Effects of the Supplementation of Essential Oil Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune Status and Microbial Community in Weaned Piglets

Since essential oils—such as cinnamaldehyde, thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol—have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, this study aimed to examine the supplementation of different essential oil mixtures together with 1600 mg/kg zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, incidenc...

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Main Authors: Yingying Li, Hongrui Cao, Shuya Zhang, Pengfei Guo, Junmei Zhao, Drangon Zhang, Shuai Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/23/3697
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author Yingying Li
Hongrui Cao
Shuya Zhang
Pengfei Guo
Junmei Zhao
Drangon Zhang
Shuai Zhang
author_facet Yingying Li
Hongrui Cao
Shuya Zhang
Pengfei Guo
Junmei Zhao
Drangon Zhang
Shuai Zhang
author_sort Yingying Li
collection DOAJ
description Since essential oils—such as cinnamaldehyde, thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol—have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, this study aimed to examine the supplementation of different essential oil mixtures together with 1600 mg/kg zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, incidence of diarrhea, serum immune indices, fecal volatile fatty acids, and microflora structure in weaned piglets. A total of 240 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with an average body weight of 8.85 ± 0.21 kg were randomly allocated to 30 pens (6 pens per diet, 4 males and 4 females per pen). Five different experimental diets were prepared and administered for 28 days: (i) a control diet (C), a corn–soybean basal diet without antibiotics, ZnO, or a supplementation of growth promoters; (ii) a control diet with 400 mg/kg essential oil mixtures 1 (EOM1); (iii) a control diet supplemented with ZnO at 1600 mg/kg (Z); (iv) a diet incorporating the Z diet with the addition of essential oil mixtures 1 at 400 mg/kg (ZOM1); and (v) a diet incorporating the Z diet with the addition of essential oil mixtures 2 at 400 mg/kg (ZOM2). During day (d) 14–28 and d 1–28 of the experiment, the average daily gain (ADG) in piglets in the ZOM1 and ZOM2 groups were higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to the C group. The diarrhea incidence of the Z, ZOM1, and ZOM2 groups were significantly decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and the piglets of the ZOM1 group exhibited the lowest diarrhea incidence throughout the trial period. Additionally, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ash, organic matter (OM), and ether extract (EE) were higher than those fed the Z diet, and higher levels of NDF, ADF, and crude protein (CP) were observed in groups other than those fed the ZOM1 diet (<i>p</i> < 0.01). On d 14, the pigs fed EOM1 and ZOM2 diets showed a somewhat lower (<i>p</i> < 0.1) immunoglobulin G (lgG) level in serum than those fed the C diet. Additionally, the IL-8 level in serum in the ZOM1 group tended to be higher than that in the other groups (<i>p</i> < 0.1). The piglets fed the ZOM1 diet showed a tendency of lower (<i>p</i> = 0.05) acetate concentration in feces on d 14. Principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA) showed significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the composition of fecal microbial communities among the groups. Dietary EOM1 significantly increased the number of fecal bacteroides (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and tended to increase the number of <i>Prevotella</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.1). Therefore, EOM1 combined with 1600 mg/kg ZnO tends to reduce diarrhea incidence, tends to improve the fecal microbial community structure and growth performance of weaned piglets, and has the potential to replace pharmacological dosages of ZnO.
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spelling doaj.art-c3295a49d1c94aaab47dbe51db3bf8602023-12-08T15:10:44ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-11-011323369710.3390/ani13233697Effects of the Supplementation of Essential Oil Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune Status and Microbial Community in Weaned PigletsYingying Li0Hongrui Cao1Shuya Zhang2Pengfei Guo3Junmei Zhao4Drangon Zhang5Shuai Zhang6State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaCargill Animal Nutrition, Tianjin 301700, ChinaCargill Animal Nutrition, Tianjin 301700, ChinaCargill Animal Nutrition, Tianjin 301700, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaSince essential oils—such as cinnamaldehyde, thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol—have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, this study aimed to examine the supplementation of different essential oil mixtures together with 1600 mg/kg zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, incidence of diarrhea, serum immune indices, fecal volatile fatty acids, and microflora structure in weaned piglets. A total of 240 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with an average body weight of 8.85 ± 0.21 kg were randomly allocated to 30 pens (6 pens per diet, 4 males and 4 females per pen). Five different experimental diets were prepared and administered for 28 days: (i) a control diet (C), a corn–soybean basal diet without antibiotics, ZnO, or a supplementation of growth promoters; (ii) a control diet with 400 mg/kg essential oil mixtures 1 (EOM1); (iii) a control diet supplemented with ZnO at 1600 mg/kg (Z); (iv) a diet incorporating the Z diet with the addition of essential oil mixtures 1 at 400 mg/kg (ZOM1); and (v) a diet incorporating the Z diet with the addition of essential oil mixtures 2 at 400 mg/kg (ZOM2). During day (d) 14–28 and d 1–28 of the experiment, the average daily gain (ADG) in piglets in the ZOM1 and ZOM2 groups were higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to the C group. The diarrhea incidence of the Z, ZOM1, and ZOM2 groups were significantly decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and the piglets of the ZOM1 group exhibited the lowest diarrhea incidence throughout the trial period. Additionally, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ash, organic matter (OM), and ether extract (EE) were higher than those fed the Z diet, and higher levels of NDF, ADF, and crude protein (CP) were observed in groups other than those fed the ZOM1 diet (<i>p</i> < 0.01). On d 14, the pigs fed EOM1 and ZOM2 diets showed a somewhat lower (<i>p</i> < 0.1) immunoglobulin G (lgG) level in serum than those fed the C diet. Additionally, the IL-8 level in serum in the ZOM1 group tended to be higher than that in the other groups (<i>p</i> < 0.1). The piglets fed the ZOM1 diet showed a tendency of lower (<i>p</i> = 0.05) acetate concentration in feces on d 14. Principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA) showed significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the composition of fecal microbial communities among the groups. Dietary EOM1 significantly increased the number of fecal bacteroides (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and tended to increase the number of <i>Prevotella</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.1). Therefore, EOM1 combined with 1600 mg/kg ZnO tends to reduce diarrhea incidence, tends to improve the fecal microbial community structure and growth performance of weaned piglets, and has the potential to replace pharmacological dosages of ZnO.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/23/3697essential oilzinc oxidefecal microbial communitiesweaning piglets
spellingShingle Yingying Li
Hongrui Cao
Shuya Zhang
Pengfei Guo
Junmei Zhao
Drangon Zhang
Shuai Zhang
Effects of the Supplementation of Essential Oil Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune Status and Microbial Community in Weaned Piglets
Animals
essential oil
zinc oxide
fecal microbial communities
weaning piglets
title Effects of the Supplementation of Essential Oil Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune Status and Microbial Community in Weaned Piglets
title_full Effects of the Supplementation of Essential Oil Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune Status and Microbial Community in Weaned Piglets
title_fullStr Effects of the Supplementation of Essential Oil Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune Status and Microbial Community in Weaned Piglets
title_full_unstemmed Effects of the Supplementation of Essential Oil Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune Status and Microbial Community in Weaned Piglets
title_short Effects of the Supplementation of Essential Oil Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune Status and Microbial Community in Weaned Piglets
title_sort effects of the supplementation of essential oil mixtures on growth performance nutrient digestibility immune status and microbial community in weaned piglets
topic essential oil
zinc oxide
fecal microbial communities
weaning piglets
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/23/3697
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