Effect of Dietary Supplemented with Mulberry Leaf Powder on Growth Performance, Serum Metabolites, Antioxidant Property and Intestinal Health of Weaned Piglets

• Main Authors: Jiayu Ma (Author), Jian Wang (Author), Xiaoyun Jin (Author), Sujie Liu (Author), Shaofeng Tang (Author), Zhenghua Zhang (Author), Shenfei Long (Author), Xiangshu Piao (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<b>Background:</b> The study aimed to explore the effect of mulberry leaf powder (MP) on the performance, serum metabolites and antioxidant property, as well as intestinal health, of weaned piglets. A total of 120 healthy piglets weighing 8.43 ± 1.91 kg (Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire); weaned at 28 d) were chosen and classified into four treatments with three replicates of 10 piglets each based on a randomized complete block design (barrow:gilt = 1:1). The diet treatments were a corn-soybean meal basal diet added with 0% (Ctrl), 2% (MP_2), 4% (MP_4) and 6% MP (MP_6), respectively. The feeding experiment was 28 days in total. The feeding period lasted for 28 days in total. <b>Results:</b> The diet supplemented with 2% MP had no detrimental effects on the growth performance, immunity, enzyme capacity and inflammatory factors, as well as intestinal barrier function. MP_2 is capable of decreasing the levels of serum D-lactic acid and lactate dehydrogenase, enhancing the superoxide dismutase capacity in the liver and diminishing the potential pathogenic bacteria <i>Allisonella</i> in the colon. However, compared with MP_2, MP_6 had unfavorable effects on the average daily gain and average daily feed intake; the concentration of serum non-esterified fatty acids; the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and the capacity of lipase and amylase, as well as the intestinal barrier function-related mRNA expression of occludin, claudin-1 and mucin-2 in piglets. <b>Conclusion:</b> Taken together, piglets fed with 2% MP had no adverse effect and was capable of improving the serum metabolites, enhancing the antioxidant capacity (SOD) and lowering the potential pathogenic bacteria of the hindgut (<i>Allisonella</i>). However, the highest concentration of MP (6%) may cause detrimental effects for piglets, which are probably associated with the higher antinutritional factors and fiber. Therefore, the dietary supplementation of 2% MP for piglets may be advisable.

Item Description

10.3390/antiox12020307
2076-3921