Effects of different starch diets on growth performance, intestinal health and faecal microbiota of growing pigs

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different starch source diets on growth performance, intestinal health, and, microbiota of growing pigs.Eighteen healthy "Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire" pigs (50 ± 0.61 kg, Castrated boar) were randomly divided into three groups with six replicates and one pig per replicate. The pigs in the three treatments were fed diets prepared with cassava flour (CF), rice bran (RB) and sorghum flour (SF), respectively, and the nutritional levels of the three treatments were the same. The experiment lasted for 28 days.The results showed that pigs in the RB group had significantly increased average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.05) compared with pigs in CF and SF groups. Compared with pigs in the CF group, the final body weight (FBW) of growing pigs in the RB group was increased and the ratio of feed to gain (F: G) was decreased (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between FBW and F: G between the SF group and the other two groups. Compared with the CF group, the RB group significantly increased the jejunum amylase activity (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the SF group and the other two groups. Compared with growing pigs in the CF group and SF group, the duodenal villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio of growing pigs in the RB group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, and total VFA in the colon and caecum of piglets in the SF group were significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to piglets in CF and RB groups, and there was no significant difference between the CF group and RB group. Compared with the RB group, caecal butyric acid concentration was significantly increased in SF and CF groups (p < 0.05). Seven dominant phyla were identified at the phylum level, among which Firmicutes, Bacteroidota and Spirochaetota were dominant phyla, accounting for 74.18%, 14.87% and 6.56% of the RB group respectively. Cassava flour group accounted for 80.22%, 9.64% and 3.71%; Accounting for 65.33%, 17.34% and 13.07% of the SF group. Through the comparative analysis of microbial differences among the treatment groups, it was found that at the phylum level, compared with the SF group, the abundance of Synergistota in the diet of the CF group and the diet of the RB group was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The abundance decreased significantly (p < 0.05).

Fatty acid-balanced oil improved nutrient digestibility, altered milk composition in lactating sows and fecal microbial composition in piglets

“…Firmicutes and Bacteroidota are the dominant phyla in the fecal microbial composition of suckling piglets, accounting for more than 90% of the intestinal flora of piglets, consistent with this study; the two phyla are beneficial for piglets to create and maintain an anaerobic environment in the intestine [37]. The high relative abundance of Spirochaetota will lead to intestinal microbiota imbalance and intestinal inflammation Zhang et al (2024) Anim Biosci 37:883-895 [38]. In this study, the fatty acid-balanced oil decreased the abundance of Spirochaetota in the feces of suckling piglets, which may be beneficial for the piglets to maintain the balance of intestinal microbiota.…”

Intestinal melatonin levels and gut microbiota homeostasis are independent of the pineal gland in pigs

“…This process is essential for the host's energy metabolism, as sulfate is a key source of sulfur for protein synthesis and other cellular processes. It is worth noting that rice bran diet improved intestinal digestive enzyme activities, increased Desulfobacterota abundance, and promoted growth in pigs (Li et al, 2023 ). In addition, polysaccharides can increase the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobiota, Desulfobacterota, and Actinobacteriota; generate short-chain fatty acids; and benefit intestinal health (Hu et al, 2021 ).…”