Early treatment with pancreatic-like microbial-derived enzymes during the preweaning period promotes growth in growing–finishing pigs

Treatment with pancreatic or pancreatic-like microbial enzymes during the suckling period has positive effects on the gut, resulting in a better fat absorption and improved barrier function in pigs. The present study investigated the effects of pancreaticlike enzyme treatment during the pre- or postweaning period on pig growth and nitrogen utilization. Suckling 7- to 14-d-old pigs were gavage fed with a microbial-derived enzyme preparation (amylase, protease, and lipase) in a split-litter mode (13 litters) once (n = 29), twice (n = 35), or untreated (controls; n = 66). All pigs were then raised under the same standard production conditions and received the same diets, and their BW and feed intake were monitored until slaughter. Another set of 35-d-old pigs, on the day of weaning, were placed in metabolic cages and fed a diet with or without enzyme supplementation for 2 wk (n = 4/group). Feed consumption was measured daily, and at the end of each week, BW was recorded and urine and feces were collected during 72 h for nitrogen analysis. Dietary enzyme supplementation after weaning in selected doses had no major effect on feed consumption, nitrogen retention, or growth compared with the control. In contrast, enzyme treatment during the suckling period gave improved growth, with increased BW at 6 mo of age, 105 ± 16 vs. 97 ± 15 kg for the controls (P < 0.05), and those pigs reached slaughter weight earlier than untreated controls. In addition, the feed conversion ratio was significantly decreased, thus lowering nitrogen excretion per kilogram BW gain in the enzymetreated group compared with the untreated controls (3.0 vs. 2.7, respectively). We conclude that enzyme supplementation during the suckling period was beneficial for both pig performance and environment protection, probably due to an induced improved maturation of the gut having a long-term impact on feed utilization and growth after weaning.