151 - Energy Metabolism, Digestive and Absorptive Capacity, and Fecal Microbiome of Nursery Piglets Selected for Feed Efficiency

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

11:30 AM – 11:45 AM CT

Location: Oklahoma City Convention Center, 302A

Presenting Author(s)

Yujia Wu

Graduate Student
The University of Manitoba, Department of Animal Science
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Author(s)

PA

Paula Azevedo

Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB
Shunshun Jin, PhD

Graduate Student
University of manitoba, Department of Animal Science
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Xiaoya Zhao, PhD candidate

PhD candidate
University of manitoba, Department of Animal Science
Winnipeg, MB
Haoxiang Xu

Ph.D. student
Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Hl

Huaigang lei

Topigs Norsvin Canada Inc.
Oak Bluff, MB
AR

Argenis Rodas, n/a

Associate Professor
University of Manitoba, Department of Animal Science
Winnipeg, MB
Martin Nyachoti

Professor
University of Manitoba, Department of Animal Science
Winnipeg, MB
Chengbo Yang, PhD

Associate Professor
University of Manitoba, Department of Animal Science
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Abstract: Improving feed efficiency (FE) plays an important role in the economic and environmental sustainability of the swine industry. Genetic selection based on low estimated breeding value for feed conversion ratio (EBV_FCR) can effectively improve FE. This study investigated the growth performance, nutrient and energy digestibility, activity of hydrolyses, expression of nutrient transporters and tight junction proteins, and fecal microbiome of nursery pigs selected for high and low feed efficiency. A total of 128 pigs weaned at 21+2 days were selected from parents of low and high EBV_FCR calculated based on phenotypes for FCR during growing-finishing stage. Pigs were fed with corn-soybean meal-based diets in a two-phase feeding program for 4 weeks under similar rearing conditions. The results revealed that there were no differences in average daily feed intake, average body weight gain, FCR, energy, and nutrient digestibility between the two groups. Moreover, enzyme activity kinetics results showed no differences in the maximal activity of alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, maltase, and maltase-glucoamylase between the two groups (p > 0.05). Real-time PCR analyses showed that SGLT1, ASCT2, PepT1, EAAC1, and BoAT1 mRNA abundances were not affected by the pig groups (p > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in claudin-1 and ZO-1 protein abundances on the jejunum membrane between the two pig groups. The two pig groups had similar fecal microbial taxonomic composition and function. However, the microbiota diversity results showed that the high-efficiency pig group has higher species evenness, and there is a trend (p < 0.084) for beta diversity difference, which indicates that high-efficiency pigs might have a more homogenous and healthier gut environment. In conclusion, nursery pigs selected for high and low feed efficiency based on parents EBV_FCR did not differ in growth performance, nutrient digestibility and absorptive capacities, microbiota composition and function.