Supplementation of Potassium-diformate (Formi?), as an alternative of antibiotics, on growth performance, morphological changes of small intestine and immune responses in weaning Pig

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of potassium-diformate (K-diformate), as an alternative of antibiotics on growth performance, morphological changes of small intestine and immune responses in weaning pig. A total of 120 weaning pigs ([Landrace¡¿Yorkshire]¡¿Duroc, weaned at 25 d of age) were allotted to 6 treatments by body weight and sex in a randomized complete block (RCB) design in 5 replicates with 4 pigs per pen. Treatments were: 1) NCON (basal diet), 2) P-CON (basal diet + 0.1% antibiotics), 3) F0.3 (basal diet + 0.3% Formi£¿), 4) F0.6 (basal diet + 0.6% Formi£¿), 5) F0.9 (basal diet + 0.9% Formi£¿) and 6) F1.2 (basal diet + 1.2% Formi£¿). Diets were formulated with con-soy basal, by 3 phase feeding, and all nutrients were met or exceeded requirements of NRC (1998). Eighteen pigs (3 pigs per treatment) in 7.90 kg body weight, were housed in an individual metabolic crate. After 7 days of adaptation period, pigs were subjected to a 5-day collection period for nutrient digestibility. A total of 36 weaning pigs were anatomized to measure morphological change, pH and microbiota alteration in GI-tract. During 5 weeks feeding trial, growth performance was not significantly differed by dietary treatments, but positive control, F0.3 and F0.9 treatments showed improved weight gain, subsequently final body weight was higher than other treatment groups. Potassium diformate supplementation have influenced on pH of stomach digesta, and was decreased as dietary K-diformate level increased. Also pigs fed positive control diet, showed similarly effects on nutrient digestibility with K-diformate groups, and tended to be higher than negative control although statistical difference was not found. These results demonstrated that the addition of K-diformate to the weaning diet was not differed from antibiotics supplementation group in growth and increased nutrient digestibility.