Abstract
Control of post-weaning scours is a major concern in pig production. This study intended to evaluate the effects of a selected formula of micro-encapsulated organic acids and essential oils [P(OA+EO)] on performance and intestinal integrity of weaned piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC-K88). A three-wk cage study was conducted using 30 crossbred (Duroc×Landrace×Large-White) 28 days old weaned barrows with initial body weight of 7.41 kg individually housed in metabolic cages with six replications randomly assigned to one of the following five treatments: PC) non-challenged control; NC) ETEC-K88-challenged control; FA): NC + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin + 100 ppm olaquindox + 5 kg/t Free acids; P1): NC + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin + 100 ppm olaquindox + 1 kg/t P(OA+EO) (Jefo, Canada); and P2): NC + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin + 100 ppm olaquindox + 2 kg/t P(OA+EO). Pigs of groups NC, FA, P1 and P2 received an oral dose of 10 mL of ETEC-K88 culture (1×109 CFU/mL) at d 7. Data were subjected to statistical analyses (GLM procedure, SAS). Differences among treatments were separated using Student-Newman-Keul’s range test with a level of significance at P ≤ 0.05. Supplementation of FA and P(OA+EO) tended (P = 0.06) to improve ADG over NC in the two weeks after challenge (424, 486 and 529 g for FA, P1 and P2 respectively vs 390 g for NC). P1 significantly (P < 0.05) improved G:F over NC and FA. One week after challenge, P1 had significantly (P < 0.05) higher ileal occludin protein expression compared to NC, FA and P2. Ileal Zonula occludens-1 expression was decreased (P < 0.05) in NC, while there was no difference between PC and P1 (Table 1). In conclusion, the formula of [P(OA+EO)] could improve growth performance and intestinal integrity of weaned piglets facing E. coli challenge.
