China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (2): 787-797.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.02.025

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Rare Earth-chitosan Chelate on Growth Performance, Digestibility of Nutrients, Serum Indices and Fecal Microbiota of Growing-finishing Pigs

LUO Qi1,2,3(), LONG Dingbiao1,2, WANG Jing1,2, XIAO Rong1,2, WANG Qi1,2()   

  1. 1.Chongqing Academy of Animal Science,Chongqing 402460,China
    2.Center of Technology Innovation for Pig (Chongqing),Chongqing 402460,China
    3.College of Animal Science and Technology,Southwest University,Chongqing 402460,China
  • Received:2025-07-24 Online:2026-02-20 Published:2026-01-27
  • Contact: WANG Qi E-mail:2669645715@qq.com;wangq0418@126.com

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with rare earth-chitosan chelate (RECC) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum parameters, and fecal microbiota in growing-finishing pigs. Method Eighty healthy “Landrace×Rongchang” crossbred pigs with similar body weight (56.17 kg±0.05 kg) were randomly divided into 2 groups with 5 replicates per group and 8 pigs per replicate (half male and half female). The pigs in control group were received a basal diet, while in the experimental group were fed the basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg RECC. The trial period included a 3‑day adaptation period and a 34‑day experimental period. Pigs were weighted on an empty stomach at the beginning and end of the experiment, and daily feed intake was recorded. On the final day, feed, fecal, and blood samples were collected to determine growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical indices, antioxidant capacity, hormone levels, and fecal microbial composition. Result Compared with control group, ①The final body weight and average daily gain of growing-finishing pigs in experimental group showed a tendency to increase, and the feed-to-gain ratio showed a tendency to reduce (0.05≤P<0.10); ②Apparent digestibility of crude protein of growing-finishing pigs in experimental group was extremely significantly increased (P<0.01), while apparent digestibility of total phosphorus was tended to increase (0.05≤P<0.10); ③Serum biochemical indices of growing-finishing pigs in experimental group had no significant effects (P>0.05), but the serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA)was significantly reduced (P<0.05); ④The levels of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone(GH) of growing-finishing pigs in experimental group were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01), and the level of tetriodothyronine (T4) was significantly increased (P<0.05); ⑤Shannon index of fecal microbiota of growing-finishing pigs in experimental group was tended to increase (0.05≤P<0.10), Beta diversity showed obvious spatial separation in two treatment groups, and the relative abundance of Spirochaetota at the phylum level was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Conclusion Under the conditions of this study, dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg RECC improved nutrient digestibility, enhanced serum antioxidant capacity and hormone levels, and modulated the diversity and composition of gut microbiota, thereby promoting the growth and development of growing-finishing pigs. These findings provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for the application of RECC in pig production.

Key words: rare earth-chitosan chelate; growing-finishing pigs; growth performance; digestibility of nutrients; serum indices; fecal microbiota

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