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Grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) is a kind of plant polyphenols with a wide variety of biological activities. In this study, we explored the effect of dietary GSP supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal microbiota in growing pigs. A total of 180 growing pigs (30.37 ± 0.31 kg) were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each consisting of six replicate pens with six pigs per pen. The pigs received either a basal diet (control) or a basal diet supplemented with GSP at 15, 30, 60, or 120 mg/kg. The trial lasted for 33 days, and blood and fecal samples were collected for biochemical measurements. GSP supplementation at a dose from 30 to 120 mg/kg decreased the ratio of feed intake to gain (F : G) (p < 0.05). GSP also increased the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and gross energy (p < 0.05). GSP supplementation at 30 mg/kg increased the serum concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig) A (p < 0.05). Interestingly, GSP supplementation at 60 mg/kg decreased the serum concentrations of urea and malondialdehyde (p < 0.05). However, the serum concentrations of glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide dismutase were significantly increased upon GSP supplementation (p < 0.05). Importantly, GSP supplementation at 120 mg/kg significantly increased the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes, but decreased the abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes and Epsilonbacteraeota in the feces (p < 0.05). Moreover, GSP supplementation significantly elevated the abundance of genus Lactobacillus, but decreased the abundance of genus Prevotellaceae NK3B31 (p < 0.05). Dietary GSP supplementation improves the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing pigs, which may be associated with enhancement of the antioxidative capacity, as well as improvement in gut microbiota. This study may promote the use of GSP in animal nutrition and the feed industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cordyceps militaris (CM), a well-known parasitic fungus that grows on the larvae of Lepidoptera, has a variety of pharmacological activities. However, little is known about its safe dosage for animals, including pigs. To explore its effect on intestinal health and evaluate its safe dosage, 30 weaned pigs were randomly allotted to five groups and fed with a basal diet supplemented with different doses of CM for 42 days. The results showed that CM supplementation at 100 mg/kg increased the average daily weight gain (ADG) and significantly decreased the ratio of feed intake to gain (F:G) in the weaned pigs (p < 0.05). However, CM supplementation at a higher dose (1000 to 4000 mg/kg) had no effect on growth performance. CM supplementation at 100 mg/kg also increased the digestibility of gross energy and increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (V/C) in the duodenum and ileum (p < 0.05). Moreover, CM supplementation at 100 mg/kg increased the activities of catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), but decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum (p < 0.05). Importantly, histopathological studies of tissues (e.g., heart, liver, kidney, spleen, lungs, pancreas, thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes, stomach, and small intestine), organ indexes, major hematological parameters, and serum biochemical parameters were not affected upon CM supplementation. These results suggest that CM may have the potential to act as a safe and effective supplement to improve the growth performance and intestinal health of weaned pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In China, following the ban on feed antibiotics in 2020, the intestinal health problems of weaning piglets have become increasingly serious; however, diets supplemented with a single dietary additive for weaning piglets cannot always solve adverse problems caused by weaning. Lactic acid promotes the activity of digestive enzymes and improves the subsequent digestion of young piglets by regulating gastrointestinal pH, and it can also play an important role as an energy substance in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Glutamine, as the most abundant free amino acid in animal organisms, can restore the defective intestinal mucosal structure and immune function caused by weaning. Dietary supplementation with lactic acid and glutamine could be a strategy for alleviating the weaning stress of piglets; however, it is unknown whether the combined addition of these has an interactive effect. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with lactic acid and glutamine, and their interactions, on growth performance, intestinal function, and microflora of weaning piglets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary addition of lactic acid and glutamine, and their interactions, on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal barrier functions, microflora, and expressions of intestinal development-related genes of weaning piglets. Ninety-six 24-day-old weaning piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, weaned at 21 ± 1 d and fed the basal diet for a 3 d adaptation period) with initial body weight of 7.24 ± 0.09 kg were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments with six replicates per treatment and four pigs per replicate in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangements: (1) CON (a 2-period basal diet; control), (2) LS (supplemented with 2% lactic acid), (3) GS (supplemented with 1% glutamine), and (4) LGS (supplemented with 2% lactic acid and 1% glutamine). The study lasted for 28 d. On days 25–28, fresh fecal samples were collected to evaluate apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients. After 28 d, one weaning pig per pen was euthanized, and physiological samples obtained. Results showed that the supplementation of lactic acid improved the ADFI of the pigs (p < 0.05), while the pigs fed the glutamine diet had a greater ADFI and higher G/F (p < 0.05), and there were significant interactive effects between lactic acid and glutamine on the ADFI and G/F of the pigs (p < 0.05). The ATTD of CP and ash for pigs fed with lactic acid was significantly enhanced, and pigs fed the glutamine diet had greater ATTD of