Effect of β-mannanase (Hemicell-HTⓇ) Supplementation, as an Alternative toward Antibiotics, on Growth Performance and Intestinal Integrity in Weaning Pigs

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation of Hemicell-HTⓇ on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaning pigs. A total of 96 weaning pigs (28 ± 3 old and 6.96 ± 0.70 kg of BW) were allotted into 4 treatments with 6 replicates of 4 piglets per pen in a randomized completely block (RCB) design. Treatments were: 1) NC (negative control) (basal diet), 2) PC (basal diet + 0.1 % antibiotics), 3) A (basal diet + 0.04 % Hemicell-HTⓇ), 4) B (basal diet + 0.06 % Hemicell-HTⓇ). Two phase feeding programs ( Phase I for 0 - 2 week and Phase II for 3 - 5 week) were used in this experiment. In feeding trial, PC and B treatments showed significantly higher body weight and ADG. There were no significant differences in the glucose, lactate, triglycerides, (acute phase protein) APP level. In nutrient digestibility, pigs fed 0.06% of Hemicell-HTⓇ showed significantly higher crude fat digestibility. The ratio of villi height and crypt depth in jejunum and ileum was higher when pigs were fed diet 0.06% of Hemicell-HTⓇ treatment diet. In moisture contents of feces, pigs fed diet with antibiotics had significantly lower moisture of feces (P < 0.05) but 0.04% Hemicell-HTⓇ treatment showed statistically similar moisture content compared to positive control in all phases. From this study, Hemicell-HTⓇ instead of dietary antibiotics can be supplemented in weaning pigs diet without growth check or detrimental effects. Consequently, this experiment demonstrated that dietary enzymes, Hemicell-HTⓇ can be supplemented in weaning pigs diet without growth check or detrimental effects.