Effects of Weaning Age at 21 and 28 Days on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Redox Status in Piglets

Abstract

The study objective was to assess effects of different weaning ages on growth performance, intestinal morphology and redox status in Duroc × Landrace × Large White piglets (n = 96) fed diets without antibiotic growth promoters. Piglets were selected from 24 litters based on similar body weight at 14 d of age. All piglets were allocated to two groups in a completely random design with six replicates and eight pigs per replicate (four barrows and four gilts), which were weaned at 21 (n = 48; BW = 6.87 ± 0.33 kg) and 28 (n = 48; BW = 8.49 ± 0.41 kg) days of age. After weaning, pigs were fed a corn–soybean meal-based diet. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion (F:G), diarrhea incidence, gastrointestinal pH, intestinal morphology and redox status were determined. Pigs weaned at 28 d displayed increased ADG from d 8 to 14 (p < 0.01) compared with pigs weaned at 21 d. Pigs weaned at 28 d had a higher ADFI from d 0 to 7 (p < 0.01), d 8 to 14 (p < 0.01), d 15 to 28 (p < 0.05) and during the entire experimental period (p < 0.01) compared with pigs weaned at 21 d. Pigs weaned at 21 d had an improved F:G from d 15 to 28 (p < 0.05) compared with pigs weaned at 28 d. Pigs weaned at 28 d had decreased diarrhea incidence from d 8 to 14 (p < 0.01) and the entire experimental period (p < 0.01) compared with pigs weaned at 21 d. On d 28, the pH of the stomach contents in pigs weaned at 21 d was significantly higher compared with pigs weaned at 28 d (p < 0.01). On d 14, the morphology of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum in pigs weaned at 28 d was improved compared with pigs weaned at 21 d. During the experiment period, the antioxidant abilities of pigs weaned at 28 d of the heart, liver, kidney, intestinal and serum were better than pigs weaned at 21 d. In conclusion, intestinal morphology, pH of the stomach and antioxidant status of pigs weaned at 28 d were better than pigs weaned at 21 d. These factors supported better growth performance and decreased diarrhea incidence.

Early Weaning Affects Liver Antioxidant Function in Piglets

“…Liver development closely correlates with the growth of pigs [29]. Pigs weaned at 28-days old exhibit better growth performance than that of pigs weaned at 21-days old [30]. The earlier weaning time will slow down the growth of piglets, which is consistent with our findings.…”

Effects of Dietary L-Theanine on Growth Performance, Antioxidation, Meat Quality, and Intestinal Microflora in White Feather Broilers With Acute Oxidative Stress

“…Some studies have proved that the intestinal absorption of nutrients mainly depended on the intestinal villi, and the intestinal villi epithelial cells absorbed nutrients from the digestive tract into the blood. At present, it is believed that there is a positive correlation between intestinal absorption and villi height (23). Therefore, parameters of intestinal mucosal morphology can explain the differences in production performance to a certain extent (24).…”

Artificial rearing alters intestinal microbiota and induces inflammatory response in piglets

“…Previous studies have shown the adverse effects of early weaning on the growth performance of pigs (Leliveld et al, 2013; Frontiers in Microbiology 10 frontiersin.org Ming et al, 2021). Similar to early weaning, artificial rearing also brought about a number of stressors, such as an abrupt separation from the sow and a different food source (Baxter et al, 2013).…”