Yeast and Butyrate Supplements Boost Health and Growth in Young Animals

Jim Crocker
25th May, 2024

Yeast and Butyrate Supplements Boost Health and Growth in Young Animals

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by Universidade Federal de Viçosa examined the effects of dietary supplements on nursery pigs' health and growth
  • Pigs given autolyzed yeast (YSC) and sodium butyrate (ASB) showed better growth and feed efficiency compared to the control group
  • ASB and YSC supplements improved intestinal health by increasing nutrient absorption and reducing inflammation
The health and growth performance of nursery pigs are critical factors in modern pig production. Early weaning, a common practice, can lead to challenges such as immature intestines, inflammation, oxidative stress, and compromised nutrient absorption[2][3]. A recent study conducted by the Universidade Federal de Viçosa investigated the effects of supplemental nucleotides, autolyzed yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and sodium butyrate on various health parameters in nursery pigs[1]. In this study, 180 pigs, each 21 days old and weighing approximately 5.17 kg, were divided into four dietary treatment groups: a control group (CON) with a basal diet, a nucleotide-supplemented group (NUC), a lysed yeast group (YSC), and a sodium butyrate group (ASB). The pigs were monitored over 24 days, split into two phases: phase 1 (21-32 days) and phase 2 (32-45 days). During phase 1, pigs in the YSC and ASB groups showed significant improvements in average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion (FC) compared to the control group. Over the entire period, the ASB group maintained improved ADG, while the YSC group continued to show better FC compared to the control. Interestingly, the NUC diet did not significantly affect growth performance. The study also examined intestinal health by measuring the height of the ileal villi and the number of Peyer's patches, which are important for immune function. The ASB group had increased ileal villus height, which is indicative of better nutrient absorption. Both the YSC and ASB groups had fewer Peyer's patches, suggesting a reduction in intestinal inflammation. This aligns with previous findings where dietary supplements like nucleotides have been shown to improve intestinal structure and reduce inflammation[4]. In terms of molecular biology, the study evaluated the expression of various mRNA markers related to nutrient transport, tight junction proteins, antioxidants, and inflammatory markers. The YSC group showed increased mRNA expression of nutrient transporters (SMCT2, MCT1, and PepT1), tight junction proteins (OCL and ZO-1), antioxidants (GPX), and the inflammatory marker IL1-β in the jejunum. Similarly, the ASB group had increased mRNA expression of nutrient transporters (SGLT1 and MCT1), tight junction proteins (OCL and ZO-1), and antioxidants (GPX and SOD). These findings suggest that both autolyzed yeast and sodium butyrate enhance the integrity of the intestinal barrier and improve the pigs' ability to absorb nutrients and combat oxidative stress. This is consistent with earlier research indicating that substances like calcium butyrate can reduce inflammation and improve intestinal health[5]. The study's results highlight the importance of dietary supplements in improving the health and growth performance of nursery pigs. While nucleotide supplementation did not show significant effects in this study, both autolyzed yeast and sodium butyrate demonstrated considerable benefits. These findings provide valuable insights for pig producers looking to enhance the health and growth of their livestock through nutritional strategies. In summary, the research conducted by the Universidade Federal de Viçosa underscores the potential of autolyzed yeast and sodium butyrate to improve the growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs. These supplements work by enhancing nutrient absorption, reducing inflammation, and strengthening the intestinal barrier, thereby offering a promising alternative to traditional antimicrobial treatments[2][3][4][5].

NutritionHealthAnimal Science

References

Main Study

1) Autolyzed yeast and sodium butyrate supplemented alone to diets promoted improvements in performance, intestinal health and nutrient transporter in weaned piglets.

Published 24th May, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62551-9

Related Studies

2) Understanding intestinal health in nursery pigs and the relevant nutritional strategies.

https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.21.0010

3) Weaning stress and gastrointestinal barrier development: Implications for lifelong gut health in pigs.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2017.06.003

4) Supplemental effects of dietary nucleotides on intestinal health and growth performance of newly weaned pigs.

https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz334

5) Simultaneous feeding of calcium butyrate and tannin extract decreased the incidence of diarrhea and proinflammatory markers in weaned piglets.

https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.21.0011


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