Efficacy of β–Glucan From Microalgae on the Intestinal Health and Growth of Nursery Pigs

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of β-glucan from microalgae (Algamune, Algal Scientific, Plymouth, MI, USA) on the intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs. One hundred sixty nursery pigs (6.0 ± 1.6 kg BW) were assigned to four treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factor: antibiotic use and β-glucan supplementation (0.02% Algamune). Diets were fed for 5 weeks, at which eight pigs from each treatment were selected for tissue sample collection. During the overall experimental period, antibiotics improved (p < 0.05) ADG and G:F. In Week 5, β-glucan supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the ADG of pigs without antibiotics, whereas β-glucan supplementation had no effect in pigs with antibiotics. In Phase 3, β-glucan supplementation tended to increase (p = 0.061) ADFI of pigs without antibiotics, whereas β-glucan supplementation had no effect in pigs with antibiotics. Both antibiotics and β–glucan increased (p < 0.05) villus height in the duodenum. Supplementation of β–glucan reduced (p < 0.05) IgA in the jejunum and tended to reduce (p = 0.053) IgA in the ileum. In conclusion, β–glucan from microalgae may encourage growth and feed intake of nursery pigs by improving intestinal health when antibiotics are not used in the diets.