Antibiotic growth promotor replacement by a synergistic butyrate based product in piglets

Since 2006, Antibiotic growth promotors (AGP) are banned in the EU. Questions are raising in EU as well as in other parts of the world about the effectiveness of alternatives to replace AGPs. Commonly used alternatives in EU are products based on butyric acid. Butyric acid (C4) is a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) with a biological role, consistently present in the intestinal ecosystem, as it is naturally produced by fermentation of polysaccharides by the intestinal microbiota. Butyrate is seen as an AGP alternative as it plays a major role in promoting gut health by promotion of the intestinal barrier, modulation of the immune system, balancing the intestinal flora and improving digestion and absorption of nutrients, leading to enhanced performance. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect on performance of a butyrate based product comparing to the use of a traditional AGP in piglets.

A trial was carried out during 35 days at the Swine Research Unit of PUCPR, located in Fazenda Rio Grande, Brazil. 48 weaned piglets were divided into two groups of 8 replicates (Colistin (C) and Butyrate (B)) and were housed in 1,92m2 nursery pens with slatted floor. 2 corn and soybean meal based diets were formulated according to animals’ age: prestarter (1 to 14 days of evaluation) and starter feed (15 to 35 days of evaluation). Treatments consisted of a group treated with Colistin (C) at 40 ppm in prestarter and starter feed and a group supplemented with a calcium butyrate based synergistic product (B) (Butifour® NF) at 0,15% in prestarter and 0,075% in starter phase. Body weight (BW) and feed consumption were controlled weekly to provide data on feed conversion ratio (FCR). Additionally, the incidence of diarrhea was also verified daily, and a score was attributed according to VASSALO et al. (1997): 1 – normal or soft feces, 2 – pasty feces and 3 – aqueous feces. Collected data was analyzed using the software Stata® (Statacorp) by a mixed linear model, except of fecal score data. These were analyzed by Dunn test with Bonferroni adjustment. All statements of difference were made considering P≤0,05.

At the end of the evaluation, no significant differences between B and C were observed regarding FCR (1.563 vs 1.565, respectively), body weight (26.745 vs 26.811, respectively) and diarrhea scores (weighted mean of 0.083 vs 0.067, respectively).

In this trial, a synergistic butyrate based supplementation of piglet feed was regarded to be a suitable alternative for the use of AGPs.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.