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β-Glucan is a functional polysaccharide present in mushrooms, grain seeds, and the cell walls of yeast. It has various biological functions, such as strengthening the immune system and enhancing both innate and acquired immunity. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant at the cell membrane level. When added in the growing and finishing pig feed it increases the immune response. Together this could lead to synergic beneficial effects. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of β-glucan with vitamin E supplementation on the growth performance, blood profiles, immune response, pork quality, pork flavour, and economic benefit in growing and finishing pigs. A total of 140 growing pigs ([Yorkshire x Landrace]) x Duroc) were assigned to five treatments. The experimental diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with or without 0.05 or 0.1% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E. The pigs were fed the diets for 12 weeks (phase I: 0-3, phase II: 3-6, phase III: 6-9, phase IV: 9-12). The body weight and feed intake were measured at the end of each phase, as well as blood samples collected. Four pigs from each treatment were selected and slaughtered for meat quality. Economic benefit was calculated considering the total feed intake and feed cost. Pork flavour was analysed through inosine monophosphate analysis.
As a result, the average daily gain and feed efficiency were improved compared to the control when β-glucan or vitamin E was added. Supplementing 0.05% β-glucan significantly increased the lymphocyte concentration compared to the addition of 0.1% β-glucan and the content of vitamin E in the blood increased when 0.02% vitamin E was added. The treatment with 0.1% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E showed the most economic effect as it had the shortest days to market weight and the lowest total feed cost. The addition of β-glucan or vitamin E had a positive role in improving the flavour of pork when considering that the content of inosine monophosphate was increased. However, carcass traits and meat quality were not affected by β-glucan or vitamin E.
The addition of 1,000 mg/kg β-glucan with 110 IU/kg vitamin E in growing and finishing pig diets showed great growth performance and economic effects by supplying vitamin E efficiently and by improving the health condition of pigs due to β-glucan.
Goh TW, Kim HJ, Moon K, Kim YY. Effects of β-glucan with vitamin E supplementation on the growth performance, blood profiles, immune response, pork quality, pork flavor, and economic benefit in growing and finishing pigs. Animal Bioscience. 2023; 36(6): 929-942. https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.22.0433
