Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito de antimicrobianos e extratos vegetais sobre a digestibilidade, o desempenho, a morfometria e a histologia de leitões recém-desmamados. Foram realizados três experimentos de 35 dias (repetições no tempo), com um total de 120 leitões (40 leitões por experimento). O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos (controle - ração basal; antimicrobiano - ração basal com bacitracina de zinco, olaquindox e colistina (50 ppm de cada); extrato vegetal A, B e C - ração basal com 700, 1.400 e 2.100 ppm de extrato vegetal, respectivamente), 12 repetições por tratamento e dois animais por unidade experimental. O extrato vegetal continha óleo essencial de cravo, tomilho e orégano, acrescido de eugenol e carvacrol. A digestibilidade foi determinada em 40 leitões (quatro repetições por tratamento) utilizando-se o método de coleta parcial de fezes e o óxido de cromo como marcador. Ao final do primeiro experimento, foi abatido um animal de cada baia para coleta das amostras. A digestibilidade da MS no tratamento com extratos vegetais foi maior que nos tratamentos controle e com antimicrobianos. O tratamento antimicrobiano promoveu os melhores resultados de desempenho em todos períodos analisados. O maior nível de inclusão de extratos vegetais foi o que proporcionou os melhores resultados de desempenho e das demais variáveis. O tratamento com antimicrobianos resultou em menor peso relativo do trato gastrintestinal total e do intestino delgado vazio, além de maior altura de vilosidade e menor relação altura de vilosidade x profundidade de cripta do íleo que os tratamentos com extratos vegetais. Entretanto, são necessários mais estudos sobre os óleos essenciais a serem utilizados, a concentração de cada óleo, a melhor combinação e o melhor nível de inclusão na dieta.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of purified cellulose, soybean hulls and citrus pulp in the diet of weaned piglets. A total of 72 piglets (36 castrated males and 36 females) weaned at 21 days of age (BW 6.45±0.66 kg) was distributed according to a randomized block design, for evaluation of performance, transit time, diarrhea incidence and blood parameters of piglets which received diets containing different sources of fiber. The experimental diets were: control diet - diet composed of corn, soybean meal and a source of lactose; control + 1.5% purified cellulose; control + 3% soybean hull and control + 9% citrus pulp. The inclusion of purified cellulose, soybean hulls and citrus pulp in diets of weaned piglets did not affect the performance or transit time of diets in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the use of purified cellulose reduced incidence of diarrhea. The use of purified cellulose, soybean hull and citrus pulp in the diet of weaned piglets does not affect performance or gastrointestinal transit time. The addition of purified cellulose promotes a beneficial effect to control the diarrhea in weaned piglets

This research evaluated a feed additive (benzoic acid, eugenol, thymol and piperine), associated or not with colistin, in weaned piglets feeding. The parameters evaluated were growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, diarrhea incidence, intestinal morphology, relative weights of digestive organs, microbial diversity and the percentages of operational taxonomic units of microorganisms in the caecum content of pigs. One hundred and eight crossbred piglets (5.3 ± 0.5 kg) were used in a three-phase feeding program (21-35, 36-50, 51-65 days of age), and fed a control diet with no inclusion of growth promoter feed additive, a diet with 40 ppm of colistin, a diet with 0.3% of alternative additive and a diet with 0.3% of alternative additive and 40 ppm of colistin. The diets were based on corn, soybean meal, dairy products, and spray-dried blood plasma, formulated to provide 3.40, 3.38, and 3.20 Mcal of ME/kg; and 14.5, 13.3, and 10.9 g/kg of digestible lysine, in phases 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The piglets were housed three per pen, with 9 replicates per diet, in a complete randomized block design based on initial BW. The data was submitted to ANOVA and means were separated by Tukey test (5%), using SAS. Pigs fed diets with the alternative feed additive had greater (P < 0.05) ADG (114.3 g vs. 91.8 g) and ADFI (190.1 g vs. 163.3) in phase 1 than pigs fed diets without the product. The alternative additive improved (P < 0.05) ATTD of CP in phase 1 (71.0% vs. 68.6%), GE in phases 1 (77.4% vs. 75.2%) and 3 (79.0% vs. 77.1%), and DM in phase 3 (79.1% vs. 77.1%). The antibiotic inclusion in the diets increased (P < 0.05) ATTD of CP in phase 1 (71.5% vs. 68.2%). The alternative feed additive tended (P = 0.06) to increase (46%) normal feces frequency, decreased (P < 0.05) goblet cells count (104.3 vs. 118.1) in the jejunum, and decreased (P < 0.05) small intestine (4.60% vs. 4.93%) and colon (1.41% vs. 1.65%) relative weights, compared to pigs not fed with the alternative additive. There was a tendency (P = 0.09) for a lower concentration of Escherichia-Shigella (1.46 vs. 3.5%) and lower (P < 0.05) percentage of Campylobacter (0.52 vs. 10.21%) in the cecum content of piglets fed diets containing essential oils and benzoic acid compared to pigs fed diets without the alternative feed additive. The alternative feed additive was effective in improving growth performance, diets digestibility and gut health in piglets soon after weaning.

