IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v15y2025i9p924-d1641168.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dietary Glutamine Supplementation Enhances Growth Performance and Jejunum Development in Kele and Large White Hybrid Weaned Piglets

Author

Listed:
  • Longjuan Tan

    (Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
    Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China)

  • Yujie Cheng

    (Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
    Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China)

  • Guowei Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
    Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China)

  • Yiyu Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
    Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China)

  • Min Zhu

    (Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
    Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China)

Abstract

Glutamine (Gln), a functional amino acid, is effective in reducing weaning stress in piglets. This study aims to assess the effects of dietary Gln supplementation on intestinal morphology and functionality, as well as the growth performance of Kele and Large White hybrid weaned piglets. Forty-eight piglets aged 30 days (Kele × Large White) were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, which received a basal diet supplemented with 2.45% alanine to maintain an isonitrogenous balance; the 1% Gln group, which received the basal diet with 1.0% Gln and 1.23% alanine; and the 2% Gln group, which was given the basal diet supplemented with 2.0% Gln. Intestinal samples from 16 piglets in the control and 1% Gln groups were collected randomly on day 29 of the experiment. The results show that, compared to the control group, the 1% Gln group experienced an increase in the average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F). In contrast, the 2% Gln group did not demonstrate significant differences in either the ADG or G:F compared to the control group. Additionally, there were no differences in feed intake among the groups. Notably, weaned piglets in both the 1% and 2% Gln supplementation groups had reduced diarrhea rates compared to those in the control group. Furthermore, 1% Gln supplementation significantly increased villus height in both the duodenum and jejunum and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in weaned piglets. Subsequent analyses revealed that 1% Gln supplementation increased the mRNA expression of antioxidant genes, specifically catalase and superoxide dismutase. Additionally, the mRNA levels of the intestinal tight junction genes zonula occludens-1, Claudin 1, and Occludin in the jejuna of weaned piglets were found to be elevated. In summary, incorporating 1% Gln into the diet can significantly improve intestinal functionality and promote growth in Kele and Large White hybrid weaned piglets.

Suggested Citation

  • Longjuan Tan & Yujie Cheng & Guowei Liu & Yiyu Zhang & Min Zhu, 2025. "Dietary Glutamine Supplementation Enhances Growth Performance and Jejunum Development in Kele and Large White Hybrid Weaned Piglets," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:9:p:924-:d:1641168
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/924/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/924/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. X.T. Zou & G.H. Zheng & X.J. Fang & J.F. Jiang, 2006. "Effects of glutamine on growth performance of weanling piglets," Czech Journal of Animal Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 51(10), pages 444-448.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ewa Hanczakowska & Małgorzata Świątkiewicz & Małgorzata Natonek-Wiśniewska & Krzysztof Okoń, 2017. "Effect of glutamine and/or probiotic (Enterococcus faecium) feed supplementation on piglet performance, intestines structure, and antibacterial activity," Czech Journal of Animal Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 62(8), pages 313-322.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:9:p:924-:d:1641168. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.