Use of an isotonic supplement in suckling piglets as preparation for weaning

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of a protein isotonic (PI) administered to suckling and weaning piglets and its effect on performance and intestinal health. A total of 120 litter from sows of the same commercial farm were used. Based on the average weight of the litter and the birth order (BO) of the sows. It was performed in two phases, pre and post weaning, allowing weaning at 24 days of age. Experimental design carried out in randomized blocks with 4 treatments and 30 replicates, being the experimental unit the piglet and the blocks the BO. Four treatments were used: T1: Control group, without inclusion; T2: PI at 2-8 days of life; T3: IP at 3 days before weaning and 3 days after weaning, and T4: IP at 2-8 days of life and 3 days before weaning and 3 days after weaning. IP was offered at a concentration of 1.5% per liter of water. The piglets were weighted on days 2, 8, 16 and 23 in the maternity ward and on days 7 and 14 in the nursery. At 8th day of nursery, 16 pigs per treatment for jejunum collection and cecal content at slaughter were selected by weight average. Statistical analysis: Performance and intestinal morphology were submitted to the Shapiro-Wilk test. The PROC RANK (SAS INSTITUTE, 2009) was used for data normalization. The analysis of variance passed through the SAS package through the F test (P <0.05), adopting the Tukey test for comparison of means. For diarrhea incidence, the Kruskall Wallis nonparametric test was used (P <0.05). In the performance evaluation, ADG (average daily gain) at T4 was higher than T2 (P <0.016), not differing between T1 and T3 for this variable. The weight at 7th (P <0.009) and 14th day (P <0.020) post weaning was higher in T4 when compared to control. The ADG at day 14 after weaning was higher (P <0.015) for T4 compared to T1. Villus length of T2, T3, T4 larger villi compared to T1. Villus/crypt ratio: T2 and T3 presented higher relation compared to T1. The treatments supplemented with the isotonic presented a smaller amount (P = 0.056) of E. coli. than the control treatment. The other performance variables, microbiota and fatty acid production did not present significant differences. It was concluded that supplementation of a protein isotonic in the pre and post weaning phases could guarantee a better performance and intestinal environment for the piglets.