Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Liquor Distillers’ Grains with Solubles on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Serum Parameters, and Fecal Microbiota of Late-Phase Nursery Yacha Pigs
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of liquor distillers’ grains with solubles (LDGS) on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, immune and antioxidant status, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and fecal microbial diversity in late-phase nursery Yacha pigs. The experiment involved 240 healthy 60-day-old pigs with an initial body weight of 23.99 ± 1.00 kg. These pigs were assigned randomly to five treatment groups, each consisting of eight replicate pens and six pigs per pen. The control group (CON) received a basal diet, while the four treatment groups were supplied with basal diets with 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% LDGS, respectively. Compared with the CON group, BUN levels were significantly lower in the 3% supplement group (p < 0.05). These results suggest changes in nitrogen metabolism, but there were no significant differences in ADG or F/G. Meanwhile, compared with the CON group, the 3% group showed significant changes in anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.05). Serum IgG was also significantly higher, but the absolute increase was small. The 3% supplementation group had the highest fecal SCFA concentrations, with acetic acid concentrations significantly elevated relative to the control group (p < 0.05). Regarding microbial diversity, in the 3% and 4% supplementation groups, the relative abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, such as Terrisporobacter, was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05), while the relative abundance of the opportunistic pathogen Streptococcus was significantly decreased in the 3%, 4% and 5% groups (p < 0.05). Overall, multiple indicators declined at the 4% or 5% LDGS inclusion level. The 3% dietary LDGS supplementation level led to relatively better gut health and helped maintain balanced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant homeostasis, but ADG and F/G did not differ significantly from the control. Therefore, among the inclusion levels tested, 3% LDGS was associated with favorable overall responses in late-phase nursery Yacha pigs.
Source: Animals
DOI: 10.3390/ani16223571
Institutions: Zhejiang A & F University, Zhejiang University
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W7225778739