title: Medium-chain triglyceride as an alternative of in-feed colistin sulfate to improve growth performance and intestinal microbial environment in newly weaned pigs.
abstract: Five hundred and twenty-eight newly weaned pigs were given four treatments, with eight replicates per treatment. Sixteen to 18 pigs were assigned per replicate and were fed diets supplemented with 0 or 3% medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) and 0 or 40 ppm colistin sulfate (CS) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for 2 weeks. The results showed that dietary supplementation with MCT improved the gain-to-feed ratio during days 3-7 and in the overall period (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with MCT decreased coliforms counts (C) in colon and rectum content (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with CS decreased C and lactic acid bacteria plus C counts (L + C) in cecum (P < 0.05), and C, L + C (P < 0.01) and ratio of L and C (P < 0.05) in colon and rectum contents. The lack of interactions between MCT and CS indicates different modes of action and additive effects between the two supplementations. In conclusion, supplementation with MCT in diet with or without CS could improve the intestinal microbial environment and the feed utilization efficiency of newly weaned pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Tunghai University, Taichung.
authors.forename: Hung-Che
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Wei-Kang
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Chuan-Shun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shu-Hsing
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects*; D003091:Colistin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D003091:Colistin
keywords: colistin sulfate; growth performance; intestinal microflora; medium-chain triglycerides; pig