression (P > 0.05). However, hops β-acids decreased IL-1β and IFN-γ expression (P

In this study, we evaluated the effect of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) and sodium butyrate (NaBu) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal inflammation. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase and RelA/p65 (NF-κB) gene expressions in porcine jejunum explants were evaluated following exposure to sodium butyrate (NaBu) and essential oil from Brazilian red pepper (EO), alone or in combination with NaBu, as well as exogenous IAP with or without LPS challenge. Five piglets weighing approximately 20 kg each were sacrificed, and their jejunum were extracted. The tissues were segmented into 10 parts, which were exposed to 10 treatments. Gene expressions of IAP and RelA/p65 (NF-κB) in jejunal explants were evaluated via RT-PCR. We found that EO, NaBu, and exogenous IAP were able to up-regulate endogenous IAP and enhance RelA/p65 (NF-κB) gene expression. However, only NaBu and exogenous IAP down-regulated LPS-induced inflammatory response via RelA/p65 (NF-κB). In conclusion, we demonstrated that exogenous IAP and NaBu may be beneficial in attenuating LPS-induced intestinal inflammation.

The aim of this study was to determine the values of apparent digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) for crude glycerin derived of biodiesel based on pork fat for finishing pigs. The diets consisted of a basal diet and four levels of crude glycerin (0, 5, 10 and 15%). Twelve pigs were housed individually in metabolic cages and after seven days of adaptation, total collections of urine and feces for four consecutive days were performed. Gross energy (GE) of crude glycerin, diets, urine and fecal samples from each animal was determined. The crude glycerin used in this experiment presented 74.74% glycerin and 6,500 kcal kg-1 gross energy. The values of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) were estimated by difference in the DE, and content of the basal diet was subtracted from the test diets containing the ingredient. The amount of GE, DE and ME for finishing pigs was 6,500, 5,839 and 5,509 kcal kg-1, respectively, with a coefficient of 91.0% of DE and 94.0% of ME. The energy of crude glycerin is based on the levels of fatty acids and GE depends on the concentration of fatty acids and glycerin, ME being a percentage of GE averaging is 84.75%. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar os valores de energia digestível (ED) e metabolizável (EM) aparente da glicerina bruta de biodiesel à base de gordura suína para suínos em terminação. Os tratamentos experimentais consistiram de quatro níveis de glicerina bruta (0, 5, 10 e 15%) a partir de uma dieta basal. Doze suínos foram alojados individualmente em gaiolas metabólicas e foram realizadas coletas de urina e fezes durante quatro dias. Foi determinada a energia bruta (EB) da glicerina bruta, das dietas, da urina e das amostras de fezes de cada animal. A glicerina bruta apresentou 74,74% de glicerina e 6.500 kcal de energia bruta kg-1. Os valores de energia digestível (ED) e metabolizável (EM) foram estimados por diferença, em que o conteúdo ED e EM da dieta basal foram subtraídos das dietas contendo o ingrediente teste. A quantidade de EB, ED e EM para suínos em terminação foi de 6.500, 5.839 e 5.509 kcal kg-1, respectivamente, com um coeficiente de 91,0% de ED e 94,0% de EM. A energia da glicerina bruta é baseada nos níveis de ácidos graxos e a EB depende da concentração de ácidos graxos e glicerina, sendo a EM um percentual da EB variando na média de 84,75%.

The intestinal environment plays a critical role in maintaining swine health. Many factors such as diet, microbiota, and host intestinal immune response influence the intestinal environment. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is an important apical brush border enzyme that is influenced by these factors. IAP dephosphorylates bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), unmethylated cytosine-guanosine dinucleotides, and flagellin, reducing bacterial toxicity and consequently regulating toll-like receptors (TLRs) activation and inflammation. It also desphosphorylates extracellular nucleotides such as uridine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate, consequently reducing inflammation, modulating, and preserving the homeostasis of the intestinal microbiota. The apical localization of IAP on the epithelial surface reveals its role on LPS (from luminal bacteria) detoxification. As the expression of IAP is reported to be downregulated in piglets at weaning, LPS from commensal and pathogenic gram-negative bacteria could increase inflammatory processes by TLR-4 activation, increasing diarrhea events during this phase. Although some studies had reported potential IAP roles to promote gut health, investigations about exogenous IAP effects or feed additives modulating IAP expression and activity yet are necessary. However, we discussed in this paper that the critical assessment reported can suggest that exogenous IAP or feed additives that could increase its expression could show beneficial effects to reduce diarrhea events during the post weaning phase. Therefore, the main goals of this review are to discuss IAP's role in intestinal inflammatory processes and present feed additives used as growth promoters that may modulate IAP expression and activity to promote gut health in piglets.

