Effect of Olive Pomace Extract on the Gut Health in Weaned Piglets

The post-weaning period is one of the most stressful phases in intensive pig farming, and it is often associated with inflammation and intestinal dysfunctions. Farmers as well as veterinarians of the pig production sector have used prophylactic antibiotics for decades in order to mitigate diseases that negatively affect intestinal health. The growing global concern about antimicrobial resistance has led to an increased interest in the use of natural products such as olive pomace (OP) extract. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of dietary OP extract on the intestinal health of weanling piglets. Twelve weaned piglets were divided in control group, which received basal diet, and treated group, which received basal diet supplemented with 600 g OP/Ton. To study intestinal permeability, urine samples were collected to determine lactulose/mannitol ratio after receiving an oral dose of these sugars and plasma samples were collected to determine D-lactic acid concentrations. Also, plasma samples were used to evaluate the intestinal metabolism using citrulline as biomarker. After 15 d of treatment, 4 animals of each group were euthanized and ileal mucus and intestinal mucosa were collected to study adherence of bacteria to mucus and histomorphology, respectively. d -lactate and citrulline concentrations were significantly lower and higher, respectively in the treated group compared with the control group. Intestinal absorptive area, goblet cells counts and adherence of E. coli to intestinal mucus were significantly higher in the treated group compared to the control group. Our results showed that OP induces positive changes in the intestinal health parameters and should be considered an alternative to prophylactic use of antibiotics during the post-weaning period.