Effects of functional oil blend on performance, blood metabolites, organ biometry and intestinal morphometry in nursery piglets / Efeitos da mistura de óleo funcional no desempenho, metabólitos sanguíneos, biometria de órgãos e morfometria intestinal em leitões de creche

This study was conducted to assess the effects of functional oil (FO) blend on performance, blood metabolites, organ biometry and intestinal morphometry in piglets. A total of 128 crossbreed piglets (Landrace × Large White, 64 uncastrated males and 64 females, 21 d of age, and 6.79 ± 1.76 kg BW) were allocated in a randomized complete block design with two dietary treatments: a FO-free (FOF) diet or a diet based on added FO (1,500 mg/kg of diet with castor oil plus cashew nutshell oil). Piglets fed FO showed higher (p ≤ 0.05) average daily feed intake, daily body weight gain and final body weight after 23 d of study. For the total period, piglets fed FO showed greater (p = 0.007) feed conversion ratio. On d 23, higher serum total protein (p = 0.026) and globulin (p = 0.050) concentration, lower liver (p = 0.042) and stomach (p = 0.074) weight, and greater (p = 0.082) villi height (VH) in duodenum were observed in piglets fed FO. Nonetheless, piglets fed FOF showed greater (p = 0.054) ileal VH, but greater (p = 0.004) crypt depth (CD) in jejunum. Piglets fed FO showed higher VH to CD ratio in jejunum (p = 0.068) and duodenum (p = 0.074) on d 23 and 37, respectively. Based on the results, FO blend improved the performance of weaned piglets; however, it negatively affected the feed conversion ratio in the total period. Moreover, FO blend promoted changes in total protein concentrations and improvements in digestive and absorptive capacity assessed through VH to CD ratio, with a significant reduction in organs.

Este estudo foi conduzido para avaliar os efeitos de uma mistura de óleo funcional (OF) no desempenho zootécnico, nos metabólitos sanguíneos, na biometria de órgãos e na morfometria intestinal de leitões. Um total de 128 leitões mestiços (Landrace × Large White, 64 machos inteiros e 64 fêmeas; 21 dias de idade e peso corporal de 6,79 ± 1,76 kg) foram alocados em um delineamento de blocos casualizados completos, com dois tratamentos dietéticos: uma dieta sem OF (SOF) ou uma dieta baseada na adição de OF (1.500 mg/kg de dieta com OF de mamona e castanha de caju). Os leitões alimentados com OF apresentaram maior (p ≤ 0,05) consumo de ração diário médio, ganho de peso corporal diário e peso corporal aos 23 dias de experimento. Entretanto, os leitões que consumiram dietas com OF tiveram conversão alimentar superior (p = 0,007) no período total. No dia 23, houve aumento na concentração de proteína total (p = 0,026) e globulina (p = 0,050), menor peso de fígado (p = 0,042) e estômago (p = 0,074), e maior (p = 0,082) altura de vilosidade (AV) no duodeno em leitões que consumiram OF; entretanto, os leitões SOF tiveram (p = 0,054) AV superior no íleo, mas apresentaram (p = 0,004) profundidade de cripta (PC) superior no jejuno. Uma maior relação AV:PC no jejuno (p = 0,068) e duodeno (p = 0,074) foi observada em leitões com OF nos dias 23 e 37, respectivamente. Com base nos resultados, a mistura de OF melhorou o desempenho dos leitões desmamados; no entanto, afetou negativamente a taxa de conversão alimentar no período total. Além disso, a mistura de OF promoveu alterações nas concentrações proteínas totais e melhorias na capacidade digestiva e absortiva avaliadas através da relação AV:PC, com uma redução significativa nos órgãos.

Bone traits and gastrointestinal tract parameters of piglets fed cholecalciferol and 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol glycoside

The objective of this study was to evaluate the cholecalciferol and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol glycoside supplementation in piglet diet on organ biometry and physicochemical composition, pH of the digestive tract contents, and bone traits. A total of 128 entire male piglets (21 days-old, 6.82±0.38 kg body weight) were distributed in a completely randomized block design with eight replications and four animals per experimental unit. The treatments were composed of a diet 100/0 = 100% of the vitamin D supplemented with cholecalciferol; 50/50 = 50% supplemented with cholecalciferol + 0.25 µg of 1,25(OH)2 D3 glycoside; 25/75 = 25% supplemented with cholecalciferol + 0.375 µg of 1,25(OH)2 D3 glycoside; and 0/100 = 0.50 µg of 1,25(OH)2 D3 glycoside. The results indicated that piglets fed 100/0 showed an increase in spleen weight compared with those fed 0/100 and greater heart dry matter than piglets fed the 50/50 diet. Phosphorus concentration in the spleen was higher in piglets that received 25/75 when compared with those that received the 100/0 and 0/100 diets. Piglets that received the 0/100 diet showed higher pH of the stomach contents, but showed reduced pH of the contents of the jejunum and ileum. The width of the epiphysis and diaphysis was greater when piglets consumed the 50/50 treatment; however, a lower epiphysis height was observed. The use of 1,25(OH)2 D3 glycoside alone in piglet diets does not negatively influence the pH of the gastrointestinal tract and organ physicochemical composition. In addition, the use of diets with 1,25(OH)2 D3 glycoside as a replacement for cholecalciferol reduces spleen weight and promotes improvements in bone development.