CP and ash (p < 0.05), while there were significant interactive effects between lactic acid and glutamine on the ATTD of CP and ash of the pigs (p < 0.05). Pigs fed with lactic acid exhibited greater activity of α-amylase and lipase (p < 0.05); moreover, the activity of lipase in the pigs showed a significant interactive effect between lactic acid and glutamine (p < 0.05). There was a greater villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in pigs fed with lactic acid (p < 0.05), and the villus height to crypt depth ratio of pigs fed with glutamine was greater (p < 0.05). There were greater GLUT2, IGF-1, TGF-β2, OCLN, and ZO-1 mRNA levels in pigs fed with lactic acid (p < 0.05), and the supplementation of glutamine increased SGLT1, GLUT2, PepT1, IGF-1, IGF-1R, TGFβ-2, GLP-2, and OCLN mRNA levels (p < 0.05), Additionally, expressions of SGLT1, GLUT2, PepT1, IGF-1, IGF-1R, TGFβ-2, GLP-2, CLDN-2, OCLN, and ZO-1 mRNA levels of pigs showed a positive interactive effect between lactic acid and glutamine (p < 0.05). Supplementation of lactic acid significantly increased the populations of Bifidobacterium in cecal digesta, Lactobacillus in colonic digesta, and the content of butyric acid in colonic digesta (p < 0.05). In addition, there were significant interactive effects between lactic acid and glutamine on populations of Bifidobacterium in cecal digesta, Lactobacillus in colonic digesta, and the content of acetic acid, butyric acid, and total VFAs in cecal digesta of the pigs (p < 0.05). Collectively, the current results indicate that dietary supplementation with lactic acid and glutamine had a positive synergistic effect on weaning pigs, which could improve growth performance through promoting the development of the small intestine, increasing digestive and barrier function, and regulating the balance of microflora in pigs, and which might be a potential feeding additive ensemble to enhance the health and growth of weaning piglets in the post-antibiotic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lipids are an ideal source of energy for piglets. Several studies have shown that dietary oil supplementation can improve the growth performance of weaned piglets. This experiment investigated the effects of different fat sources on the growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets, and compared with the conventional use of soybean oil, pigs treated with fish–palm–rice oil mixture (FPRO) and coconut–palm–rice oil mixture (CPRO) showed improvements in digestibility and intestinal epithelial function, and a reduction in the production of inflammatory cytokines. The results of this study can provide the theoretical basis for the rational selection of lipid sources in weaned piglets and other mammals. To investigate the effects of lipid sources on growth performance and intestinal health, 72 weaned pigs were randomly allocated to three treatments. Pigs were fed with a corn–soybean meal diet containing 2% soybean oil (SO), or fish–palm–rice oil mixture (FPRO), or coconut–palm–rice oil mixture (CPRO). The trial lasted for 28 days; blood and intestinal tissue samples were collected. The results showed that the crude fat digestibility of the FPRO group was higher than that of the SO and CPRO groups (p < 0.05). The FPRO group also had higher digestibility of dry matter, ash, and gross energy than the SO group (p < 0.05); compared to the SO group, the serum interlukin-6 (IL-6) concentration was decreased. Interestingly, the FPRO and CPRO groups had higher villus height than the SO group in the jejunum and ileum, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, the FPRO group had higher Lactobacillus abundance than the SO group in the colon and cecum (p < 0.05). Importantly, the expression levels of tight junction protein ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin in the duodenal and ileal mucosa were higher in the FPRO group than in the SO and CPRO groups (p < 0.05). The expression levels of nutrient transporters such as the CAT-1, PepT1, FATP1, and SGLT1 were higher in the FPRO group than in the SO group (p < 0.05). The improved digestibility and intestinal epithelium functions, as well as the reduced inflammatory cytokines, in the FPRO and CPRO group suggest that a mixed lipid source such as the FPRO deserves further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Microbially fermented feed can improve the nutritional value and quality of the feed. Liquid feeding can increase feed intake and reduce the morbidity and mortality of piglets. Therefore, in this study, the integrated technology of a diet fermented with bacterial enzymes and liquid feeding was used to study its effects on the growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets. Compared with the control group (standard dry feed, control group), the diet of the liquid feeding group (liquid feeding group with fermented diet) was able to increase palatability, improve nutrient digestibility, and modulate metabolism, resulting in higher feed efficiency and better growth performance. The results of this study provide a reference for the development and utilization of antibiotic-free feed for weaned piglets. Microbial fermentation has been widely used to preserve or improve the nutritional properties of food. Liquid feeding can increase feed intake and reduce the morbidity of piglets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a diet fermented with bacteria and enzymes and liquid feeding on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activity, microflora, and expressions of intestinal development-related genes in weaning pigs. A total of 198 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with body weights of 8.70 ± 0.45 kg were assigned to three groups with six replicates per treatment, and 11 weaned piglets per replicate according to the initial body weight and sex. The three dietary treatments (all nonpelleted diets) were a standard dry feed as the control (CON), a control diet supplemented with antibiotics (AB), and a liquid feeding with a fermented diet (LFD). The liquid feeding diet, having the same composition and proportion of each ingredient as the control diet, was prepared by storing the dietary cereals (corn, soybeans, etc.) and water (1:0.5, wt/wt) in a closed tank at 26–30 °C with enzymes and bacteria, and then adding the remaining dietary ingredients