Evaluation of Tannin Extracts, Leonardite and Tributyrin Supplementation on Diarrhoea Incidence and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Piglets

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 6; p. 1693
• Main Authors: Dell’Anno, Matteo, Reggi, Serena, Caprarulo, Valentina, Hejna, Monika, Sgoifo Rossi, Carlo, Callegari, Maria, Baldi, Antonella, Rossi, Luciana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 06.06.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: alternatives to antibiotics; Animal health; Animals; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Bacteria; Blood; Body weight; Diarrhea; Diet; Environmental health; feed additives; Feeds; functional feed; Hogs; Intestinal microflora; Lactobacilli; leonardite; Lipid metabolism; Lipids; Lipoproteins; Livestock; Livestock farming; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbiota; Nutrition; Swine; Tannins; Weaning; Zinc oxides; Italy
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani11061693

The effects of the dietary administration of a combination of Quebracho and Chestnut tannins, leonardite and tributyrin were evaluated in weaned piglets. A total of 168 weaned piglets (Landrace × Large White) were randomly allotted to two experimental groups (6 pens/group, 14 piglets/pen). Animals were fed a basal control diet (CTRL) and a treatment diet (MIX) supplemented with 0.75% tannin extracts, 0.25% leonardite and 0.20% tributyrin for 28 days. Individual body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly. Diarrhoea incidence was recorded by a faecal scoring scale (0–3; considering diarrhoea ≥ 2). At 0 and 28 days, faecal samples were obtained from four piglets/pen for microbiological and chemical analyses of faecal microbiota, which were then assessed by V3-V4 region amplification sequencing. At 28 days, blood from two piglets/pen was sampled to evaluate the serum metabolic profile. After 28 days, a reduction in diarrhoea incidence was observed in the MIX compared to CTRL group (p < 0.05). In addition, compared to CTRL, MIX showed a higher lactobacilli:coliform ratio and increased Prevotella and Fibrobacter genera presence (p < 0.01). The serum metabolic profile showed a decreased level of low-density lipoproteins in the treated group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a combination of tannin extract, leonardite and tributyrin could decrease diarrhoea incidence and modulate the gut microbiota.