Effects of Youtide on the Production Performance of Weaned Piglets

Abstract: In this experiment, 500g/mt Youtide was added into the diet of weaned piglets to investigate the effects of Youtide on the growth performance and diarrhea rate of weaned piglets. The end-day weight and average daily gain increased by 5.0% and 7.47% (P＜0.05), the feed-meat ratio decreased by 6.1% (P＜0.05), and the diarrhea rate decreased by 63.27% (P＜0.01). The results showed that adding Youtide to piglet diet could improve the performance of piglets and reduce the rate of diarrhea.

Key words: Youtide; Piglet; Production performance

Chinese Library Classification Number: S828.5 Document Code: A Article Number: 1007-7731 (2020) 22-

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are natural antibacterial substances widely present in organisms and are an important part of innate immunity. Numerous studies have shown that antimicrobial peptides have functions such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-protozoal, and tumor cell inhibition[1-3]. In this experiment, 500g/mt of Youtide was added to the diet of weaned piglets to explore the effects of Youtide on the production performance and diarrhea rate of weaned piglets, providing a scientific basis for the application of Youtide in piglet feed.

1. Materials and Methods

    Experimental Materials

 The Youtide used in this experiment was provided by Guangdong Rongda Biology Co., Ltd. It is an intestinal-derived antimicrobial peptide composed of 42 amino acids,with a molecular weight of 4.7KDa and an α-helix structure.

1.2 Experimental Animals and Diet

 The experiment selected DLY (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) weaned piglets. The basal diet was designed according to the NRC (2012) pig nutrition requirements and was in pellet form. The composition and nutritional content of the basal diet are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Composition and nutrient level of the basal diet ( air-dry basis)

• 2.1 Experimental Design and Feeding Management

   Eighty 28-day-old DLY (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) weaned piglets were selected. They were randomly divided into 2 groups with similar body weights and equal sex ratios, with each group having 4 replicates and 10 piglets per replicate. The control group was fed the basal diet, while the experimental group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 500g/T of Youtide. The pre-trial period was 3 days, and the formal trial period was 39 days. The experiment was conducted on a pig farm in Zhaoqing, Guangdong.

  The piglets were housed in a nursery with free access to feed and water and were immunized and dewormed according to the routine management procedures of the pig farm.

  2.2 Measurement Methods

   On days 1 and 39, the piglets in both the experimental and control groups were weighed on an empty stomach, and their average daily gain (ADG) was calculated. Feed intake and feed residue were recorded by repetition, and the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) of the piglets were calculated.

  During the trial, the diarrhea occurrences of piglets in each replicate were observed and recorded daily. The diarrhea rate was calculated as the percentage of piglet-days with diarrhea out of the total piglet-days for each replicate.

  Diarrhea rate = (Total diarrhea occurrences) / (Number of piglets × Number of trial days) × 100%

  3.1 Data Analysis

   The experimental data were statistically processed using Excel 2007 and analyzed using independent sample t-tests in SPSS19.0 software. The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. P<0.05 indicated significant differences, and P<0.01 indicated very significant differences.

  3.2 Results and Analysis

  As shown in Table 2, compared with the control group, the final weight and average daily gain (ADG) of the experimental group at the end of the 39 days increased by 5.0% and 7.47%, respectively (P<0.05). The feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) decreased by 6.1% (P<0.05), and the diarrhea rate decreased by 63.27% (P<0.01). The results indicate

  that adding Youtide to the piglet diet can improve the production performance of piglets and reduce the diarrhea rate.

  Table 2 Effects of Antimicrobial Peptides on Growth Performance and Diarrhea Rate of Weaned Piglets

  项目 Items	组别 Group
  	对照组 Control	试验组 Experimental
  始重 Initial weight /kg	8.09±0.07	8.11±0.09
  末重 Final weight /kg	23.93±0.51b	25.13±0.69a
  平均日采食量 ADFI /g	669.24±19.47	673.91±28.65
  平均日增重 ADG /g	406.15±10.54b	436.47±20.63a
  料重比 F /G	1.64±0.03a	1.54±0.02b
  腹泻率 Diarrhea rate /%	12.58±0.82A	4.62±0.65B

  In the same row，values with different small letter superscripts mean significant difference( P＞0.05)， while with the same or noletter superscripts mean no significant difference( P＞0.05).

  4.Discussion

   Research by Qin Xiaorong et al. (2011), Jiang Wen et al. (2016), and Li Yan et al. (2017) found that adding antimicrobial peptides to the basal diet can increase the average daily gain (ADG) of weaned piglets and reduce the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G)[4-6]. The Youtide used in this experiment is an α-helix structured intestinal antimicrobial peptide. The results showed that Youtide significantly increased the ADG of weaned piglets and significantly reduced the F/G.

  Escherichia coli is one of the main causes of piglet diarrhea[7]. Research by Xiao Shan et al. (2017) and Chen Zhanghua et al. (2017) found that antimicrobial peptides can effectively inhibit the proliferation of pathogens such as Escherichia coli[7-9]. By their high-efficiency antibacterial properties, antimicrobial peptides effectively reduce bacterial diarrhea in piglets[10]. This experiment is consistent with the aforementioned studies, finding that Youtide significantly reduced the diarrhea rate in weaned piglets. This may be due to Youtide inhibiting the proliferation of harmful bacteria in the intestines, promoting intestinal microecological balance, and thereby reducing bacterial diarrhea in piglets.

• 5. Conclusion

   

  Adding 500g/mt of Youtide to the diet of weaned piglets can significantly improve production performance and significantly reduce the diarrhea rate in piglets.

   

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