Effects of glutamine on the growth performance and intestinal mucous morphology in early weaned piglets

Seventy-two piglets weaned at 21d were allocated to two treatments,each of which had 3 replicates,12 piglets per replicate.The control treatment was fed basal diet,while the experimental group was fed basal diet supplemented with 1% glutamine(Gln).The experiment lasted for 21days.The results showed that 1% Gln in diets could significantly improve growth performance and relative intestinal weight at 7d post weaning.Piglets fed with glutamine had significantly higher intestinal villus height and lower crypt depth at 7d post weaning,but at 14d post weaning,the effects of Gln on growth performance and intestinal mucous development were not significant.