Effects of coated sodium butyrate on performance, diarrhea, intestinal microflora and barrier function of pigs during the first 2-week post-weaning

The present study was to investigate the effects of coated sodium butyrate (CSB) and uncoated sodium butyrate (USB) on performance, intestinal microflora and barrier function of weaned pigs. A total of 180 piglets, weaned at 28 +/- 1 d age, were allotted to 5 treatments for 2 weeks. The five treatments were the control (basal diet), and the basal diet supplemented with 150, 300 or 450 mg sodium butyrate/kg feed as CSB or 1000 mg USB/kg feed. The results showed that compared with the control group, supplemental 1000 mg USB/kg feed increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain, the ratio of Lactobacilli and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in jejunum, and decreased (P < 0.05) post-weaning scour scores on day 8, plasma diamine oxidase (DAO), flux of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran 4 kDa (FD4) in jejunum. The incremental levels of CSB increased (linear P < 0.05; quadratic P < 0.05) average daily gain, transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and the ratio of Lactobacilli and E. Coli in jejunum and colon, and decreased (linear P < 0.05; quadratic P < 0.05) post-weaning scour scores on day 4 and day 8, plasma DAO, flux of FD4 in jejunum and colon. Compared with 1000 mg USB/kg feed, supplemental 450 mg sodium butyrate/kg feed as CSB increased (P < 0.05) the ratio of Lactobacilli and E. Coli in colon. The results indicated that dietary 300 or 450 mg sodium butyrate/kg feed as CSB can increase growth performance, alleviate post-weaning diarrhea, improve intestinal microflora and barrier function of pigs, during the first 2-week post-weaning. Supplementation with 300 or 450 mg sodium butyrate/kg feed as CSB was as efficacious as 1000 mg USB/kg feed.