Effects Of Low-protein Diet On Production Performance And Feeding Environment Of Piglet

To study the effects of low-protein amino acid balanced diet on the productive performance, feeding environment and gastrointestinal microflora in weaned piglets.241 weaned piglets (Landrace×Large White) with initial BW 10.2 kg from eight pens were randomly divided into two groups, each group has four replications, feeded on control diet and LPBD diet respectively. This trial was conducted for five-day adjustment period and 23-day experiment period (30-53 days of age). In the middle term of this experiment, the air concentration of NH3 and CO2 in the feeding area, resting area and dung area were determined. One day before the end of this trial, feces were collected to investigate the fecal microflora and volatile fatty acids.1. The effect of low-protein balanced diet on the reproductive performanceAs compared over the control, low-protein balanced diet significantly increased the average daily body weight gain (P>0.05), decreased the feed conversion rate, which was 1.59 in the control and 1.46 in the LPBD group respectively. low-protein fyghtbalanced diet increase the apparent digestibility of CP (P<0.01). While, no significant difference was observed in daily feed intake, apparent digestibility of crude fiber and ether extract between the two groups.2. The effect of low-protein balanced diet on the feeding environmentLow-protein balanced diet significantly reduced the air concentration of NH3 content in the resting and dung area (P<0.01), but not in the feeding area. Furthermore, low-protein balanced diet significantly decreased the content of nitrogen in manure (P< 0.01). However, low-protein balanced diet didn't significantly alter the air concentration of CO2 (P>0.05).3. The effect of low-protein balanced diet on the fecal microflora and volatile fatty acidsThe changes of the fecal microflora and volatile fatty acids at the last day of the experiment period were studied by PCR-DGGE and HPLC. The results showed that the similarity of the microflora between each pen was as high as 94% or even more. low-protein balanced diet increased the similarity between the pens to more than 96%, and decreased the number of the bands in the DGGE map (P>0.05) and the diversity index (P <0.05), which indicated low-protein balanced diet could stable the piglet's intestinal microflora. No significant difference was observed on the content of the fecal VFA between the two groups.In conclusion, low-protein balanced diet can improve the productive performance of weaned piglets, ensure the constant of the intestinal microflora of piglets, and reduce the content of fecal nitrogen and NH3 emission.