Premium
Medium‐chain triglyceride as an alternative of in‐feed colistin sulfate to improve growth performance and intestinal microbial environment in newly weaned pigs
Author(s) -
Yen HungChe,
Lai WeiKang,
Lin ChuanShun,
Chiang ShuHsing
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/asj.12248
Subject(s) - cecum , triglyceride , zoology , food science , biology , feed conversion ratio , factorial experiment , chemistry , biochemistry , body weight , cholesterol , endocrinology , ecology , statistics , mathematics
Five hundred and twenty‐eight newly weaned pigs were given four treatments, with eight replicates per treatment. Sixteen to 18 pigs were assigned per replicate and were fed diets supplemented with 0 or 3% medium‐chain triglyceride ( MCT ) and 0 or 40 ppm colistin sulfate ( CS ) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for 2 weeks. The results showed that dietary supplementation with MCT improved the gain‐to‐feed ratio during days 3‐7 and in the overall period ( P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with MCT decreased coliforms counts ( C ) in colon and rectum content ( P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with CS decreased C and lactic acid bacteria plus C counts ( L + C ) in cecum ( P < 0.05), and C , L + C ( P < 0.01) and ratio of L and C ( P < 0.05) in colon and rectum contents. The lack of interactions between MCT and CS indicates different modes of action and additive effects between the two supplementations. In conclusion, supplementation with MCT in diet with or without CS could improve the intestinal microbial environment and the feed utilization efficiency of newly weaned pigs.