Abstract Isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) is a potential tool that provides time-integrated estimate of assimilated and not just ingested nutrients. This feature turned possible its application to evaluate the effects of dietary nucleotides and glutamate on carbon turnover (δ13C) in the brain of weanling piglets. Eighty-seven piglets weaned at 21-day-old were used, being three piglets slaughtered at day-0 (prior to diet-switch) and, the remaining 84 randomly assigned in a complete block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (two nucleotide levels: 0% and 0.1% and, two glutamate levels: 0% and 1%). On trial days 3, 6, 9, 14, 21, 35 and 49, three piglets per treatment were also slaughtered. The samples were analyzed by IRMS and adjusted to the first-order equation by a nonlinear regression analysis using NLIN procedure of SAS, in order to obtain the exponential graphics. The carbon turnover (t95%) verified for cerebral tissue was faster (P<0.05) for diet containing glutamate in comparison to other diets, supporting the fact that glutamate contributed to develop the piglets’ brain, due to the fastest incorporation of 13C-atoms in this tissue at post-weaning phase, despite the energy deficit experienced by them.

ABSTRACT Two experiments (E) were carried out to evaluate the effects of fumaric acid and an acidifier blend [composed by calcium formate, calcium lactate and medium-chain fatty acids (capric and caprylic)] in piglet diets containing colistin (40 ppm) or halquinol (120 ppm) on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), organs relative weight, pH values, intestinal morphometry and microbiota (E2). In E1, 192 and E2, 24 piglets weaned at 21-day-old were randomly assigned to blocks with 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments [absence or presence of fumaric acid x absence or presence of acidifier blend], six replicates of eight (E1) and one piglet per pen (E2). For E1, the treatments were control (CD): no acidifier product + 40 ppm of colistin, FA: fumaric acid in absence of acidifier blend, AB: acidifier blend in absence of fumaric acid and, AF+AB: presence of fumaric acid and acidifier blend. For E2, the pre-starter I diet were used and the same treatments as E1 evaluated. No treatment effects (P>0.05) were observed on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), gut pH values and duodenum morphometry of piglets (E2). However, the addition of AB increased (P<0.05) large intestine relative weight and, FA addition decreased (P<0.05) pancreas relative weight, jejunum villi height and, total coliform and E. coli counts in cecum. The inclusion of FA and AB in diets containing colistin or halquinol did not improve performance, although FA exerted an inhibitory effect on cecum microbiota.

Um estudo foi conduzido para avaliar os efeitos de microminerais inorgânicos e orgânicos na dieta em dois níveis de suplementação, sobre desempenho, ocorrência de diarreia, parâmetros hematológicos, excreção dos minerais nas fezes e retenção dos minerais nos metacarpos e fígado de leitões desmamados. Setenta leitões desmamados aos 21 dias de idade com peso médio inicial de 6,70 ± 0,38 kg foram distribuídos em cinco tratamentos: dieta controle (sem adição de premix micromineral); 50% ITMP (dieta controle contendo premix micromineral inorgânico atendendo a somente 50% da exigência em microminerais); 50% OTMP (dieta controle contendo premix micromineral orgânico atendendo a somente 50% da exigência em microminerais); 100% ITMP (dieta controle contendo premix micromineral inorgânico atendendo a 100% da exigência em microminerais); e 100% OTMP (dieta controle contendo premix micromineral orgânico atendendo a 100% da exigência em microminerais). Consumo de ração e o ganho diário de peso não foram afetados pelos tratamentos, entretanto, os leitões suplementados com microminerais apresentaram melhor eficiência alimentar. Não foram observadas diferenças para as quantidades de cálcio, fósforo, potássio, magnésio, sódio e enxofre excretados nas fezes por quilograma de alimento consumido. Os tratamentos não afetaram os teores de cálcio, fósforo, magnésio, enxofre e ferro nos metacarpos. A suplementação com microminerais, independente dos níveis e da fonte, melhorou o desempenho dos leitões.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inorganic and organic trace minerals in two levels of supplementation regarding performance, diarrhea occurrence, hematological parameters, fecal mineral excretion and mineral retention in metacarpals and liver of weanling pigs. Seventy piglets weaned at 21 days of age with an average initial body weight of 6.70 ± 0.38 kg were allotted in five treatments: control diet (no added trace mineral premix); 50% ITMP (control diet with inorganic trace mineral premix supplying only 50% of trace mineral requirements); 50% OTMP (control diet with organic trace mineral premix supplying only 50% of trace mineral requirements); 100% ITMP (control diet with inorganic trace mineral premix supplying 100% of trace mineral requirements); and 100% OTMP (control diet with organic trace mineral premix supplying 100% of trace mineral requirements). Feed intake and daily weight gain were not affected by treatments, however, piglets supplemented by trace minerals presented better gain:feed ratio. No differences were observed at calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium and sulfur excreted in feces per kilogram of feed intake. Treatments did not affect calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur and iron content in metacarpals. Trace mineral supplementation, regardless of level and source, improved the performance of piglets.