China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (11): 5168-5179.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.11.014

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles    

Effects of Berberine Hydrochloride on the Growth Performance,Ileal Morphological Characteristics,and Microbial Structure of Weaned Piglets Fed Zinc Oxide Free Feed

LIU Shuo1,2, YANG Yaxin1, ZHANG Lianhua2, ZHONG Ruqing2, JIN Guang1, CHEN Liang2, ZHANG Hongfu2   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China;
    2. State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Science of CAAS, Beijing 100193, China
  • Received:2025-03-17 Published:2025-10-30

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Abstract: 【Objective】 This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding berberine hydrochloride to a zinc oxide-free diet on growth performance,serum antioxidant levels,and ileal microbiota in weaned piglets,offer references for reducing zinc oxide in the diet of weaned piglets. 【Method】 Ninety 21-day-old Duroc×Yorkshire×Landrace White ternary crossbred piglets with similar body weights (averaging 5.28 kg±0.06 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups of six replicates,each containing five piglets.The piglets in control group were fed the basal diet.While in the ZnO experimental group,zinc oxide was added to the basal diet (during the early stage from day 0 to day 14,the dosage was 1 600 mg/kg;In the later stage from day 15 to day 28,it was 110 mg/kg).For BBR group,50 mg/kg of berberine hydrochloride was added in the basal diet.The experiment lasted 28 days.Each piglet was weighed with an empty stomach on days 0,14,and 28 of the experiment.Daily feed intake was recorded for each replicate,and then the production performance was calculated.The fecal conditions of each piglet were recorded daily for diarrhea rate calculation.On days 14 and 28,blood was collected from the anterior vena cava to measure the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),superoxide dismutase (SOD),and catalase (CAT).On day 28,the piglets were slaughtered,and the ileum and its chyme were collected,the organizational morphology was observated，and high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was carried out. 【Result】 ①Compared with CON group,the feed to gain ratio(F/G) of piglets in both BBR and ZnO groups were decreased significantly (P＜0.05),the diarrhea rate of piglets in BBR group was reduced throughout the whole period (P＞0.05).Compared with CON and ZnO groups,there were no significant difference in the final body weight,average daily gain (ADG),and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of pigs in BBR group throughout the whole feeding period (P＞0.05).②On the 14th day of the experiment,there was a tendency for increased CAT activity in the serum of piglets in the BBR group (0.05＜P＜0.10).On the 28th day of the experiment,there was no significant difference in the activities of SOD,CAT,and GSH-Px in the serum of piglets among the three groups (P＞0.05).③Comparison with CON group,the treatments of BBR and ZnO extremely significantly promoted the production of ileal goblet cells in piglets (P＜0.01).In BBR group,the villus height of ileum showed a trend of increase (0.05＜P＜0.10).④Simpson index of ileal microbiota in BBR groups was significant higher than that in CON group (P<0.05),however,analysis indicators of Beta diversity (PCoA,PCA,NMDS) revealed a significant difference (P＜0.05).The intestinal microbiota in BBR group was more stable,with the endemic genus Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1. 【Conclusion】 The addition of 50 mg/kg berberine hydrochloride effectively reduced the F/G and diarrhea rate of weaned piglets over the entire experimental period,enhanced the serum antioxidant capacity level,optimized the gut microbiota structure,and consequently improved the growth performance of weaned piglets.

Key words: berberine; growth performance; antioxidant; feed to gain ratio; gut health; weaned piglets

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