immediately before feeding. The whole trial lasted 42 days. On days 11 to 14 and 39 to 42, fresh faecal samples were collected to evaluate the apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients. Performance, digestibility, serum physiochemical parameters, intestinal barrier function, microbiota, and microbial metabolites were measured. The experimental data were subjected to analysis of variance using the GLM procedure of SAS for a complete randomized block design, with a "pen" as the experimental unit. The results showed that the AB increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain and reduced (p < 0.05) feed conversion (F/G) over the course of 1–14 days compared to the control. The liquid feeding group significantly increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and final body weight compared to the other two dietary groups. The digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, ash, gross energy, Ca, and P also improved in the liquid feeding group. Moreover, the liquid feeding group significantly decreased (p < 0.05) serum urea nitrogen and D-lactate concentrations, as well as the activity of diamine oxidase, and increased (p < 0.05) serum total protein and glucose concentrations on day 14. Furthermore, the liquid feeding group significantly increased (p < 0.05) mRNA expressions of zonula occludens-2 (ZO-2) in the jejunum and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), ZO-2, occludin, and claudin-1 in the ileum. In addition, microbiota measurement suggested an increase in Lactobacillus content and a decrease in Escherichia coli with higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total volatile fatty acids in the caecal and colonic digesta of piglets in the liquid feeding group. In conclusion, the diet in the liquid feeding group was able to increase palatability, improve nutrient digestibility, and modulate metabolism, which resulted in higher feed efficiency and better growth performance in the piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lactose is a kind of carbohydrate that exists in mammal milk. It has some physiological functions, such as providing energy, regulating gut microbiota, and affecting immunity. Rotavirus (RV) is the main pathogen that induces severe diarrhea in piglets, which impairs their growth and development. In this study, we investigated whether different levels (4% and 6%) of dietary lactose supplementation alleviates RV-induced diarrhea in weaned piglets. The results showed that lactose administration relieved the negative effect of RV on growth, which was derived from the improvement of nutrient utilization, gut barrier function, and immunity. Moreover, supplementing 6% lactose in the diets had a tendency to alleviate diarrhea in RV-infected piglets. Thus, we suggest that the diet of weaned piglets should be supplemented with more than 4% lactose (especially in the early period of weaning) if the cost of feed can be afforded. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary lactose supplementation relieves rotavirus (RV)-induced diarrhea and gut dysfunction. Thirty-six crossbred weaned piglets were randomly allocated into three groups and fed diets containing 0, 4%, and 6% lactose for 20 days. On Day 15, half of the piglets in each group were orally infused with RV. RV infection impaired growth performance; induced severe diarrhea; decreased serum D-xylose concentration and morphology and sIgA level of jejunal mucosa; downregulated MUC1, MUC2, occludin, Bcl-2, IL-4, pBD3, pBD2, and pBD1 mRNA expression of jejunal mucosa and/or mesenteric lymph nodes; upregulated Bax, caspase-3, IL-2, IFN-γ, and IFN-β mRNA expression of jejunal mucosa and/or mesenteric lymph nodes; and damaged microbiota and metabolites of cecal digesta in weaned piglets (p < 0.05). Dietary lactose supplementation improved nutrient digestibility and growth performance and relieved the negative influence of RV challenge on intestinal barrier function, mRNA expression of cytokines, and host defense peptides of jejunal mucosa and/or mesenteric lymph nodes in weaned piglets (p < 0.05). Dietary administration of 6% lactose tended to relieve diarrhea (p = 0.07). These results suggest that lactose in feed increases growth performance and has a tendency to alleviate RV-induced diarrhea, derived from the improvement of nutrient utilization, gut barrier function, and immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yucca schidigera extract (YE) can decrease ammonia concentration in livestock housing, which could be associated with the inhibition of urease. The aim of this study was to investigate the other possible reasons of dietary YE supplementation reducing nitrogen emission in weaned piglets. A total of 14 crossbred weaned barrows were allotted into two groups fed the diets supplementing 0 and 120 mg/kg YE for 14 days. The YE administration decreased F/G ratio and hindgut NH3‐N production in weaned piglets (p < 0.05). Dietary YE supplementation decreased serum urea nitrogen levels, and increased nutrient digestibility, which could be related to the improvement of morphology, digestive and absorptive enzyme activities, and nutrient transporter mRNA expression in jejunal mucosa of weaned piglets (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of tight junction proteins, mucins and apoptosis‐related genes was also improved by YE treatment in jejunal mucosa of weaned piglets (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary YE supplementation regulated the microbiota structure and volatile fatty acid content in distal intestine of weaned piglets (p < 0.05). These results suggest that YE administration can decrease hindgut NH3–N production in weaned piglets, which is associated with the increased nutrient utilization and gut‐barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Thermal stress (TS) is a critical challenge in the swine industry, but knowledge about the influence of TS on intestinal development and microbiota in piglets is still scarce. