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Zinc oxide at pharmacological doses, along with different antibiotics, has been used prophylactically to reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal problems. Nowadays, the increasing concern about of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, has led to the prohibition of the prophylactic use of zinc oxide in diets for piglets in the EU. Since citrus flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, that these compounds could become a suitable alternative to the use of zinc oxide at weaning. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing citrus flavonoids and amoxicillin in replacing the use of zinc oxide together with several antibiotics in weanling piglets. A total of 252 weaned pigs ([LargeWhite × Landrace] × Pietrain) were distributed according to body weight (5.7 kg ± 0.76) into 18 pens (6 pens per diet, 14 pigs/pen). Three experimental diets for the prestarter (0–14 d postweaning) and starter (15–35 d postweaning) period were prepared: 1) Control: nonmedicated diet; 2) ZnO: Control diet supplemented with zinc oxide at 2500 mg/kg, amoxicillin at 0.3 mg/kg and apramycin at 0.1 mg/kg; 3) Flavonoid: Control diet with the addition of a commercial citrus flavonoid extract at 0.3 mg/kg and amoxicillin at 0.3 mg/kg. Pig body weight , average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were assessed on d7, d14, and d35. Samples of intestinal tissue, cecal content, and serum were collected of 18 piglets on day seven.
Flavonoid treatment achieved greater body weight and average daily gain during the starter and for the entire experimental period compared with the control diet, whereas ZnO pigs evidenced intermediate results. Jejunum tissue analysis showed that pigs fed the flavonoid diet overexpressed genes related to barrier function, digestive enzymes, and nutrient transport compared to those pigs fed the control diet. An increase in the abundance of bacterial genera such as Succinivibrio, Turicibacter, and Mitsuokella was observed in the flavonoid compared with the control and ZnO piglets. ZnO and flavonoid treatment increased the expression of TAS2R39, while ZnO pigs also expressed greater TAS2R16 than control in the intestine. Flavonoid treatment improved the gut function, possibly explaining a higher performance at the end of the nursery period.
Consequently, citrus flavonoids supplementation, together with amoxicillin, is a promising alternative to the use of zinc oxide plus amoxicillin and apramycin in weanling pigs, minimizing the use of antibiotics.
Paniagua, M., Villagómez-Estrada, S., Crespo, F. J., Pérez, J. F., Arís, A., Devant, M., & Solà-Oriol, D. (2023). Citrus Flavonoids Supplementation as an Alternative to Replace Zinc Oxide in Weanling Pigs’ Diets Minimizing the Use of Antibiotics. Animals, 13(6), 967. https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fani13060967
