This study was to illustrate the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on the antioxidant capacity, intestinal barrier function, and microbial community of weanling pigs. Results showed that FOS reduced the incidence of diarrhea (6.5 vs. 10.8%) of pigs (p < 0.05) but did not affect growth performance when compared with the control group. A diet supplemented with FOS increased ileal mRNA expression of occludin (1.7 vs. 1.0), claudin-1 (1.9 vs. 1.0), claudin-2 (1.8 vs. 1.0), and claudin-4 (1.7 vs. 1.0), as well as colonic mRNA expression of ZO-1 (1.6 vs. 1.0), claudin-1 (1.7 vs. 1.0), occludin (1.9 vs. 1.0), and pBD-1 (1.5 vs. 1.0) when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). FOS supplementation improved the anti-oxidase activity and expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), and decreased concentrations of D-lactate (3.05 U/L vs. 2.83 U/L) and TNF-α (59.1 pg/mL vs. 48.0 pg/mL) in the serum when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, FOS increased Sharpea, Megasphaera, and Bacillus populations in the gut when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Association analysis indicated that mRNA expression of occludin and claudin-1 in the ileal mucosa were correlated positively with populations of Sharpea and Bacillus (p < 0.05). Furthermore, mRNA expression of occludin and claudin-1 in the colonic mucosa were correlated positively with abundances of Sharpea, Lactobocillus, and Bifidobacterium (p < 0.05). In conclusion, FOS activated Nrf2 signaling and increased the expression of specific tight junction proteins, which were associated with reduced diarrhea incidence.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of extrusion on available energy, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and energy, and amino acid (AA) digestibility of full-fat rice bran (FFRB) and corn distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) fed to growing pigs. Methods: In Exp. 1, a total of 30 growing pigs with initial body weight (BW) of 36.0 ± 1.8 kg were fed five different diets, including one corn basal diet and four experimental diets which were formulated by 29.06% FFRB or DDGS with or without extrusion processing. In Exp. 2, 30 ileal-cannulated pigs (initial BW: 20.3 ± 1.8 kg) were fed five different diets including 40% FFRB or DDGS with or without extrusion, and a N-free diet. Results: The results showed that there were no significant differences in DE and ME contents or ATTD of GE, DM, and OM between DDGS and FFRB (p > 0.05), but the ATTD of CP, NDF, and ADF showed significant differences between DDGS and FFRB (p < 0.05). In addition, the DE and ME values (p < 0.01) and ATTD of GE, DM, OM, and NDF improved when pigs were fed extruded diets (p < 0.05), and a trend to increase the ATTD of CP and ADF was observed when pigs were fed extruded diets (p = 0.06 and 0.07, respectively). The AID and SID levels of CP were not different when pigs were fed diets with or without extrusion. The AID of total indispensable AA increased when pigs were fed extrusion diets (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Feed processing of extrusion could improve nutritive values of FFRB and DDGS.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine available energy and nutritional digestibility of extruded cereals and the effect of extrusion on the nutritional value of feed ingredients, aiming to provide scientific basis for efficient application of extrusion in the diets of growing pigs.Methods: In Exp. 1, 48 crossbred growing pigs (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) with an initial body weight (BW) of 34.6±2.2 kg were selected and fed with eight diets (non-extrusion or extrusion) to determine the digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and nutrients digestibility. Eight diets included extruded grains (barley, wheat, sorghum, or broken rice), while four had unprocessed grains. In Exp. 2, 9 diets were formulated including 4 cereals with extrusion or non-extrusion and a N-free diet. In addition, 9 growing pigs (BW = 22.3±2.8 kg) were fitted with T-cannula in the distal ileum and arranged in a 9×6 Youden square design.Results: Results show that apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, organic meal, ether extract, neutral and acid detergent fiber was not affected by the extrusion process and there was no interaction between cereal type and extrusion treatment on DE, ME. However, the apparent total tract digestibility for crude protein (CP) increased markedly (p<0.05). The standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of all amino acids (AA) except for leucine remarkably increased by extrusion (p<0.05). There was an interaction on the SID of arginine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, cystine, and tyrosine in growing pigs between type of grain and extrusion treatment (p<0.05).Conclusion: Extrusion increased the ileal digestibility of CP and most AA in cereals, however, the DE and ME of cereals were not affected in growing pigs.