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of high ambient temperature on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, and colonic microbiota in weaned piglets. Our results showed that high ambient temperature had negative effects on growth performance and colonic microbiota of weaned piglets. A total of 16 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) barrows, with an average initial body weight of 8.61 ± 0.24 kg (28 days of age), were randomly allotted into the control group (CON group) and high ambient temperature group (HT group) with 8 replicates per group, 1 pig per replicate. The ambient temperature of the CON group was controlled at 26 ± 1 °C, and the HT group was controlled at 35 ± 1 °C. The study lasted for 21 days. Our results showed that high ambient temperature significantly decreased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) of piglets (p < 0.05), and the feed-to-gain ratio was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The liver index, spleen index, and thymus index of piglets in the HT group were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The villous height (VH) of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of piglets in the HT group was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), whereas the crypt depth (CD) of the duodenum was significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the VH-to-CD ratio of the duodenum and ileum was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The piglets in the HT group showed a higher (p < 0.05) observed-species index, PD whole tree index, and Shannon index, indicating that there was a significant difference in species richness and diversity between the two groups. At the genus level, the piglets in the HT group showed a greater (p < 0.05) percent of Desulfovibrio, Occillibater, and Catenisphaera. HT reduced glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, transport and catabolism, lipid metabolism, amino acids metabolism, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, aging, endocrine system, signaling molecules, and interaction of colon microbiota (p < 0.05), and increased signal transduction, cell motility, transcription, and genetic information processing (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effects of Bacillus coagulans and yeast hydrolysate supplementation on growth performance, immune response and intestinal barrier function of weaned piglets. Twenty‐four weaned piglets with an average body weight (BW) of 6.89 ± 0.15 kg were divided into four diets for 28 days. The treatments were basal diet (control), basal diet supplemented with antibiotic (20 mg/kg colistin sulphate and 40 mg/kg bacitracin zinc, AT), probiotics (400 mg/kg Bacillus coagulans ≥5 × 109 CFU/g, BC) or yeast hydrolysate (5000 mg/kg yeast hydrolysate, YH). Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were improved by AT and YH diets (p < 0.05), while BC diet only increased ADG (p < 0.05). The complement 3 (C3), lysozyme (LZM) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) concentrations in serum were increased in BC diet (p < 0.05). Feeding AT and YH caused the increase of jejunal villus height (p < 0.05), and a higher ratio of villus height/crypt depth was observed in AT, BC and YH groups (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of zonula occludens‐1 (ZO‐1) in jejunal mucosa was up‐regulated by AT, BC and YH diets (p < 0.05). Dietary AT, BC or YH inclusion decreased the interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) concentration and TNF‐α mRNA expression (p < 0.05), and YH supplementation even down‐regulated toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and CD14 expressions (p < 0.05). In summary, the dietary administration of BC or YH both improves growth performance through promoting the intestinal barrier function, indicating both of them can serve as potential alternatives to antibiotics growth promoters for the piglet production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid feeding, a widely used technique, has been applied as a feeding technique commonly in global swine production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of liquid feeding on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal barrier functions during the early weaning period in pigs. Three hundred and sixty 24-d-old weanling pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with BW of 6.98 ± 0.15 kg were randomly assigned to a control diet (dry fed basal diet, CON) or as meal mixed with water in the ratio 1:4 (liquid fed basal diet, LF) with 6 replicates per treatment and 30 weanling pigs per replicate. The study lasted 7 d. On days 4 to 7, fresh fecal samples were collected to evaluate apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients. After 7 d, 2 weanling pigs per pen were euthanized and physiological samples were obtained. Results showed that LF increased (P < 0.05) ADG (281 g vs. 183 g), ADFI (374 g vs. 245 g), and final BW (8.95 kg vs. 8.26 kg) compared with CON. Compared with CON, LF significantly decreased (P < 0.05) serum cortisol and d -lactate concentrations as well as the activity of diamine oxidase, enhanced (P < 0.05) the ATTD of ether extract and ash, increased (P < 0.05) the activities of amylase, lipase, and lactase in the jejunal mucosa. Furthermore, LF had higher (P < 0.05) villus height and villi height:crypt depth and increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expressions of insulin-like growth factors-1 receptor (IGF-1R), claudin-2 (CLDN-2), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and zonula occludens-2 (ZO-2) in the jejunum. Moreover, LF had lower (P < 0.05) abundances of total bacteria and Escherichia coli and higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of acetic acid and butyric acid in cecal digesta. Altogether, the results indicated that liquid feeding not only promoted growth performance but also improved intestinal health by enhancing gut barrier functions in weanling pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Muscle fiber is the basic unit of muscle composition. The type of skeletal muscle fiber can be transformed from fast-twitch to slow-switch or vice versa by internal and external factors. Low-temperature is one of the major environmental factors that influences the growth performance of animals. However, the influence of low-temperature on weaned piglets' skeletal muscle fiber, and whether this influence is related to mitochondrial function and antioxidant capacity, has not been reported. Our results indicated that low temperature could negatively affect growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weaned piglets. Moreover, evidence