Effects of copper bearing montmorillonite on the growth performance, intestinal microflora and morphology of weanling pigs

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology 2005-02, Vol.118 (3), p.307-317
• Main Authors: Xia, M.S., Hu, C.H., Xu, Z.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal growth; Animal productions; Bacterial enzyme; beta-glucosidase; beta-glucuronidase; Biological and medical sciences; Chinese Landrace; Clostridium; copper; Copper bearing montmorillonite; copper sulfate; crossbreds; Duroc; enzyme activity; enzyme inhibition; Escherichia coli; feed additives; Feed and pet food industries; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth performance; intestinal crypts; Intestinal microflora; intestinal microorganisms; Intestinal morphology; jejunum; liveweight gain; montmorillonite; piglet feeding; piglets; Terrestrial animal productions; Vertebrates; villi; Weanling pigs; weanlings; Yorkshire (swine breed)
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2004.11.008

A total of 128 weaning pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) at an average initial body weight of 7.5 ± 0.6 kg were used to investigate the effects of copper bearing montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) on the growth performance, intestinal microflora, bacterial enzyme activities, and intestinal morphology. The pigs were allocated to four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design (four replicates of eight pigs per replicate) for 45 days. The dietary treatments were: (1) basal diet, (2) basal diet + 1.5 g/kg MMT, (3) basal diet + 36 mg/kg copper as CuSO 4 (equivalent to the copper in the Cu-MMT treatment group or (4) basal diet + 1.5 g/kg Cu-MMT. The results showed that supplementation with Cu-MMT improved ( P < 0.05) growth performance, reduced ( P < 0.05) the total viable counts of intestinal Clostridium and Escherichia coli, depressed ( P < 0.05) the activities of intestinal β-glucosidase and β-glucuronidas, and increased ( P < 0.05) villus height and the villus height to crypt depth ratio at the small intestinal mucosa as compared with control. Supplementation with MMT also increased ( P < 0.05) villus height and the villus height to crypt depth ratio at the jejunum as compared with control. However, supplementation with MMT or CuSO 4 had no ( P > 0.05) effect on growth performance, intestinal microflora and bacterial enzymes as compared with control. Supplementation with CuSO 4 had no ( P > 0.05) effect on the small intestinal morphology as compared with control. Supplementation with Cu-MMT increased daily gain, decreased viable counts of Clostridium and E. coli and activity of β-glucuronidase in colonic contents ( P < 0.05) as compared with MMT or CuSO 4, and increased ( P < 0.05) villus height and the villus height to crypt depth ratio at the small intestinal mucosa as compared with CuSO 4. The results indicated that Cu-MMT is more effective than MMT or CuSO 4 in enhancing the growth, intestinal microflora and morphology of weanling pigs.