Effect of bromelain supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal score, fecal microflora and noxious gas emission in sows and piglets

Abstract Text:

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary bromelain on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal microflora of sows and piglets. Twenty sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments. Dietary treatments included: 1) CON (basal diet), 2) T1 (basal diet + 0.05 % Bromelain), 3) T2 (basal diet + 0.10% Bromelain), 4) T3 (basal diet + 0.20% Bromelain). Individual piglet BW was assessed on d 0, 7, 14 and 21(weaning), and 7 d after weaning to calculate ADG. Fecal Lactobacillus and E. coli shedding were measured by using MacConkey agar plates and lactobacilli medium III agar plates. No difference (P>0.05) was observed on body weight loss, parity, litter number, weanling pig number, backfat, estrus interval and ADFI in sows. The birth weight of litter from CON treatment was lower (1.343 vs. 1.510, 1.491 kg; P<0.05) compared with T2 and T3 treatments and the piglets of T3 group also had higher (6.953 vs. 6.073 kg; P<0.05) weanling weight compared with CON group. Moreover, T3 treatment had a higher (212 vs. 182 g; P<0.05) ADG than CON treatment. However, there is no difference (P>0.05) in piglet survival rate and stillbirth rate among treatments. After weaning of piglets, the ATTD of N in sows fed with T3 diet was higher (68.95 vs. 63.96, 64.55 %; P<0.05) compared with sows fed with CON and T1diets. The ATTD of E and DM showed no difference (P>0.05) among treatments. The blood BUN of sows in T3 group was lower (12.0 vs. 15.7 mg/dL; P<0.05) compared with CON group. Moreover, the BUN of piglets in T3 group was lower (12.6 vs. 15.9 mg/dL; P<0.05) compared with T1 group. There was no difference (P>0.05) in WBC, RBC, lymphocyte, IgG and ceatinine observed among treatments in sows and piglets. The fecal Lactobacillus of sows fed with T2 and T3 diets were higher (7.39, 7.40 vs. 7.28 log₁₀cfu/g; P<0.05) compared with sows fed with CON diet. Moreover, the fecal E. coli concentration of sows fed with T2 and T3 diets were lower (6.26, 6.28 vs. 6.57 log₁₀cfu/g; P<0.05) compared with sows fed with CON diet. In conclusion, the addition of 0.2% Bromelain in the diet can improve weaning BW in piglets and increase nutrient digestibility of sows during lactating period.

Keywords: Bromelain, performance, piglet, sow