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Effect of oral polyamine supplementation pre-weaning on piglet growth and intestinal characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2016

W. H. E. J. van Wettere ,
N.-L. Willson ,
S. J. Pain  and
R. E. A. Forder
W. H. E. J. van Wettere*
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia 5371, Australia
N.-L. Willson
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia 5371, Australia
S. J. Pain
Affiliation:
International Sheep Research Centre, IVABS, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
R. E. A. Forder
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia 5371, Australia
*
†E-mail: william.vanwettere@adelaide.edu.au
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Abstract

A high proportion of piglets fail to adapt to the changing composition of their diet at weaning, resulting in weight loss and increased susceptibility to pathogens. Polyamines are present in sow milk and promote neonatal maturation of the gut. We hypothesised that oral spermine and spermidine supplementation before weaning would increase piglet growth and promote gastrointestinal development at weaning. In Experiment One, one pair of liveweight (LW)-matched piglets per litter from first and third lactation sows received 2 ml of a 0 (Control) or 463 nmol/ml spermine solution at 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 days of age (n=6 piglets/treatment per parity). Villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum were measured at weaning (day 23 postpartum). In Experiment Two, piglets suckling 18 first and 18 third lactation sows were used. Within each litter, piglets received 2 ml of either water (Control), 463 nmol/ml spermine solution or 2013 nmol/ml spermidine solution at 14, 16, 18, 22 and 24 days of age (n=54 piglets/treatment per sow parity). Piglets were weighed individually at 14, 18, 24 (weaning) and 61 days of age. In Experiment One, oral spermine supplementation resulted in a 41% increase in villus height, a 21% decrease in crypt depth and 79% decrease in the villus height : crypt depth ratio compared with control piglets (P<0.01). In Experiment Two, spermine and spermidine-supplemented piglets suckling first lactation sows grew faster (P<0.05) between days 14 and 18 postpartum than control piglets: 0.230±0.011 and 0.227±0.012 v. 0.183±0.012 kg/day, respectively. Spermine supplementation tended (P<0.1) to increase piglet LW gain from weaning to day 37 post-weaning compared with control piglets (0.373±0.009 v. 0.341±0.010 kg/day). In conclusion, spermine supplementation increased villus height at weaning, and appears to have the potential to improve the pre- and post-weaning growth of conventionally weaned piglets.

Keywords

pigletspolyaminesgastrointestinal tractweaninggrowth
Type
Short Communication
Information
animal , Volume 10 , Issue 10 , October 2016 , pp. 1655 - 1659
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2016 

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