was provided to show that low-temperature induces a shift toward oxidative muscle fibers, which may occur through mitochondrial function regulation and increased antioxidative capacity. Low-temperature is one of the most significant risks for the animal industry. In light of this, the present study aimed to explore the effects of low-temperature on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, myofiber types and mitochondrial function in weaned piglets. A total of sixteen 21-day-old male Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) piglets were randomly divided into a control group (CON, 26 ± 1 °C) and a low-temperature group (LT, 15 ± 1 °C), with eight duplicate piglets in each group. The trial period lasted for 21 days. We showed that LT not only increased the ADFI (p < 0.05), as well as increasing the diarrhea incidence and diarrhea index of weaned piglets in the early stage of the experiment (p < 0.01), but it also decreased the apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM) and dry matter (DM) (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, in the LT group, the mRNA expression of MyHC IIa (p < 0.05) in longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) and MyHC I (p < 0.01) in psoas muscle (PM) were increased, while the mRNA expression of MyHC IIx in PM was decreased (p < 0.05). In addition, LT increased the mRNA expression of mitochondrial function-related genes citrate synthase (CS) and succinate dehydrogenase-b (SDHB) in LM, as well as increased the mRNA expression of CS (p < 0.05) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1b (CPT-1b) (p < 0.01) in PM. Furthermore, LT increased the T-AOC activity in serum and LM (p < 0.01), as well as increased the T-SOD activity in PM (p < 0.05). Taken together, these findings showed that low-temperature could negatively affect the growth performance and nutrient digestibility, but resulted in a shift toward oxidative muscle fibers, which may occur through mitochondrial function regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The present study indicated that fermented liquid feeding improved the growth performance of pigs, which might be associated with gastrointestinal hormone and intestinal functions. These results provided a new perspective for improving the growth performance of pigs. Accumulating evidences demonstrate that fermented feed and liquid feeding exerted a great beneficial influence on growth performance and health in the pig industry. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of fermented liquid feeding on the growth performance and intestinal function of pigs. Two hundred and eighty-eight 27-day-old weaned piglets (8.21 ± 0.27 kg) were randomly allocated to a control group (basal diet (CON)), an antibiotic group (basal diet supplemented with antibiotics (AB)) and a fermented liquid feeding group (basal diet with fermented liquid feeding (FLF)), with 6 replicates per treatment and 16 weaned piglets per replicate. The experiment lasted for 160 days. Fresh fecal samples were collected to evaluate the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients from the last 4 days of each stage. The results are shown as follows: (1) Compared with the CON group, in the whole stage, the FLF diet significantly increased the final body weight (BW) and ADG of pigs (P < 0.05), and had a tendency to increase ADFI (P = 0.086), but had no effect on F/G. (2) The ATTD of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude ash (CA), crude fiber (CF), gross energy (GE), calcium (Ca) and total phosphorus (TP) in the FLF group was significantly elevated compared with those of the CON group at 8–20 kg stage (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the ATTD of EE in the FLF group was significantly increased compared with that of the CON group at the 50–75 kg and 100–125 kg stages (P < 0.05), and the ATTD of Ca was higher than that of CON group at the 100–125 kg stage (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with that of the CON group, the level of serum leptin in the FLF group had a tendency to decrease (P = 0.054), the level of serum ghrelin in the FLF group was significantly elevated (P < 0.05) and the level of serum peptide YY in the FLF group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). (4) The abundance of Lactobacillus in cecal and colonic digesta was observably enhanced in FLF group. Meanwhile, the abundance of Escherichia coli in cecal and colonic digesta were dramatically reduced in the FLF group compared with that in the CON and AB groups (P < 0.05). (5) The levels of acetic acid in colonic digesta were significantly increased in the FLF group (P < 0.05), and an increasing trend was observed in total VFA in colonic digesta compared with CON (P < 0.1). The levels of acetic acid in colonic digesta were significantly promoted in the FLF group compared with that of the AB group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results indicate that fermented liquid feeding improved the growth performance of pigs, which might be associated with gastrointestinal hormone and intestinal functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most toxic mycotoxins compounds produced by Aspergillus, a common fungi contaminant in food and animal feed. Although there are many studies on AFB1, most of them are focused on the acute toxic effects of high-dose AFB1 ingestion. The symptoms of acute AFB1 mycotoxicosis are rarely observed in actual animal production. However, long-term exposure to low levels of AFB1 is common in swine production and may contribute to chronic diseases. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of chronic exposure to low levels of dietary AFB1 on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility and intestinal health in pigs. We found that chronic exposure to low levels of dietary AFB1 suppressed growth performance, reduced apparent total tract digestibility and damaged intestinal barrier integrity in pigs, which could be associated with the decreased intestinal antioxidant capacity and the increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production. These results could provide new insights for future studies on the prevention and treatment of AFB1 poisoning. