Effects Of Citrus Extracts On Growth Performance,Atioxidative Capacity,Imune Function And Intestinal Morphology Of Piglets

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of citrus extracts on the growth performance,antioxidant capacity,immune function and intestinal morphology of weanling piglets.144 weanling piglets(28-day-old,DLY)were randomLy divided into 3treatments: base diet(blank group,B),base diet + 75 g/t chlortetracycline(antibiotic group,A),base diet + 300 mL/t citrus extracts(citrus extracts group,CE).The test period is 28 days.The results are as follows:(1)There was no significant difference in initial weight,final weight,average daily feed intake(ADFI),average daily gain(ADG),feed/gain(F/G)and diarrhea rate among three groups(P>0.05).(2)The stomach index of A was significantly higher than that of B and CE(P<0.05),but the other organ indexes were not significant among the three groups.(3)In blood items: the content of albumin(ALB)in CE was significantly higher than that in B(P<0.05).The content of globulin(GLO)in B was significantly higher than that in A and CE(P<0.05).The ALB/total protein(TP)in CE and A were significantly higher than in B(P<0.05);There was no significant difference in glucose(GLU),triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(CHO),urea nitrogen(UN)and TP among three groups(P>0.05).In CE,glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT)was significantly higher than the other two groups(P<0.05),glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase(GOT)showed increasing trend(0.10<P>0.05).GOT/GPT in B was higher than that in A and CE(P>0.05).The enzymes activities of catalase(CAT)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)in PE were significantly higher than those in A and B(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in alkaline phosphatase(AKP),malonaldehyde(MDA),total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX)among the three groups(P>0.05).The content of interleukins(IL)-6 in PE was higher than that of A and B(0.10<P>0.05),while immunoglobulin(Ig)G in A and CE was significantly higher than that in B(P<0.01).The contents of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αin CE was significantly higher than that in B(P<0.05),and IgA,IL-8,IL-2 and IgM were not significant among the three groups(P>0.05).(4)In liver items: The CHO in A was extremely higher than that of CE and B(P<0.01).The GLU in A and CE were higher than that in B(0.10<P>0.05),and UN in A was significantly lower than that of B and CE(P<0.01).The TP,ALB,ALB/TP and ALB/GLO in A were extremely higher than those in CE and B(P<0.01),while GLO was not significantly in the three groups(P>0.05).The activity of AKP in liver of A was significantly higher than that of CE and B(P<0.01).The activity of GOT in B was significantly higher than that in A and B(P<0.01),and GPT,GOT / GPT were no significant difference in groups(P>0.05).The activities of T-AOC and GSH-PX in B were significantly higher than those in A(P<0.05).The content of MDA in CE was lower than that in A and B(P>0.05).The content of IgG in CE and B was significantly higher than that in A(P<0.05).While IgM in B was significantly higher than that in A and CE(P<0.05).The contents of IgA and TNF-α in CE were higher than those in A and B(P> 0.05).(5)The villus height of duodenum in CE showed increasing trend(0.10<P>0.05),and there was no significant difference in jejunum and ileum among the three groups(P>0.05).The crypt depth of jejunum and ileum in B was significantly or extremely higher than that of A and CE(P<0.05,P<0.01).The villus height/crypt depth ratios(VCR)of ileum in the A and CE were extremely higher than those in B(P<0.01).While,VCR of duodenum showed an increasing trend(0.10<P>0.05).These results indicated that citrus extracts and chlortetracycline did not improve the growth performance of weaned piglets.Compared with antibiotics,citrus extracts had better antioxidant and immune indexes,and intestinal morphology.As a result,citrus extracts are of good use value.