Effects of Antimicrobial Peptide on Growth Performance and Health of Weaning Piglets

In order to study the effect of antimicrobial peptide on growth performance and health of weaning piglets,144 weaning piglets[(25±3)d of age, Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc,initial body weight:(6.91±1.10)kg] were randomly allotted to 3 treatments.There were 3 replicate pens in each treatment with 16 pigs per pen.The dietary treatments were basal diet(control),basal diet+0.2% antimicrobial peptide(group 1)and basal diet+0.4% antimicrobial peptide(group 2).The experimental diets were fed in for 2 phases(1-14d,prior phase and 15-28d,later phase post-weaning).The growth performance and serum related indices of 3 treatments were measured.The results showed that ADG,ADFI and F/G of the piglets in group 2were increased by 11.3%,3.8% and 6.4%,but difference between the group 2 and control was not significant.The death and culling rates of the piglets in group 1and group 2were significantly lower than that of control,the serum IgG and TC content of group 2 were significantly higher,and the serum BUN level was significantly lower than that of group 1and control.In addition,the serum MDA content in group 1 and 2 was significantly lower than that of control,and the serum T-AOC activity in group 2 was significantly higher than that of goups 1 and control.It can be inferred that the serum IgG level,antioxidant capacity and health of the weaning piglets could be significantly improved with antimicrobial peptide supplementation in the diets,and the death and culling rate reduced as well.