This study investigates the effects of oil quality and trace mineral source on the growth performance, antioxidant activity, and meat quality of growing–finishing pigs. A total of 180 crossbred pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Large White [64.4 ± 1.95]) were randomly allocated five dietary treatments based on body weight (BW) and sex in a 30 d trial. Pigs were fed five diets: (i) fresh soy oil + inorganic trace minerals (ITMs) + inorganic selenium (FISI), (ii) oxidized soy oil + ITMs + inorganic selenium (OISI), (iii) fresh soy oil + ITMs + selenium yeast (FISY), (iv) oxidized soy oil + ITMs + selenium yeast (OISY), and (v) oxidized soy oil + organic trace minerals (OTMs) + selenium yeast (OOSY). Each dietary treatment included six replicates and six pigs per replicate (three barrows and three gilts). Feeding OISI resulted in lower average daily gain (ADG) and dressing percentage (p < 0.05). The OOSY group had a higher dressing percentage and activities of serum CAT and GSH-Px in growing–finishing pigs (p < 0.05). In addition, the relative abundance of Campylobacterota in the colonic digesta varied with the quality of soy oil and source of trace minerals (p < 0.05), but no significant differences in short-chain fatty acid concentrations were observed among all dietary groups. In conclusion, adding oxidized soy oil to the diet negatively impacted the ADG and dressing percentage of growing–finishing pigs, and replacing ITMs with OTMs and SY alleviated these negative impacts. A combination of OTMs and SY can support antioxidant capacity to mitigate the negative impacts of oxidized oil on the growth performance and dressing percentage of growing–finishing pigs.

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of extrusion devices on the available energy and nutrient digestibility of soybean meal (SBM), and further to investigate the impact of different levels of extruded SBM on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of weaned piglets. In Exp. 1, eighteen crossbreed growing pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of 32.6 ± 2.7 kg were randomly assigned to three treatments, including a corn basal diet, SBM, and extruded SBM diets. In addition, six cannulated pigs (initial BW, 22.3 ± 1.8 kg) were allocated across an 6 × 3 Youden square design. The experimental treatments included a N-free diet and three diets containing 40% of different SBM sources. The results indicated that extrusion reduced the anti-nutritional factors in soybean meal without affecting the digestibility of available energy and nutrients. In Exp. 2, 192 pigs (initial BW, 6.60 ± 0.54 kg) were allocated across four diets supplemented with 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% extruded SBM. The four treatments were randomized and each comprised six replicate pens containing four boars and four gilts. The results showed that average daily feed intake (ADFI) decreased linearly with the increase in extruded SBM levels from d 0–14 (p < 0.05), and average daily gain (ADG) increased; ATTD was higher in the GE, DM, OM, and CP of piglets in the 9% extruded SBM group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the extrusion treatment reduced ANFs in SBM, and adding 9% extruded SBM to the diet improved the growth performance of weaned piglets by increasing the digestibility of nutrients.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of extruded distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut health, and gut microbiota in weaned piglets. A total of 144 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, initial body weight (BW) 6.60 ± 0.35 kg) were randomly assigned to 3 treatments based on BW. The control group was fed a basal diet, while the experimental groups were fed diets supplemented with 8% and 16% extruded corn DDGS for 28 d. The results showed that feeding diets containing extruded corn DDGS had no significant impact on piglet growth performance (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the apparent total-tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy, day matter, organic matter, and crude protein between the 8% extruded corn DDGS group and the control group (P > 0.05). However, 16% DDGS supplementation reduced the digestibility of these nutrients (P < 0.05). Both the 8% and 16% extruded corn DDGS groups increased the ATTD of ether extract (EE) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the 8% extruded corn DDGS group increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the liver and jejunum, as well as upregulated total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activity and the levels of immune factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α in the jejunum (P < 0.05). The expression of tight junction-associated proteins, such as claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1, was also upregulated in this group (P < 0.05). The 16% DDGS supplementation had no significant effect on these indicators, but it reduced the villus-to-crypt ratio in the jejunum (P < 0.05). Additionally, the inclusion of extruded corn DDGS increased the diversity of microorganisms in colonic digesta, significantly reducing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Sharpea, while promoting the enrichment of Turicibacter, norank_f_Erysipelotrichae, unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcus, and Marvinbryantia (P < 0.05). Taken together, these results indicate that extruded corn DDGS have no adverse effects on growth performance. The addition of 8% extruded corn DDGS can enhance jejunal immunity and barrier function, increase intestinal microbial diversity, and improve EE digestibility by modulating the structure and composition of the gut microbiota. Therefore, extruded corn DDGS could be considered a feasible ingredient to replace corn and soybean meal in piglet diets, thereby reducing feed costs.