Effects of tributyrin on growth performance,diarrhea,and inflammatory cytokine levels in weaned piglets

XU Nannan

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2026.01.008

Abstract：This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of tributyrin on the growth performance,diarrhea,and inflammatory cytokine levels in weaned piglets.A total of 240 aged 28 days' Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire' weaned piglets with similar body weights were randomly divided into four groups,with six replicates per group and 10 piglets per replicate.The control group was fed a basal diet,while the experimental groups were supplemented with 0.1％(group 0.1),0.2％(group 0.2),and 0.4％(group 0.4)tributyrin in the basal diet,respectively.The pre-test period was seven days,and the formal test period was 28 days.The results showed that compared with the control group,the weight gain and average daily gain of the group 0.2 were significantly increased(P＜0.05),the feed-to-gain ratio was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).The diarrhea rate was extremely reduced in the experimental groups(P＜0.01),and the diarrhea index was significantly reduced in groups 0.2 and 0.4(P＜0.05).The D-l act ate content in the serum was extremely decreased in groups 0.2 and 0.4(P＜0.01),diamine oxidase activity was significantly decreased(P＜0.05),and tumor necrosis factor-αcontent was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).The interleukin-6 content in the serum was extremely decreased in group 0.2(P＜0.01).The interleukin-10 content in the serum was extremely increased in the experimental groups(P＜0.01).The mRNA relative expression levels of interleukin-6,interleukin-1β,and tumor necrosis factor-α in the jejunum were significantly decreased in groups 0.2 and 0.4(P＜0.05),while the mRNA relative expression of interleukin-10 in the jejunum was significantly increased in the experimental groups(P＜0.05).The study shows that dietary supplementation with an appropriate amount of tributyrin can improve growth performance,reduce the diarrhea rate,and alleviate systemic inflammatory responses in weaned piglets.The optimal supplementation level of tributyrin is 0.2％.