Effect of enzymatic hydrolysate of cottonseed protein supplementation on growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs in Thailand

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of enzymatic hydrolysate of cottonseed protein (EHCP) supplementation on the growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs in Thailand. A total of 180 newly weaned piglets were randomly allocated to 3 groups with 6 replicates in each group and 10 piglets per replicate. Nursery pigs were fed three diets containing 0, 1%, and 1.5% EHCP for 28–63 days of age. The results indicated that 1% EHCP supplementation increased average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) and decreased feed conversion rate (FCR) in the numerical, suggesting that appropriate EHCP supplementation could numerically improve growth performance of nursery pigs in Thailand. Moreover, 1% EHCP supplementation significantly decreased intestinal crypt depth and diarrhea incidence and increased intestinal villus height to crypt depth ratio and fecal consistency, suggesting that optimum EHCP supplementation could improve intestinal morphology and decreased diarrhea incidence of nursery pigs in Thailand. Furthermore, 1% EHCP supplementation significantly improved intestinal glutathione (GSH) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and indicated that optimal EHCP supplementation could improve intestinal antioxidant capacity of nursery pigs in Thailand. Optimum EHCP supplementation numerically increased growth, significantly decreased diarrhea incidence, significantly improved intestinal morphology and antioxidant capacity of nursery pig in Thailand.