Effects of xylanase supplementation to wheat-based diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut microbes in weanling pigs

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to investigate the effects of an Aspergillus sulphureus xylanase expressed in Pichia pastoris on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut microbes in weanling pigs. METHODS A total of 180 weanling pigs (initial body weights were 8.47±1.40 kg) were assigned randomly to 5 dietary treatments. Each treatment had 6 replicates with 6 pigs per replicate. The experimental diets were wheat based with supplementation of 0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 U xylanase/kg. The experiment lasted 28 days (early phase, d 0 to 14; late phase, d 15 to 28). RESULTS In the early phase, compared to the control, average daily gain (ADG) was higher for pigs fed diets supplemented with xylanase and there was a quadratic response in ADG (p