The effects of mushroom powder and vitamin D₂‐enriched mushroom powder supplementation on the growth performance and health of newly weaned pigs

Abstract

A complete randomised block design experiment was conducted to examine the effects of mushroom powder (MP) and vitamin D2‐enriched mushroom powder (MPD2) on growth performance, faecal scores, coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD) of nutrients and selected microflora in weaned pigs up to day 35 post‐weaning. One hundred and ninety‐two weaned pigs (7.8kg [SD 1.08kg]) were blocked according to live weight, sex and litter of origin and randomly assigned to the following: (T1) control diet; (T2) control diet +MP; (T3) control diet + MPD2; and (T4) control diet +zinc oxide (ZnO) (n = 12 replicates/treatment). Mushroom powders were included at 2 g/kg of feed achieving a β‐glucan content of 200ppm. ZnO was included at 3100 mg/kg feed and halved to 1550 mg/kg after 21 days. Vitamin D content was enhanced in MPD2 using synthetic UVB exposure to obtain a vitamin D2 level of 100 µg/kg of feed. Faecal samples were collected on day 14 for microbial and nutrient digestibility analysis. There was no difference (p > 0.05) in ADG, G:F, faecal scores, microbial populations and CATTD of nutrients in pigs supplemented with MP or MPD2 compared with the control diet. The supplementation of MP and MPD2 caused a reduction (p < 0.05) in feed intake compared with the control and ZnO diet throughout the 35‐day experimental period. ZnO supplementation increased ADG and ADFI (p < 0.05) during the first period (D0‐21) compared with pigs offered MP and MPD2. In conclusion, MP and MPD2 supplementation resulted in similar ADG, G:F, faecal scores compared with the control but were not comparable to ZnO, mainly due to a reduction in feed intake.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Mushroom or Vitamin D2-Enriched Mushroom Powders on Gastrointestinal Health Parameters in the Weaned Pig

“…Maximizing the feed intake in newly weaned pigs is critical, as low feed intake immediately post-weaning negatively impacts nutrient uptake and utilization, subsequently leading to impaired gut structure and function and reduced performance [ 44 ]. The MP and MPD 2 supplementation reduced the feed intake compared with the control and ZnO, as reported by Conway et al [ 20 ]. Furthermore, MP reduced ADG compared to the ZnO group, and MPD 2 supplementation reduced ADG compared with the control and ZnO group.…”

“…Dietary supplementation with vitamin D 2 -enriched mushroom powder improved ADG and FCR in 150-day old finisher pigs [ 19 ]; however, the same effect was not observed in younger pigs [ 20 ]. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the molecular, physiological, and microbial effects of mushroom powder (MP), vitamin D 2 -enriched mushroom powder (MPD 2 ) and zinc oxide (ZnO) in these younger pigs.…”

Vitamin D from UV-Irradiated Mushrooms as a Way for Vitamin D Supplementation: A Systematic Review on Classic and Nonclassic Effects in Human and Animal Models

“…Conway E. et al (2021) [ 50 ] conducted a study on 192 pigs for 35 days, with an experimental protocol similar to that proposed by Dowley A. et al 2021 [ 41 ], discussed above. In terms of growth performance, pigs supplemented with MP and MPD2 had a lower ADFI at the end of the experiment ( p < 0.05) than pigs supplemented with ZnO and the control diet, with no differences in fecal counts between the experimental groups ( p > 0.05).…”

“…The results of Conway and colleagues (2021) [ 50 ] and Dowley et al (2021) [ 47 ] showed positive effects of the treatments on the amount of volatile fatty acids (VFA) produced by the gut flora, an improvement in VH (villus height) in the duodenum and jejunum in the animal models tested and an increase in the expression of SLC15A1 (solute transporter family) and FABP2 (fatty acid binding protein) in the duodenum compared to the control group.…”

Effects of Dietary Lentinus edodes Fermentation Supplementation on Digestive Enzyme Activity, Antioxidant Capacity and Morphology of the Liver and Intestine in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Fed High Plant Protein Diets

“…[21]. As a highly nutritious functional food, various studies have confirmed that Lentinus edodes have anti-inflammatory and liver protection, anti-tumor, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, and antibacterial and other pharmacological effects [22][23][24]. At present, few studies have been related to the effects of L. edodes on the growth and health of aquatic animals, and the research on L. edodes first fermented and treated as an economic fish feed additive has rarely been reported.…”