Effects of dietary supplementation with a carvacrol–cinnamaldehyde–thymol blend on growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs

Abstract

Background Stress, herd transfer, and food changes experienced by nursery and fattening pigs can lead to reduced performance, reduced digestion and absorption, and impaired intestinal health. Given the role of essential oils in relieving stress and improving animal welfare, we hypothesized that essential oils may improve pig performance via promoting gut health and gut homeostasis laid by EOs supplementation during nursery continuously impacts performance in fattening pigs. Results A total of 100 piglets (Landrace × Large White; weighted 8.08 ± 0.34 kg, weaned at d 28) were randomly selected and divided into 2 treatments: (1) basal diet (Con); (2) basal diet supplement with 0.1% complex essential oils (CEO). The experiment period was 42 days. Then weaned piglets’ growth performance and indications of intestinal health were assessed. Compared to the Con group, dietary supplemented CEO enhanced BW at 14 d (P < 0.05), and increased ADG during 1 ~ 14 d and 1 ~ 42 d (P < 0.05). Furthermore, CEO group had lower FCR during 1 ~ 42 d (P < 0.05). The CEO group also showed higher VH and VH:CD in duodenum and ileum (P < 0.05). Additionally, dietary CEO supplementation improved gut barrier function, as manifested by increased the mRNA expression of tight-junction protein and decreased serum DAO, ET and D-LA levels (P < 0.05). Finally, CEO supplementation alleviated gut inflammation, increased the activity of digestive enzymes. Importantly, piglets supplemented with CEOs during nursery also had better performance during fattening, suggesting that the establishment of intestinal health will also continuously affect subsequent digestion and absorption capacity. In short, dietary supplemented CEO improved performance and gut health via modulating increased intestine absorptive area, barrier integrity, digestive enzyme activity, and attenuating intestine inflammation. Meanwhile, essential oil supplementation during the nursery period also had a favorable effect on the performance of growing pigs. Conclusions Therefore, the strategy of adding CEO to pig diets as a growth promoter and enhancing intestinal health is feasible.

Effect of diets supplemented with coated plant essential oil on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant activity, and fecal microbiota of weaned piglets

“…The possible mechanism is that oregano essential oil can create a physical barrier against microorganisms by inducing a higher glycoconjugate production in the gut, ultimately improving disease resistance and growth performance ( 21 , 22 ). Piglets supplemented with 0.1% carvacrol-cinnamaldehyde-thymol blend had enhanced body weight at day 14 and increased ADG and decreased FCR between days 1 and 42 ( 23 ). A previous research has confirmed that plant essential oil can promote the growth and development of animals by increasing nutrient utilization ( 24 ).…”

Effect of Marjoram Leaves Extract on Performances, Blood Indices, Digestive Enzymes, Immunity, Antioxidant and Microbial Population of Growing Japanese Quails

“…In this respect, marjoram contains numerous bioactive compounds like thymol, carvacrol, and essential oil, which function as antioxidants, antibacterial, and antifungals. The enhancement in growth factors could be ascribed to thymol and carvacrol's presence, which positively affect intestinal flora and possess antibacterial properties, thereby enhancing digestion and absorption in the intestine, potentially playing a crucial role in promoting growth (Ahmadifar et al, 2011 andZhao et al, 2023). Furthermore, these active constituents have the potential to boost digestion efficiency by elevating digestive enzymes, saliva production, enhancing appetite, preventing intestinal infections, alleviating diarrhea and constipation (Baj et al, 2020, Hao et al, 2021, Khorsand et al, 2022, Ili´c et al, 2022, and Kolypetri et al, 2023.…”

Thymol improves the growth performance of blue foxes by regulating the gut microbiota

“…Our study revealed that dietary supplementation with 200 or 300 mg/kg thymol could increase FW, providing a basis for improving pelt yield. Previous studies have shown that supplementing thymol during the nursery period has a beneficial effect on the growth performance of growing pigs ( Zhao et al, 2023 ). Adding 50 mg/kg thymol to the diet can improve the ADG of weaned piglets by promoting intestinal health ( Wang et al, 2022 ).…”