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Effects of Nutrifen on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Profiles, Fecal Microflora, Fecal Gas Emission, and Fecal Score in Weanling Pigs
A total of 135 weanling pigs (7.96 ± 1.03kg; 28 d of age) were used in a 42-d feeding trial to evaluate the effect of nutrifen on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), blood profiles, fecal microflora, fecal gas emission and fecal score. Pigs were randomly distributed into 1 of 3 treatments on the basis of BW (9 replicate pens per treatment with 5 pigs per pen). Dietary treatments were: CON, basal diet; NF1, basal diet + 0.1% nutrifen; NF2, basal diet + 0.2% nutrifen. The diets were fed during the experiment in 2 phases: d 0 to 14, and 15 to 42. All diets, in mash form, were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient requirements (NRC, 2012) for weanling pigs. Feed intake, BW and incidences of diarrhea were monitored at d 14 and 42. Incidences of diarrhea were monitored using a fecal scoring system. At the end of each phase two pigs per pen were bled for serum and fresh fecal samples were collected to determine nutrient digestibility and noxious gas emission. Average daily gain (ADG) was greater (337, 338 vs. 316 g; P<0.05) in nutrifen supplemented pigs during d 0 to 14. During d 14 to 42, ADG and Gain/Feed ratio (G:F) was higher in NF2 treatment compared with that of CON. ADG and G:F was greater (500, 509 vs. 481 g, P<0.05; 0.699, 0.714 vs. 0.676, P<0.05) in nutrifen supplemented pigs during d 0 to 42. Energy digestibility was higher (82.56, 83.13 vs. 79.05 %; P<0.05) in nutrifen supplemented pigs compared to CON at d 42. At d 42, pigs fed with NF2 diet had lower (4.83 vs. 6.45 106/ µℓ; P<0.05) blood RBC concentration compared with those fed CON. IgG concentration was greater (525, 532 vs. 499 mg/dL; P<0.05) in nutrifen treatments compared with that of CON. HDL-cholesterol concentration in NF2 treatment higher (40 vs. 33, 34 mg/dL; P<0.05) compared with that in other treatments. The fecal Lactobacillus and E. coli counts, and fecal score showed no difference (P>0.05) among treatments. The ammonia emission concentration in NF2 treatment decreased (9.7 vs. 13.6 ppm; P < 0.05) compared with that in CON treatment. In conclusion, nutrifen could increase growth performance, energy digestibility, IgG and HDL-cholesterol, decrease fecal gas emission without impact on fecal microflora and fecal score in weanling pigs.
Keywords: Blood profiles; growth performance; nutrient digestibility; Nutrifen; weanling pigs