Com a recomendação da proibição de antibióticos utilizados como melhorador de desempenho pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), devido ao risco de resistência bacteriana, a busca por aditivos alimentares alternativos está crescendo. Dentre eles, a nanotecnologia tem apresentado resultados promissores. Os compostos de prata nanoestruturados possuem efeitos favoráveis como agentes antimicrobianos e antifúngicos. Neste sentido objetivou-se com esse experimento verificar o desemprenho e definir a dose ideal de nanopartícula de prata (NP) como aditivo melhorador de desempenho para suínos nas fases de crescimento e terminação. Foram utilizados 64 leitões (machos castrados e fêmeas), com peso vivo médio de 24,08 ± 2,72 kg, alojados na unidade de crescimento e terminação do Laboratório de Pesquisas em Suínos (LPS). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados de acordo com o sexo e peso dos animais, com quatro tratamentos e oito repetições de dois animais por baia. A unidade experimental para o desempenho foi composta pela média dos animais de cada baia e para as variáveis de carcaça cada animal representou uma unidade experimental. Foram utilizados 4 tratamentos: Controle negativo sem aditivo melhorador de desempenho e com a adição de 5, 10 e 15 ppm de NP como melhorador de desempenho. Foram realizados os seguintes procedimentos experimentais: os animais passaram por desafio térmico dois dias antes da descreche e desafio sanitário. Os animais foram pesados no início do experimento, depois com 42 e 83 dias. Foi realizada a análise de escore fecal através da classificação das fezes na baia e calculada a ocorrência de diarreia em percentagem relacionada aos dias de estudo. Ao final do experimento os animais foram encaminhados para o abate e em seguida para a avaliação de carcaça, também foi realizada a análise econômica, a fim de avaliar a viabilidade em se utilizar o aditivo. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análises estatísticas utilizando-se o procedimento MIXED do SAS. Foi verificada tendência de resultado quadrático para o Consumo de Ração Diário (CRD) de 0 a 42 dias sendo os suínos que receberam NP15 apresentaram maior CR, já no período de 43 a 83 dias foi observado resultado quadrático para CRD, a partir da equação foi estimado que a inclusão de 7,55 ppm de NP levou ao menor consumo de ração estimado em 2,719 kg. O CRD no período de 0 a 83 dias apresentou resultado quadrático, de acordo com a equação, a inclusão de 7,34 ppm levou ao menor consumo de ração durante todo o período, de forma semelhante também foi verificado efeito quadrático para a CA, por meio da derivação da equação foi determinado que a inclusão para otimizar a C.A de 6,79 ppm de NP promoveu a melhor CA, estimada em 2,765. Em relação ao peso e rendimento da carcaça, profundidade de lombo (PL) (mm) e área de olho de lombo (cm2 ) nenhum desses parâmetros apresentaram diferença entre os tratamentos. Contudo, em relação à espessura de toucinho (ET) (mm) e rendimento de carne na carcaça resfriada (RCCR %) foi observado resultado quadrático, por meio da derivação da equação foi determinado que o nível de 6,94 ppm de NP levou a menor ET e a inclusão de 7,27 ppm promoveu o maior RCCR. Para os resultados de escore fecal foi observado diferença, nas análises de escore fecal, somente na semana de 1-12 para o escore 2, apresentou menor porcentagem de escore 2 no tratamento controle e maior porcentagem no tratamento NP10. Com base nesta pesquisa conclui-se que a dose de 7 ppm de NP, adicionadas à dieta de suínos, na fase de crescimento e terminação, melhoram o CRD, a CA, a ET, o RCCR e a qualidade do escore fecal dos animais. Devido à escassez de trabalhos com a utilização da NP na produção animal são necessários mais estudos, no entanto a NP se mostra como potencial substituto aos antibióticos melhoradores de desempenho. With the recommendation of banning antibiotics used as performance enhancers by the World Health Organization (WHO), due to the risk of bacterial resistance, the search for alternative food additives is growing. Among them, nanotechnology has shown promising results. Nanostructured silver compounds have favorable effects as antimicrobial and antifungal agents. In this sense, the objective of this experiment was to verify the performance and define the ideal dose of silver nanoparticle (SN) as a performance-enhancing additive for swine in the growing and finishing phases. Sixty-four piglets were used (castrated males and females), with an average live weight of 24.08 ±2.72 kg, housed in the growth and finishing unit of the Swine Research Laboratory (SRL). The experimental design was in randomized blocks according to the sex and weight of the animals, with four treatments and eight replications of two animals per pen. The experimental unit for the performance was composed by the average of the animals of each pen and for the carcass variables each animal represented an experimental unit. Four treatments were used: Negative control without performance enhancing additive and with the addition of 5, 10 and 15 ppm of SN as a performance enhancer. The following experimental procedures were carried out: the animals underwent a thermal challenge two days before birth and a sanitary challenge. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the experiment, then at 42 and 83 days. The analysis of fecal score was performed through the classification of feces in the pen and the occurrence of diarrhea was calculated as a percentage related to the days of study. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sent for slaughter and then for carcass evaluation, an economic analysis was also carried out in order to evaluate the feasibility of using the additive. The data obtained were submitted to statistical analysis using the MIXED procedure of the SAS. There was a trend of quadratic result for the Daily Feed Consumption (DFC) from 0 to 42 days, and the pigs that received SN15 presented higher CR, in the period from 43 to 83 days, a quadratic result was observed for DFC, from the equation it was estimated that the inclusion of 7.55 ppm of SN led to the lowest feed consumption estimated at 2.719 kg. The DFC in the period from 0 to 83 days presented a quadratic result, according to the equation, the inclusion of 7.34 ppm led to a lower feed consumption throughout the period, in a similar way, a quadratic effect was also verified for FC, for Through the derivation of the equation it was determined that the inclusion to optimize the FC of 6.79 ppm of SN promoted the best FC, estimated at 2.765. Regarding carcass weight and yield, Sirloin Depth (SP) (mm) and loin eye area (cm2), none of these parameters showed any difference between treatments. However, in relation to Bacon Thickness (BC) (mm) and meat yield in the chilled carcass (MYCC %) a quadratic result was observed, through the derivation of the equation it was determined that the level of 6.94 ppm of SN led to lowest BC and the inclusion of 7.27 ppm promoted the highest MYCC. For the results of fecal score, a difference was observed, in the analysis of fecal score, only in week 1-12 for score 2, it presented a lower percentage of score 2 in the control treatment and a higher percentage in the SN 10 treatment. Based on this research, it is concluded that the dose of 7 ppm of SP, added to the swine diet, in the growth and finishing phase, improves the DFC, the FC, the BC, the MYCC and the quality of the fecal score of the animals. Due to the scarcity of studies on the use of SN in animal production, further studies are needed, however, SN shows itself as a potential substitute for performance-enhancing antibiotics.