Reduction in Diarrhoea and Modulation of Intestinal Gene Expression in Pigs Allocated a Low Protein Diet without Medicinal Zinc Oxide Post-Weaning.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of low-protein diets (17.6% and 15.5% crude protein) on growth performance, diarrhoea incidence, and transcriptomic responses in weaned pigs.
Results Summary
The 17.6% CP diets (soy protein concentrate and soybean meal) showed similar growth and diarrhoea outcomes, while the 15.5% CP diet reduced weight gain and antibiotic treatments but also lowered blood proteins and altered gut nutrient metabolism genes.
Population
Weaned pigs (from weaning to 30 kg bodyweight).
Effective Dosage
17.6% and 15.5% crude protein diets.
Duration
From weaning to 30 kg bodyweight (specific duration not stated).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17.6% crude protein diet based on soy protein concentrate | no change | growth performance | pigs | - | similar | #1 |
17.6% crude protein diet based on soy protein concentrate | no change | occurrence of diarrhoea | pigs | - | similar | #2 |
17.6% crude protein diet based on soybean meal | no change | growth performance | pigs | - | similar | #3 |
17.6% crude protein diet based on soybean meal | no change | occurrence of diarrhoea | pigs | - | similar | #4 |
15.5% crude protein diet with additional amino acids | decrease | weight gain | pigs | - | reduced | #5 |
15.5% crude protein diet with additional amino acids | decrease | antibiotics treatments caused by diarrhoea | pigs | - | fewer | #6 |
15.5% crude protein diet with additional amino acids | decrease | level of blood proteins | pigs | - | reduced | #7 |
15.5% crude protein diet with additional amino acids | decrease | genes involved in nutrient metabolism | pigs | - | decreased expression | #8 |
15.5% crude protein diet with additional amino acids | decrease | genes involved in immune responses | pigs | - | decreased expression | #9 |
very low crude protein diet | decrease | antibiotics treatments | pigs | - | reduces | #10 |
very low crude protein diet | neutral | gut nutrient metabolism | pigs | - | adapts | #11 |
very low crude protein diet | decrease | growth performance | pigs | - | reduces | #12 |
Weaning comprises a challenging period for pigs, but dietary tools can be implemented to avoid excess antibiotics usage. Therefore, we tested the effect of a 17.6% crude protein (CP) diet on growth and diarrhoea and investigated the effect of a 15.5% CP diet post-weaning on transcriptomic responses, growth, and diarrhoea-related antibiotic treatments. At weaning, pigs were divided into five dietary treatment groups in a three-phase diet from weaning to 30 kg bodyweight. The diets included a positive control group (PC) with medicinal zinc oxide, a negative control group (NC), a 17.6% CP diet based on soy protein concentrate (SP), a 17.6% CP diet based on soybean meal (SB), and a 15.5% CP diet with additional amino acids (XLA). Growth performance and the occurrence of diarrhoea were similar between the SP and SB groups. The XLA pigs had a reduced weight gain and fewer antibiotics treatments caused by diarrhoea, as well as a reduced level of blood proteins. Intestinal tissue samples from the XLA pigs displayed decreased expression of genes involved in nutrient metabolism and immune responses relative to the PC group. In conclusion, a very low CP diet reduces antibiotics treatments, but also adapts gut nutrient metabolism and reduces growth performance.