Objetivou-se estudar os efeitos de probióticos, prebióticos e extratos vegetais como alternativas aos agentes antimicrobianos (promotores do crescimento), sobre a microbiota intestinal, a ocorrência de diarréia e o desempenho de leitões desmamados. Foram realizados dois experimentos em blocos casualizados, nos quais foram testados, durante 35 dias, cinco tratamentos: controle - ração basal; antimicrobiano - ração basal com 50 ppm de bacitracina de zinco + 50 ppm de olaquindox; probiótico - ração basal com 1.300 ppm de probiótico à base de Bacillus subtilis e Bacillus licheniformis; prebiótico - ração basal com 3.000 ppm de mananoligossacarídeo; extrato vegetal - basal com 500 ppm de extrato vegetal (alho, cravo, canela, pimenta, tomilho, cinamaldeído e eugenol). No Experimento 1, foram utilizados 40 leitões (idade inicial de 21 dias), alocados em 20 baias suspensas, cada uma com dois leitões (um macho castrado e uma fêmea - unidade) e quatro repetições por tratamento. No 35º dia do período experimental, um animal de cada unidade experimental foi abatido para coleta de amostras de conteúdo do jejuno/íleo para análise microbiológica. No Experimento 2, foram utilizados 120 leitões, compondo 12 repetições por tratamento e dois animais (um macho castrado e uma fêmea) por unidade experimental. A freqüência de diarréia foi avaliada diariamente. Nenhum dos tratamentos foi eficaz em alterar a microbiota intestinal e a ocorrência de diarréia. Os agentes antimicrobianos melhoraram o ganho diário nos períodos de 15 a 35 (+22%) e de 1 a 35 (+21,4%) dias de experimentação. O probiótico e os extratos vegetais não promoveram benefício ao desempenho dos animais. O prebiótico, por sua vez, proporcionou desempenho equivalente ao tratamento antimicrobiano nos primeiros 14 dias experimentais, mas não melhorou a conversão alimentar.

Dietary fiber is an important component, which has a direct effect on intake, digestion, and absorption of nutrients; and also alters intestinal microbiota and morphology according to solubility. One digestibility trial and one performance experiment were performed to evaluate the effects of sources of fiber in diets for 21 day weaned piglets. The experimental diets used in both trials consisted of a control diet and diets with purified cellulose, soybean hulls or citrus pulp as a main source of dietary fiber. To evaluate the digestibility of nutrients (Assay 1), the total feces and urine collection method was used. The fiber sources did not affect nutrient digestibility, except for soluble fiber, which increased with the inclusion of citrus (Citrus sinensis L.) pulp. To evaluate performance, morphophysiology and microbiology of the digestive tract of weaned piglets, a total of 32 castrated male piglets was used. Slaughter of animals was implemented at 35 and 50 days of age. The use of soybean (Glycine max L.) hulls and citrus pulp in diets increased the number of goblet cells and the density of villi in the jejunum. The viscosities of stomach and cecum contents increased due to the addition of citrus pulp. Soybean hulls and the citrus pulp included in diets reduced the occurrence of E. coli in the small intestines of piglets slaughtered at 35 days of age. Among the fiber sources, purified cellulose in piglet diets promotes better performance of animals, due to the modulation of the small intestine microbiota, with lower E. coli occurrence resulting in higher villus density.

An assay with 36 swine initially weighting 83.7±5.1kg body weight (BW) was carried out to evaluate the effects of the use of different dietary citrus pulp levels, 0, 10%, 20%, and 30%, upon digestive organs weights, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of animals subjected to qualitative feed restriction program, and slaughtered at 130kg BW. Linear response (P<0.05) on the weight of stomach, colon, and liver were observed. Negative linear responses (P<0.05) on final BW and carcass yield relative to citrus pulp addition to the diet were observed. Although a negative linear effect (P0.05). Higher levels of citrus pulp neither decreased backfat thickness nor increased amount of lean meat, indicative that qualitative feed restriction was not efficient. Positive linear effect (P<0.05) on pH measured 24 hours after slaughter and negative linear effect (P<0.05) on color characteristics as function of citrus pulp dietary levels were verified. Citrus pulp addition in qualitative feed restriction program may not be effective. As no deleterious effects upon meat qualities were observed, citrus pulp can be used as an alternative feedstuff for finishing swine.