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to low levels of dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility and intestinal health in pigs. In a 102-day experiment, fourteen barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire, initial BW = 38.21 ± 0.45 kg) were randomly divided into control (CON, basal diet) and AFB1 groups (the basal diet supplemented with 280 μg/kg AFB1). Results revealed that the AFB1 exposure decreased the final BW, ADFI and ADG in pigs (p < 0.10). AFB1 exposure also decreased the apparent total tract digestibility of dry mater and gross energy at 50 to 75 kg and 105 to 135 kg stages, and decreased the apparent total tract digestibility of ether extract at 75 to 105 kg stage (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, AFB1 exposure increased serum diamine oxidase activity and reduced the mRNA abundance of sodium-glucose cotransporter 1, solute carrier family 7 member 1 and zonula occluden-1 in the jejunal mucosa (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AFB1 exposure decreased superoxide dismutase activity (p < 0.05) and increased 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine content (p < 0.10) in jejunal mucosa. AFB1 exposure also increased tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and transforming growth factor-β mRNA abundance in jejunal mucosa and upregulated Escherichia coli population in colon (p < 0.05). The data indicated that chronic exposure to low levels of dietary AFB1 suppressed growth performance, reduced the apparent total tract digestibility and damaged intestinal barrier integrity in pigs, which could be associated with the decreased intestinal antioxidant capacity and the increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Information about the optimal carbohydrate combination for pigs is scarce. This present study explored the effects of different combinations of starch, non-starch polysaccharides, and mannan-oligosaccharide on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and microbial communities in weaned pigs, which contributed a novel way of evaluating the carbohydrate quality of the diet for pigs. The present experiment was conducted to dissect the effects of different carbohydrate combinations on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and microbial communities in weaned pigs. The combination was optimized by constructing L9(34) orthogonal design. Three factors include starch (amylose to amylopectin (AM/AP) ratio 2:1, 1:1, 1:2), non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) (1%, 2%, 3%, a mixture of inulin with cellulose by 1:1), and mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS) (400, 800, 1200 mg/kg) were investigated and nine combinations were implemented under different levels of these factors. One hundred and sixty-two weaned pigs were randomly assigned to nine dietary treatments with six replicates per treatment and three pigs per replicate. Results exhibited that different combinations of starch, NSP, and MOS affected the gain to feed (G:F) (p < 0.05), diarrhea incidence (p < 0.10), nutrient digestibility (p < 0.05), microbial communities, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations (p < 0.05). In the present study, taking into account three-way ANOVA, range, and direct analysis, we found that the optimal carbohydrate combination was starch AM/AP 1:1, NSP 3%, MOS 400 mg/kg for weaned pigs. Moreover, feeding this combination diet could promote the growth performance and nutrient digestibility, increase the butyrate-producing bacteria, and to some extent improve lipid metabolism. This study provided a novel way to evaluate the carbohydrate quality in swine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Carbohydrates are the most important energy source for monogastric animals, including humans, and dysregulation of carbohydrate metabolism has been associated with metabolic syndromes, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, and obesity. Starch is the major carbohydrate source, consisting of amylose and amylopectin. This study investigated the effects of dietary starch structure on growth performance, serum glucose–insulin response, and intestinal health in weaned piglets, which may contribute to the principles of carbohydrate nutrition and facilitate the utilization of dietary starches. To investigate the effects of dietary starch structure (amylose/amylopectin ratio, AR) on serum glucose absorption metabolism and intestinal health, a total of ninety weaned piglets (Duroc × (Yorkshire × Landrace)) were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments and fed with a diet containing different AR (2.90, 1.46, 0.68, 0.31, and 0.14). The trial lasted for 21 d. In this study, the growth performance was not affected by the dietary starch structure (p > 0.05). Diets with higher amylose ratios (i.e., AR 2.90 and 1.46) led to a significant reduction of the serum glucose concentration at 3 h post-prandium (p < 0.01), while high amylopectin diets (AR 0.31 and 0.14) significantly elevated The expression of gene s at this time point (p < 0.01). High amylopectin diets also increased the apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), and crude ash (p < 0.001). Interestingly, diet rich in amylose (AR 2.90) significantly elevated the butyric acid content (p < 0.05) and decreased the pH value (p < 0.05) in the cecal digesta. In contrast, diet rich in amylopectin (i.e., AR 0.14) significantly elevated the total bacteria populations in the cecal digesta (p < 0.001). Moreover, a high amylopectin diet (AR 0.14) tended to elevate the mRNA level of fatty acid synthase (FAS, p = 0.083), but significantly decreased the mRNA level of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1, p < 0.05) in the duodenal and jejunal mucosa, respectively. These results suggested that blood glucose and insulin concentrations were improved in high AR diets, and the diet also helped to maintain the intestinal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In China, large quantities of maize are stored in grain depots for two years or more to mitigate the risk of natural disasters impacting feed supplies. However, it is unknown whether the use of long-term stored maize in diets will impair growth performance of piglets, and whether additional dietary oxidants would further exacerbate the effects. This study investigates the effects of dietary aged maize with the supplementation of different levels of oxidized fish