The efficacy of glucosamine application for feed lectins neutralization as gastroenteritis prevention approach

Gastroenteritis in piglets after weaning is a common disease that significantly reduces feeding efficiency, impairs performance and leads to financial losses. In this paper, we have proposed a method for the prevention of gastroenteritis by neutralizing provender lectins with glucosamine (GluA). Lectin proteins are anti-nutritional factors in provender and one of the etiological factors causing gastroenteritis. In our in vitro experiments we found that GluA effectively neutralises provender lectins. Industrial pig farms testing of the use of 0.1 g of GluA per 1 kg of provender to neutralise provender lectins as a means of preventing gastroenteritis showed that GluA effectively reduces the incidence of gastroenteritis and the number of severe cases of the disease. In the experimental groups the disease developed in a later period, when the body is more adapted. The average duration of the disease, nonproductive disposal and the number of relapses were also lower, which demonstrate the high efficiency of GluA application at a dose of 0.1 g per 1 kg of provender for the prevention of gastroenteritis in piglets.