Effects of dietary supplementation of bacteriophage with or without zinc oxide on the performance and gut development of weanling pigs

AbstractThe present study investigates the effect of zinc oxide (ZN), bacteriophage (BAC) or their combination on the growth performance and gut development in weaning pigs. A total of 200 weaned pigs were allotted to four treatments including two levels (0 and 0.34%) of ZN and two levels (0 and 0.10%) of BAC cocktail. Supplementation of both BAC and ZN in the diet improved average daily gain and gain to feed ratio in all three phases. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter was consistently increased in BAC. A higher digestibility of dry matter was observed in ZN group at phase-I and II. The ATTD of crude protein was increased in BAC group at phase-I and III. ZN increased ATTD of crude protein during phase III. In all phases, the population of total anaerobic bacteria, Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., Clostridium spp. and coliforms were higher in BAC and ZN groups with the exception for coliforms in ZN at the end of experiment. The duodenum (p < 0.05) and jejunum (p < 0.01) v...