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Organic acids have been used to improve weanling pig health and growth performance due to their ability to reduce gastrointestinal tract pH, improve nutrient digestibility, and inhibit pathogenic bacterial proliferation. The functions and properties vary between different types of acidifiers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of sodium butyrate combined with benzoic acid on the growth performance and gut microbiota of weaning pigs. A total of 398 weaning pigs from two experiment stations were followed. Pigs were fed experimental diets for 35 days and 40 days and the diets were divided in Phase 1 (day 0–7), phase 2 (day 7–21), and phase 3 (day 21–35) or 19 days (day 21–40). Titanium dioxide (0.3%; TiO2) was added to the phase 3 diet as an indigestible marker. In each phase, there were four dietary treatments: BA (basal diet + 0.5% benzoic acid), BA + 0.035% sodium butyrate, BA + 0.070% sodium butyrate, and BA + 0.105% sodium butyrate. An additional (fifth) dietary treatment that was devoid of any added organic acids was used to determine the impact of 0.5% benzoic acid and the gut microbiota analysis was carried out. The feed intake and weights of the pigs were recorded at the start of the experiment and on the last day of each phase. In addition to growth performance data, pen fecal grab samples, blood, and fecal swabs were collected.
It is observed that increasing levels of sodium butyrate in a diet containing 0.5% benzoic acid improved growth performance, which reached a plateau in the pigs fed 0.035% or 0.070% butyrate. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that pigs fed the 0.035% butyrate diet had more diverse microbiota and contained more potentially beneficial bacteria such as Oscillospira, Blautia, and Turicibacter and reduced levels of Veillonella and Sarcina.
Results of the present study indicated that the inclusion of sodium butyrate at moderate levels in a diet containing 0.5% benzoic acid improved growth performance of weaning pigs and established potential health benefits on gut microbiota.
Wei X, Bottoms KA, Stein HH, Blavi L, Bradley CL, Bergstrom J, Knapp J, Story R, Maxwell C, Tsai T, Zhao J. Dietary organic acids modulate gut microbiota and improve growth performance of nursery pigs. Microorganisms. 2021; 9(1): 110. https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fmicroorganisms9010110