Desempenho zootécnico e saúde intestinal de leitões na fase de creche alimentados com extrato de Macleaya cordata

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br. extract on zootechnical performance, diarrhea incidence, hematological and biochemical profiles, intestinal microbiology and morphometry, relative organ weight and length, organ content pH, bacterial translocation to the liver, intestinal permeability to dextran, serum immunoglobulin G, and glutathione peroxidase activity in nursery piglets. A total of 320 piglets (160 intact males and 160 females) from a commercial Landrace × Large White cross, with an initial body weight of 7.80 ± 1.07 kg and weaned at 28 days of age, were assigned to a randomized block design with two blocks, four treatments, and four replicates of 10 piglets per pen, totaling 32 experimental units. The experimental period was divided into four feeding phases: pre-starter 1, pre-starter 2, starter 1, and starter 2. Treatments were: negative control (NC), basal diet without performance-enhancing additives; positive control (PC), basal diet with 200 g t⁻¹ halquinol; MC150-100, basal diet with 150 g t⁻¹ Macleaya cordata extract in prestarter 1 and 2, and 100 g t⁻¹ in starter 1 and 2; and MC150, basal diet with 150 g t⁻¹ extract in all phases. No treatment effect (P > 0.05) was observed on zootechnical performance. However, pigs fed MC150 had the lowest (P < 0.0121) cecal Escherichia coli counts, while NC pigs had the highest. Jejunal pH was lowest in NC piglets and highest in MC150-100 piglets. In the cecum, NC and PC groups had lower pH than MC150-100 and MC150. In the colon, pH was lowest in NC, followed by PC, with higher values in MC150-100 and MC150. Although increasing pH in the jejunum, cecum, and colon, supplementation with 150 g t⁻¹ Macleaya cordata extract reduced cecal E. coli counts in weaned piglets, without affecting other evaluated variables.