title: Beta-lactoglobulin as a potential modulator of intestinal activity and morphology in neonatal piglets.
abstract: Studies were conducted to determine the effects of the whey protein beta-lactoglobulin (blg) on the intestinal development and intestinal morphology in neonatal piglets. Two trials (5 and 28 days) were conducted on piglets in three separate groups. One group served as a control group while the remaining two were experimental groups based on diets. The two experimental diets were a bovine colostrum powder, one with supplementation with blg and the other without. The control group remained suckling on a sow. All groups were weaned on day 20 and placed onto a solid commercial piglet diet. Enzymatic activity, total DNA synthesis, crypt depth, and villus height were all parameters used to evaluate the effect of blg. Piglets fed a diet supplement with blg had the greatest total DNA after 5 days. Sow-reared piglets had the greatest intestinal morphology development with regards to villus height. No significant differences were found in enzymatic activity between treatments.
authors: Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA. suttonle@mail.ecu.edu
authors: Leonard F
authors: LF
authors: Sutton
authors: Brenda
authors: B
authors: Alston-Mills