Effect Of Feed Flavoring On Feed Intake Of Piglets

Feed flavor agent also known as feed flavouring agent or feed attractant.In order to improve the palatability of feed for animals,flavor agent including flavor and sweeteners was often used in feed.This study was aimed to evaluate the feed flavor,sweetener or both combinations on the feed intake,performance and taste buds development of piglets.1.Evaluation of sweetenerIn the first study for the determination of feed preference of sweetener,280 piglets were selected and allocated by body weight(BW)to 1 of 7 treatments(4 pens as replicates for each treatment,with 10 pigs per pen).Each pen has two troughs with different sweetener(saccharin sodium salt,flavor enhancer,or novel sweetener)in diet for 10 days.No significant differences of food intake and growth performance(ADG and FG)were observed among different treatments.Food preference index(FPI)of novel sweetener in saccharin sodium salt and novel sweetener group was lower compared with other groups.There is no significant difference in food preference index among the different treatments.In the grouping test,800 piglets were selected and divided according to BW into four treatments,each treatment with 8 replicates(pens)and each pen with 25 pigs.Piglets in different treatment groups were fed diets with no,saccharin sodium salt,flavor enhancer,or novel sweetener for 35 days,respectively.The feed intake of the piglets in novel sweetener group was higher than those of other groups(P>0.05).No significant difference was found in food intake,average daily gain and feed to gain ratio among different groups(P>0.05).2.Evaluation of combination of flavor and sweetenerIn the first study for the determination of feed preference of combination of flavor and sweetener,280 piglets were selected and allocated by body weight(BW)to 1 of 7treatments(4 pens as replicates for each treatment,with 10 piglets per pen).Each pens have two troughs with combination of feed flavor and different sweetener(saccharin sodium salt,flavor enhancer,or novel sweetener)in diet for 10 days.No significant difference was found in food intake,growth performance(ADG and FG)among different groups.The feed preference index of piglets fed diet with combination of flavor and flavor enhancer or novel sweetener was lower than those of others.In the grouping test,800 piglets were selected and divided according to BW into four treatments,each treatment with 8 replicates(pens)and each pen with 25 pigs.Piglets in different treatment groups were fed diets with combination of feed flavor and no,saccharin sodium salt,flavor enhancer,or novel sweetener for 35 days,respectively.The feed intake and average daily gain of the piglets fed diet with combination of feed flavor and novel sweetener was higher than those of other groups(P>0.05).No significant difference was found in food intake,average daily gain and feed to gain ratio among other different groups(P>0.05).3.Evaluation of feed flavor Gold-GZ and Gold-HQIn the research,390 weaning piglets were selected and allocated by body weight(BW)to 1 of 3 treatments(13 pens as replicates for each treatment,with 10 piglets per pen).Piglets in different treatment groups were fed diets containing Gold-GZ or Gold-HQ from creep feed to 7 days after weaning.The piglets in group Gild GZ and HQ transfer to the diet with traditional milk flavor,and the control in first stage was continued to fed the diet without flavor.In the stage of 3-7 days after weaning(age days 27-31),piglets in the Glod GZ had higher feed intake and average daily gain,and lower feed to gain ratio than the piglets in Glod GZ and the control(P>0.05).No significant differences of food intake and growth performance(ADG and FG)were observed among other groups.In the nursey stage of piglet(age day 32-58),the piglets fed the diet with traditional milk flavor which fed the diet containing Gold-GZ or Gold-HQ in first stage had the high feed intake and average daily gain than the piglets in the control(P>0.05).In conclusion,saccharin sodium salt,flavor enhancer,novel sweetenerhad similar effects on food intake and growth performance of piglets.Meanwhile,traditional milk flavor could be used as good feed additives for piglets.The results indicated that both Gold-GZ and Gold-HQ could exert an effect on the feed intake in the late,which improved the feed intake and average daily gain in the nursery stage.4.Effect of feeding functional flavoring to pig on intestinal villus structure and taste bud developmentThe following two stage study is included five treatment groups: the first stage is included three groups,Group 0-no flavoring material,Group 1-functional flavoring Gold GZ,Group 2-functional flavoring Gold HQ;the second stage is included two groups,control group is non-flavored nursery,and test group is nursery+traditional flavor(1kg/ton).The duodenal villus height in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between the crypt depth and the villus height/crypt depth ratio(P>0.05).The villus height and crypt depth of the ileum in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference in the villus height/crypt depth ratio(P>0.05).The crypt depth of the colon in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference in the ratio of villus height to crypt depth(P>0.05).Taste development(taste buds)analysis: the taste buds of the first stage of different treatment groups including Group 0,Group 1 and Group 2)were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.The tip of the taste bud diameters of the functional flavoring Group 1and Group 2 were 153 μm and 170 μm,respectively,which was significantly lower than that of the control group(213 μm)(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the diameter of the taste buds on the two sides of the tongue in different treatment groups(P>0.05).Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the taste buds of the second stage of control group and test group)showed that the long axis and the short axis diameter of the tip bud of the test group were 206μm and 254μm,respectively,were significantly lower than the control group of 276μm and 352μm(P<0.05),while the long axis diameter of the tongue-like taste buds of the experimental group was 592μm,which was significantly higher than the control group of 394μm(P<0.05).The short axis diameter of the taste buds of the tongue and the tongue root were not significantly different between the test group and the control group(P>0.05).This study found that the addition of a new Flavoring agent to the diet can promote the performance of the piglet,and the piglets fed the functional flavoring agent in the early stage can still improve the performance of the piglet after feeding the traditional frankincense flavor in the later stage.The development of medium flavoring has certain practical guiding significance,improving the feed intake of farmed animals and promoting the healthy development of animal husbandry.