Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (11): 5147-5158.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2024.11.030

• Animal Nutrition and Feeds • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of Feeding Regimes on Growth, Serum Biochemistry, Gut Microbiota and Their Metabolites of Pigs

Changying LI1(), Lanmeng XU1, Yuzhi HUANG1, Hang HE2, Kun WAN1, Yancong YUAN1,3,*(), Jie ZHANG1,*()   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China
    2. College of Animal Science and Technology, Chongqing Three Gorges Vocational College, Chongqing 404155, China
    3. Tangrenshen Group R&D Center, Zhuzhou 412007, China
  • Received:2024-02-27 Online:2024-11-23 Published:2024-11-30
  • Contact: Yancong YUAN, Jie ZHANG E-mail:licy1983@163.com;y1400510152@163.com;zhangjie813@163.com

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to elucidate the differences in gut microecology of pigs induced by breast milk and formula. In this study, 12 healthy 1-day-old female Rongchang piglets with similar body weight were randomly divided into two groups (BF: breast-fed; FF: formula-fed), with 6 piglets in each group. After weaning at 30 days of age, piglets were continued feeding until 210 days of age. Body weight and serum biochemical indicators were determined, and the composition of cecal microbiota and metabolites were detected by 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS technology. The results showed that the average daily weight gain, serum alanine aminotransferase, glutamyl aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein levels, and albumin/globulin ratio were significantly higher (P < 0.05), while creatinine levels and aspartate transaminase/glutamic pyruvic transaminase ratio were significantly lower in BF pigs compared with FF pigs (P < 0.05). Regarding gut microbiota, compared to FF pigs, BF pigs had significantly higher chao1, ace, and simpson indices as well as significantly higher Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Lactobacillus, Clostrium_XlVa, Streptococcus, Oscillibacter and Megasphaera (P < 0.05) in relative abundance, while the shannon index as well as the relative abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto, Turicibacter, Terrisporobacter and Mogibacterium were significantly lower (P < 0.05). Moreover, compared with FF pigs, the differential microbiota with down-regulated abundance were enriched in amino acid metabolism, cofactor and vitamin metabolism, lipid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism in BF pigs (P < 0.05), and the differential microbiota with up-regulated abundance were enriched in carbohydrate metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and xenobiotic degradation and metabolism in BF pigs (P < 0.05). Differential metabolites were mainly involved in amino acid metabolism, such as histidine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism, followed by pyrimidine metabolism and prolactin signaling pathways (P < 0.05). In addition, most microbiota with genus level abundance top 8 showed significant correlation with specific metabolites (P < 0.05). In summary, the breast milk has a positive effect on increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria and promoting amino acid metabolism. The results will provide possible explanations for some of the risks and benefits associated with piglet lactation practices, and will support theoretical guidance for the development of piglet formula.

Key words: pigs, breast milk, formula milk, gut, microbiota, metabolite

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