0
In light of growing global worries regarding antibiotic resistance and the presence of antibiotic residues in animal farming, there has been a surge in the exploration and utilization of innovative substitutes for antibiotics. These alternatives encompass a range of options such as agents that modulate immunity, antimicrobial peptides, probiotics, and prebiotics, as well as extracts from plants. Antimicrobial peptides are small peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities, capable of modulating the gut microbiota and regulate the animal immune functions. They can be found in many species of crops, such as buckwheat. Tartary buckwheat protein, well known for the wide-spectrum antibacterial activity and the lipid metabolism- regulating property, can be applied as feed additives to improve the animal's nutritional supply.
Methods: With the aim to investigate the bioactive actions of the buckwheat protein, growth performance, lipid metabolism, and systemic immunity of the weaned piglets were measured, and the alterations of pig gut microbiota were also analyzed.
Results: As a result, the growth performances of the weaned piglets which were calculated as the average daily gain and the average daily feed intake were significantly increased when compared to the control group. Simultaneously, the serum levels of the total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were decreased, while the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were increased in the buckwheat protein group. Moreover, the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Prevotella_9, Subdoligranulum, Blautia, and other potential probiotics in the gut microbiota of weaned piglets were obviously increased in the buckwheat protein group. However, the relative abundances of Escherichia-Shigella, Campylobacter, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and other opportunistic pathogens were obviously decreased in the buckwheat protein group.
Conclusion: To conclude, buckwheat protein was proved to be able to significantly improve the growth performance, lipid metabolism, and systemic immunity of the weaned piglets, and the specific mechanism might relate to the alterations of the gut microbiota. Therefore, buckwheat protein could be explored as a prospective antibiotic alternative for pig feed additives.
Tu W, Nie W, Yao X, Zhang J, Zhang H, Di D, Li Z. Growth performance, lipid metabolism, and systemic immunity of weaned piglets were altered by buckwheat protein through the modulation of gut microbiota. Molecular Genetics and Genomics. 2024; 299(1): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-024-02103-y
