Prenatal Exposure to Innately Preferred D-Limonene and Trans-Anethole Does Not Overcome Innate Aversion to Eucalyptol, Affecting Growth Performance of Weanling Piglets

Abstract

In the present research, two studies were performed to determine the effects of specific botanical compounds (BCs) on the innate feed preference and feed intake of piglets, as follows: Exp. 1 studied the innate feed preferences of post-weaning piglets using a double-choice feeding test. A total of 828 weaned piglets were distributed into 36 pens (23 pigs/pen) and assigned to three dietary pair choice feeding options (n = 12): unsupplemented prestarter diets (reference) versus reference plus D-limonene, trans-anethole, or eucalyptol. Piglets showed a preference for diets with D-limonene (53.8%) and trans-anethole (54.5%), and an aversion to eucalyptol (41.6%) (p < 0.05). Exp. 2 studied whether the prenatal and perinatal exposure to D-limonene, trans-anethole, and eucalyptol influences the feed intake and growth of newly-weaned piglets. Twenty-eight gestating and lactating sows were distributed into two dietary treatments (n = 14): unsupplemented Control diets or Control plus a blend of BCs (BBC; containing D-limonene, trans-anethole, and eucalyptol). D-limonene, trans-anethole, and eucalyptol were transferred into the placental fluid, and D-limonene and trans-anethole into the milk (p < 0.05). Furthermore, weanling piglets (n = 200; Control) and (n = 203; BBC) received the same treatment as their mothers in prestarter diets. The early response after weaning showed that piglets’ post-weaning BW gain was higher in the Control (p < 0.05) group than in those exposed to BBC. In conclusion, prenatal exposure to preferred D-limonene and trans-anethole, or familiarity to eucalyptol did not help to overcome the innate aversion to eucalyptol and its negative effect on weanling piglets’ BW.

Effects of three feed attractants on the growth performance and meat quality of the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

“…Based on these theories, we designed this bitingballs test, it showed that these three compounds limonene, allicin and betaine do have positive impact on food consumption. And it is consistent with the results of our biting-balls test, indicating that limonene, allicin and betaine could stimulate the smell or taste receptors of M. salmoides and had a strong attraction effect (Reyes-Camacho et al, 2021). In addition, the attraction effects of different food attractants varied, which could be attributed to differences in the number of olfactory receptor genes responsible for detecting different odor molecules (Liu et al, 2021), resulting in different sensations or recognition capacities of olfactory and taste receptors to attractants in M. salmoides.…”

Adult Ossabaw Pigs Prefer Fermented Sorghum Tea over Isocaloric Sweetened Water

“…This is largely due to the decreased phylogenetic distance between humans and swine as opposed to humans and rodents [38][39][40][41]. However, most research involving swine taste preference has been performed in young pigs or lactating sows that are ad libitum fed [42][43][44][45][46]. Some swine researchers cite that sorghum is an inferior grain when compared to corn because growing pigs have a reduced feed intake and average daily gain when fed a sorghum-based diet [47,48].…”

“…There is little published research on adult pig preference on flavors [42,44]. Wang et al [44] examined if the supplementation of the feed of 52 large white lactating sows would impact flavor preference in their piglets. The study was conducted to address the insufficient feed intake of commercial sows during lactation.…”

“…There were four treatments consisting of an astringent compound such as sodium butyrate, fruit milk flavor, and fruit milk-anise flavor, as well as a control diet. Wang et al [44] determined that dams consumed for feed when they were treated with the fruit milk-anise. Anise is a seasoning that leaves a bitter after taste [73]; therefore, researchers focused on pre-exposure to flavors via lactation so that piglets have less avoidance behaviors at weaning.…”