Dietary supplementation of glycerol monolaurate improves growth performance, meat quality, and gut microbiota in black pigs
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigated the effects of glycerol monolaurate (GML) on growth performance, meat quality, and gut microbiota in black pigs. A total of 135 castrated Dongliao black pigs (age, 170 ± 5 d; initial body weight, 82.41 ± 1.65 kg; male:female = 72:63) were weighed and randomly assigned into three groups (3 replicates/group, 15 pigs/replicate). Pigs were fed either a basal diet (control group) or the basal diet supplemented with 250 and 750 mg/kg GML for 56 d. The results showed that GML supplementation linearly increased final body weight ( P = 0.031) and quadratically changed the feed intake to gain ratio ( P = 0.025) without causing glucolipid metabolism disorders. In addition, GML improved meat quality and promoted protein ( P = 0.034) and amino acid (AA) deposition ( P = 0.005) in the muscle. These beneficial effects were attributed to improvements in the intestinal micro-environment, as GML significantly increased the relative abundances of Terrisporobacter and Romboutsia ( P < 0.05), and elevated the concentration of total bile acids related to gut microbiota ( P = 0.001). Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of GML as a functional feed additive to improve growth performance and meat quality of finishing pigs, with 750 mg/kg GML showing greater efficacy than 250 mg/kg.
Source: Animal nutrition
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,462
OpenAlex ID: W4415942963