The effect of dietary addition of a polysaccharide from Atractylodes macrophala Koidz on growth performance, immunoglobulin concentration and IL-1β ezpression in weaned piglets
The present study was conducted to determine the effects of a polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrophala (PAM) as a dietary additive on growth performance, immunoglobulin concentration and IL-1β expression in weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty Landrace × Yorkshire piglets weaned at 28 days old (body weight 7.5 ± 0.07 kg) were assigned to five treatment groups (three pens/group, eight piglets/pen) fed maize/soybean-based diets supplemented with 0, 3, 6 or 9 g of PAM/kg diet or antibiotics (0.4 g flavomycin/kg + 0.13 g olaquindox/kg). The experimental period was 28 days. With increasing PAM supplementation levels, average daily gain was greater (quadratic, P < 0.05) and the ratio of amount fed to LW gain (feed/gain) improved (quadratic, P < 0.05) during days 14–28 and overall, and diarrhoea incidence decreased (linear, P < 0.05) during days 14–28. Supplementation of PAM also increased (quadratic, P < 0.05) serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-6 on day 14, and increased (quadratic, P < 0.05) IL-1β expression in jejunal mucosa and lymph nodes. Concentrations of PAM between 6 and 9 g/kg presented the strongest bioactivity compared to the control group or antibiotic-fed group. These findings indicate that PAM is effective in improving growth performance and cytokine response, which suggests that PAM can be used as a diet additive for weanling piglets.
Key Laboratory for Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of SubtropicalAgricult Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University,Wuhan, Hubei Hunan Zhenghong Science and Technology Company, Changsha, Hunan 410001, China Academy of State Administration of Grain, Beijing 100037, China Changsha Vocational & Technical College, Changsha, Hunan 410300, China Medical College of Hunan Normal University; Changsha, Hunan 410008, China Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, Hube College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan410128, Chin Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1 G 2W15,Canada