Effects Of Quercetin On Growth Performance,Serum Biochemical Indices,Fecal Microorganisms Of Weaned Piglets

The present experiment was aimed to investigate the effects of dietary different levels of quercetin on growth performance,nutrient apparent digestibility,serum biochemical indices,digestive enzyme,fecal microorganisms and their metabolites of weaned piglets.A total of144 healthy 21-day-old "Duroc×Landrace×Large White" crossbred weaned piglets with similar body weight [7.45 ± 0.09)kg] were randomly divided into 3 groups,with 8 replicates per group and 6 piglets per replicate.Piglets in three groups were fed the basal diet(control group),basal diet + 200 mg/kg quercetin(group Ⅰ)and basal diet + 400 mg/kg quercetin(group Ⅱ),respectively.The experiment lasted for 24 days,including pre-feeding period of 5days and formal period of 19 days.The results showed as follows:1)The finish body weight and average daily gain of group Ⅱ were significantly higher than those of control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).2)The apparent digestibility of dry matter and calcium of groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the crude protein apparent digestibility of group Ⅱ was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).3)The serum total protein content of groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05),and the serum urea nitrogen content of group Ⅱ was significantly higher than that of control group and group Ⅰ(P<0.05).4)The activities of amylase and trypsin in the jejunum chyme of group II were significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.01).5)The number of Escherichia coli in feces of groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the number of Prevotella,Clostridium cluster IV and Bifidobacterium in feces of group Ⅱ were significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).6)The contents of lactic acid and acetate in feces of group Ⅱ were significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the contents of isobutyrate and branched chain fatty acid in feces were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).The contents of putrescine,cadaverine and total biogenic amine in feces of groupsⅠ and Ⅱ were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.01).In conclusion,the addition of 400 mg/kg quercetin to the diet can promote the apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein of weaned piglets,regulate the body metabolism,promote the activity of digestive enzymes in the small intestine,promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and inhibit the proliferation of potential pathogenic bacteria,change the microbial fermentation pattern of fecal microorganisms to carbohydrate fermentation mode,thereby maintain the health of intestines and even the whole body,and finally promote the growth of animals.