oil on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum antioxidant activity and gut health in piglets and tries to provide a theoretical foundation for the better use of aged maize in swine production. The results of this study showed that aged maize had no significant effect on growth performance, diarrhea and nutrient digestibility of the piglets, but it did reduce serum antioxidant capacity. When oxidized fish oil was added, aged maize reduced serum antioxidant capacity further, inhibited the expressions of genes related to intestinal nutrient transport, promoted intestinal inflammation, and also reduced the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, increased diarrhea and finally reduced the growth performance of piglets. Thus, the use of aged maize in the diet of the piglets may be not feasible, especially when other oxidation-inducing factors existed, which would exacerbate the negative effects of the aged maize. This study aimed to determine the effects of dietary aged maize with supplementation of different levels of oxidized fish oil on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum antioxidant activity and gut health in piglets. Forty-two piglets were arranged in 2 × 3 factorial treatments in a complete randomized block design with seven replicates per treatment and one pig per replicate for 28 d. Diets included twp types of maize (normal maize or aged maize) and three levels of oxidized fish oil (OFO) (3% non-oxidized fish oil (0% OFO), 1.5% OFO and 1.5% non-oxidized fish oil (1.5% OFO), and 3% OFO (3% OFO). Results showed that dietary aged maize did not affect growth performance, diarrhea, and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients in piglets (p > 0.05). However, aged maize increased malonaldehyde (MDA) content and decreased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum on both 14th and 28th days (p < 0.05) compared to the normal maize groups. Meanwhile, compared with normal maize, dietary aged maize showed a slight, but not significant (p > 0.10) decrease in total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity and VE content in serum on the 14th day. In addition, aged maize significantly decreased GLUT2 mRNA expression (p < 0.05) and tended to increase (p < 0.10) TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression in jejunal mucosa. Compared with non-oxidized fish oil, oxidized fish oil resulted in the decrease of the 14–28 d and 0–28 d ADG, as well as the ATTD of dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), organic matter (OM) (p < 0.05), whereas the increase in diarrhea index (p < 0.05) and F/G of the whole period (p < 0.05). Oxidized fish oil decreased serum T-AOC on both the 14th and the 28th days (p < 0.05), and decreased serum T-SOD activity and VE content on the 28th day (p < 0.05), whereas increased serum MDA content on the 28th day (p < 0.05) and 14th day (p < 0.10) compared with fresh fish oil. Meanwhile, MUC2 (p < 0.05) and SGLT1 (p < 0.10) mRNA expression in jejunal mucosa were decreased compared with non-oxidized fish oil. In addition, dietary oxidized fish oil tended to decrease 14–28 d ADFI and the ATTD of CP (p < 0.10), and piglets fed oxidized fish oil significantly decreased 14–28 d ADFI, the ATTD of CP, GLUT2 and SGLT1 mRNA expressions in jejunal mucosa when piglet also fed with aged maize (p < 0.05). Collectively, these results indicated that dietary oxidized fish oil decreased growth performance and nutrients digestibility of piglets fed with aged maize. This nutrient interaction may be mediated by inhibiting intestinal nutrient transporter, inducing intestinal inflammation, and reducing antioxidant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Broussonetia papyrifera polysaccharides (BPP) on the jejunal intestinal integrity of rats ingesting oxidized fish oil (OFO) induced oxidative stress. Polysaccharides (Mw 16,956 Da) containing carboxyl groups were extracted from Broussonetia papyrifera leaves. In vitro antioxidant assays showed that this polysaccharide possessed antioxidant capabilities. Thirty-two male weaned rats were allocated into two groups orally infused BPP solution and PBS for 26 days, respectively. From day 9 to day 26, half of the rats in each group were fed food containing OFO, where the lipid peroxidation can induce intestinal oxidative stress. OFO administration resulted in diarrhea, decreased growth performance (p < 0.01), impaired jejunal morphology (p < 0.05) and antioxidant capacity (p < 0.01), increased the levels of ROS and its related products, IL-1β and IL-17 (p < 0.01) of jejunum, as well as down-regulated Bcl-2/Bax (p < 0.01) and Nrf2 signaling (p < 0.01) of jejunum in rats. BPP gavage effectively alleviated the negative effects of OFO on growth performance, morphology, enterocyte apoptosis, antioxidant capacity and inflammation of jejunum (p < 0.05) in rats. In the oxidative stress model cell assay, the use of receptor inhibitors inhibited the enhancement of antioxidant capacity by BPP. These results suggested that BPP protected intestinal morphology, thus improving growth performance and reducing diarrhea in rats ingesting OFO. This protective effect may be attributed to scavenging free radicals and activating the Nrf2 pathway, which enhances antioxidant capacity, consequently reducing inflammation and mitigating intestinal cell death. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reduced SBM in diet decreases growth performance, diarrhea rate and nutrient digestibility in weaned piglets. • Protease in the diet with less SBM could ameliorate the negative effects of reduced SBM in weaned piglets. • Protease partly complements the digestible AAs to the piglets fed diet with reduced SBM level. One hundred and twenty 25-day-old barrows with BW of 7.49±0.51 kg were used in a 42-d experiment to evaluate the effects of protease in diets with different levels of soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, and digestive enzyme activity. The pigs were allotted to 6 treatment groups following a 2 (two SBM levels) ×3 (three protease levels) factorial arrangement. Two SBM levels included normal SBM (0 to 14 d, 10%; 15 to 42 d, 22%) and low SBM (0 to 14 d, 4%; 15 to 42 d, 16%), and added protease levels included 0, 150 or 300 mg/kg (0, 1,500 and 3,000 U/kg) of diet. Blood, organ and digesta samples were collected at the end