Animal Bioscience

Asian Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies (아세아태평양축산학회)
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Effects of dietary medium-chain fatty acid supplementation levels on growth performance, blood parameters, fecal score and metabolites in nursery pigs

  • Chan Ho Kwon (Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia) ;
  • Jannell A. Torres (Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia) ;
  • Madison J. Mejia (Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia) ;
  • Eva S. Safaie (Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia) ;
  • Joseph G. Usack (Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia) ;
  • Young Dal Jang (Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia)
  • Received : 2025.02.15
  • Accepted : 2025.05.02
  • Published : 2025.10.01
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Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of increasing medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) supplementation levels on growth performance, blood parameters, fecal score, and metabolites in nursery pigs. Methods: A total of 100 newly weaned pigs (initial body weight: 6.68±0.97 kg) were allotted to 5 treatments in 5 replicates, with 4 pigs per pen for a 28-d feeding trial. Treatments were MCFA supplementation levels at 0.0%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, and 1.6%. The 2% soybean oil in the basal diet was replaced with MCFA (a 50:50 blend of free caproic and caprylic acids) on a weight-to-weight basis. Results: Increasing MCFA levels tended to linearly increase the final body weight (p = 0.06) and average daily gain in the overall period (p = 0.06), with no difference in overall average daily feed intake. The gain-to-feed ratio increased linearly in d 7-14 (p = 0.06, tendency) and 14-21 postweaning (p<0.05). Fecal score linearly decreased in d 0-7, 7-14, and 14-21 (p<0.05) postweaning, resulting in a linear reduction in the overall period (p<0.05). Plasma malondialdehyde levels at d 28 postweaning showed a quadratic decrease with increasing MCFA levels with the lowest value at 0.8% (p<0.05). Plasma free fatty acid levels at d 14 postweaning linearly decreased with increasing MCFA levels (p<0.05). Fecal total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations tended to be lower (p = 0.09, tendency) in the MCFA treatments (0.4%-1.6%) than the control treatment (0.0%). There were no differences in plasma superoxide dismutase activity and fecal ammonia concentrations among dietary treatments. Conclusion: Increasing MCFA supplementation levels up to 1.6% could improve growth rate, feed efficiency, and fecal consistency without affecting feed intake and have the potential to reduce oxidative stress and free fatty acid levels in weaning pigs, while fecal SCFA concentrations could be slightly reduced by MCFA supplementation.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Appreciation is also expressed to Mariah Yori, and Russell Utley for care of pigs.

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