Study On The Effect Of Yucca Shidigero Extract And Candida Utilis On Growth Performance And Intestinal Health In Weaned Piglets

This study was carried out to study the application of a kind of natural plant extract yucca shidegero extract(YSE)and probiotic Candida utilis(CU)in weaned piglets.Growth performance,immune function,antioxidant function,morphology of ileum and micro flora of cecum were detected to evalue and compare effect of YSE and CU on weaned piglets.The following was included in our study:Forty similar birth order,castrated healthy hybrid piglets((Rongchang)×Landrace×Large white)weaned at 28-day old were selected for this study.The 40piglets were randomly assigned into 4 groups with 10 repeat per group and one piglet one repeat:(1)control group(CON),(2)candida utilis group(CU)(1.2×10~9 CFU,3times per day),(3)yucca shidegero extract group(YSE)(200ppm),(4)candida utilis+yucca shidegero extract group(CU+YSE).The results showed that:(1)Dietary adminstrated YSE or CU produced positive effects on growth performence.The combination use of YSE and CU did reduce the diarrhea rate of piglets.(2)Dietary adminstrated YSE significantly increased the spleen index,lymph node index and pancreatic index(P<0.05).CU improved the immune function(P<0.05).Dietary adminstrated YSE and CU significantly increased immune function of weaned piglets when fed to piglets together(P<0.05).(3)Dietary adminstrated YSE and CU significantly reduced gastrointestinal pH.YSE and CU produced positive interaction(P<0.05).(4)Dietary adminstrated YSE and CU significantly increased antioxidant function of piglets(P<0.05),and had significant interaction.(5)Dietary adminstrated YSE significantly increased ileum villi height,villus height/crypt depth(P<0.05),significantly reduced crypt depth(P<0.05).Dietary adminstrated CU significantly increased ileum villi height,villus height/crypt depth(P<0.05),had a trend to increase villus height(P=0.10),significantly reduced crypt depth(P<0.05).The mix use of YSE and CU significantly increased villus height/crypt depth(P<0.05).(6)Dietary adminstrated YSE significantly increased the expression of occludin in jejunum and ileum and the expression ofβ-definsin-2 in jejunum(P<0.05).Dietary adminstrated CU significantly increased the expression of occludin andβ-definsin-2 in jejunum(P<0.05).Dietary adminstrated YSE and CU significantly increased the expression of occludin andβ-definsin-2 in jejunum mucosa(P<0.05).(7)At phylum level,microorganisms of cecum in weaned piglets are composed of Bacteroides,Firmicutes,Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria,Spirochaetae and Verrucomicrobia,and the genus are mainly Prevotella,Leeia,Campylobacter spp.,Succinivibrio spp.,Clostridium sensu stricto,Bacteroides spp.,Anaerovibrio spp.,Roseburia spp.,Lactobacillus spp.,Ruminococcus spp..Dietary adminstrated YSE and CU significantly improved relative abundance and diversity of weaned piglets(P<0.05);Dietary adminstrated YSE significantly decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria of weaned piglets(P<0.05).Dietary adminstrated CU significantly reduced the RA of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria(P<0.05),and significantly increased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia(P<0.05).Dietary adminstrated YSE significantly increased the RA of Bacteroides of weaned piglets on Family level(P<0.05),significantly reduced the RA of Clostridium,Veillonococcus,Erysipelotrichaceae,Streptococcus,Campylobacter,Acidaminococcaceae(P<0.05).Dietary adminstrated CU significantly increased the RA of Bacteroides,Lachnospiraceae,Ruminococcaceae on Family level of piglets caecum(P<0.05),and significantly reduced the RA of Clostridium,Enterobacteriaceae,Streptococcus,Streptococcuson Family level of piglets(P<0.05).The effects of yucca extract and Candida utilis on weanling piglets all have their advantages and disadvantages.The combined effect is better than the two alone about the RA of most microorganics,but the numerical values didn’t present significant differences statisticsly.As described above,dietary adminstrated of yucca shidegero extract and oral adminstration with Candia utillus may enhance the growth performance of weaned piglets,lower the frequency of diarrhea,improve the health of intestinal tract,and raise the diversity and richness of micro flora of caecum,which is promised in weaned piglets production as probiotic.