# Efficacy of β–Glucan From Microalgae on the Intestinal Health and Growth of Nursery Pigs

## TL;DR

This study shows that β-glucan from microalgae can improve intestinal health and growth in young pigs when antibiotics are not used.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is demonstrating the efficacy of microalgae-derived β-glucan as an alternative to antibiotics in promoting pig growth and intestinal health.

## Key findings

- β-glucan supplementation increased average daily gain in pigs without antibiotics during Week 5.
- β-glucan improved villus height in the duodenum, indicating better intestinal health.
- β-glucan reduced IgA levels in the jejunum and tended to reduce them in the ileum.

## Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of β‐glucan from microalgae (Algamune, Algal Scientific, Plymouth, MI, USA) on the intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs. One hundred sixty nursery pigs (6.0 ± 1.6 kg BW) were assigned to four treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factor: antibiotic use and β‐glucan supplementation (0.02% Algamune). Diets were fed for 5 weeks, at which eight pigs from each treatment were selected for tissue sample collection. During the overall experimental period, antibiotics improved (p < 0.05) ADG and G:F. In Week 5, β‐glucan supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the ADG of pigs without antibiotics, whereas β‐glucan supplementation had no effect in pigs with antibiotics. In Phase 3, β‐glucan supplementation tended to increase (p = 0.061) ADFI of pigs without antibiotics, whereas β‐glucan supplementation had no effect in pigs with antibiotics. Both antibiotics and β–glucan increased (p < 0.05) villus height in the duodenum. Supplementation of β–glucan reduced (p < 0.05) IgA in the jejunum and tended to reduce (p = 0.053) IgA in the ileum. In conclusion, β–glucan from microalgae may encourage growth and feed intake of nursery pigs by improving intestinal health when antibiotics are not used in the diets.