of the experiment, and fecal samples were taken from d 38 to 41. The low SBM level diet significant decreased ADFI (P < 0.01), ADG (P < 0.01), and G:F (P < 0.01) throughout the experiment, except the G:F from 29 to 42 d (P > 0.05). Protease in the normal and low SBM diets increased ADG (P < 0.05) and G:F (P < 0.01) from 1 to 14 d Diarrhea rate was significantly reduced by SBM levels and protease (P < 0.05). An SBM level and protease interaction was observed on digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude ash, organ matter (OM) and gross energy (GE) (P < 0.01). The supplementation of protease in normal and low SBM level diets significantly increased nutrients digestibility (P < 0.01), protease increased the digestibilities of majority of amino acids (P < 0.05). Protease in the normal diets reduced serum urea nitrogen (SUN) (P < 0.01). Low SBM diet reduced the liver relative weight (P < 0.05), supplementation of 150 mg/kg protease to the normal SBM diet increased pancreas relative weight (P < 0.05) and protease in both normal and low SBM diets increased intestine relative weight (P < 0.01). Trypsin activity was reduced by low SBM (P < 0.05), while protease enhanced the activity (P < 0.05). An SBM level and protease level interaction was observed on trypsin and chymotrypsin activities (P < 0.01). In conclusion, protease supplementation in low SBM diet could partly complement the digestible AAs to the piglets fed diet with reduced crude protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We first evaluated the application of resveratrol in weaned piglets. • Dietary resveratrol supplementation had no effect on growth performance of weaned piglets. • Dietary resveratrol supplementation promoted muscle fiber type transformation from type II to type I in weaned piglets. • Dietary supplementation of resveratrol promoted muscle fiber type transformation via the Sirt1/AMPK/PGC-1α signal pathway in weaned piglets. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary resveratrol supplementation on growth performance and muscle fiber type transformation in weaned piglets. In this study, fifty-four 28-day-old DLY (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) weaned piglets were randomly divided into three dietary treatments and fed with a basal diet (control group), a basal diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg resveratrol or a basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg resveratrol. After the 42-day feeding trial, weaned piglets were slaughtered and then their longissimus dorsi muscles were collected. Here we showed that dietary resveratrol supplementation had no effect on growth performance of weaned piglets. The results also showed that dietary resveratrol supplementation increased the expression of slow MyHC, the activities of succinic dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase and the proportion of type I fiber, as well as decreased the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and the proportion of type II fiber, suggesting that resveratrol promoted muscle fiber type transformation from type II to type I in weaned piglets. In addition, dietary resveratrol supplementation increased the protein level of phosphorylated AMPK, the active form of AMPK, suggesting that resveratrol activates AMPK. The upstream factor of Sirt1 and the downstream factor of PGC-1α were also increased by resveratrol. Taken together, these findings showed that dietary resveratrol supplementation promoted muscle fiber type transformation from type II to type I through the Sirt1/AMPK/PGC-1α signal pathway in weaned piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Feeding fibre promotes the growth performance of weaning piglets. • Feeding insoluble fiber might be more preferable to promote the growth performance and nutrients digestibility than soluble fibre in the first two weeks post-weaning. • Adding a combination of insoluble and soluble fibre in the whole experiment period had a better effect on growth performance, blood biochemical indices, nutrients digestibility, gut microbiota, and intestinal barrier functions than a single one. Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of dietary soluble fiber (inulin) and insoluble fiber (lignocellulose) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical profile, hindgut microbe and barrier function of weaning piglets. Thirty 24 ± 1-d-old piglets (BW 7.50 ± 0.31kg) were randomly allotted to five treatments, and fed basal diet (control), 1% insoluble dietary fiber diet (IDF), 1% soluble dietary fiber diet (SDF), 0.75% insoluble fiber + 0.25% soluble fiber diet during the first two weeks and 0.25% insoluble fiber + 0.75% soluble fiber diet during the last two weeks (CRMDF), and 0.5% insoluble fiber + 0.5% soluble dietary fiber diet (MDF). The trial lasted for 4 weeks. Compared with control group, diet MDF and IDF decreased the ratio of feed to gain (F/G) (P < 0.05) in the first two weeks, diet CRMDF and MDF decreased F/G in the whole period (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, MDF-fed piglets had a lower diarrhea incidence (P < 0.05) than that of control in the last two weeks. Diet CRMDF and MDF increased serum total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) concentrations (P < 0.05) in the piglets. All fiber groups showed a higher (P < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and organic matter (OM) than control group. Diet IDF up-regulated the mRNA level of sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) in jejunum (P < 0.05). Additionally, diets CRMDF and MDF up-regulated barrier function-related genes (OCLN, CLDN-1, Muc1, IL-10) mRNA levels in the ileal (P < 0.05). Diets IDF and MDF also increased Lactobacillus amounts in the ileal digesta (P < 0.05). Moreover, piglets fed IDF, CRMDF and MDF diets had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in caecal digesta than those in control group. In conclusion, insoluble fiber might be more preferable than soluble fiber to promote the nutrients digestibility in the first two weeks post-weaning piglets. Furthermore, diets supplemented with both soluble fiber and insoluble fiber were more effective than supplementation alone to improve blood biochemical indices, nutrients digestibility, hindgut microbe and gut barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]