Use of β-acids of hops (Humulus lupulus) in weanling pig diets

Author(s)

Maicon Sbardella

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2015-01-16

Examining board members

Valdomiro Shigueru Miyada; Dirlei Antonio Berto; José Fernando Machado Menten; Aline Mondini Calil Racanicci; Marcos Livio Panhoza Tse

• Advisor: Valdomiro Shigueru Miyada

Abstract

The purposes of this study were: (1) to evaluate the effects of dietary graded levels of hop (Humulus lupulus) &beta;-acids or antimicrobial growth promoter (colistin) on growth performance, nutrients and energy digestibility, diarrhea occurrence, unthrifty pigs, respiratory burst, organ weights, small intestine histology, and intestine microbial diversity of weanling pigs, as well as in vitro bacteria sensitivity to hop &beta;-acids; and (2) to evaluate the effects of dietary hop &beta;-acids on physical attributes, lipid oxidation, and composition of Longissimus muscle. Two hundred weanling pigs (6.23±0.32 kg BW) were used in a randomized complete block design experiment with 5 treatments, 8 replications, and 5 pigs per experimental unit (pen). Pigs were fed diets supplemented with 0 (negative control), 120, 240, or 360 mg/kg hop &beta;-acids, or with 40 mg/kg colistin (antimicrobial treatment) during a 35d. On days 7 and 35 of the experiment, one castrated male from each pen was slaughtered to evaluate organ weights (stomach, pancreas, liver, small intestine, spleen), small intestine histology (villus height and crypt depth), and intestine microbial diversity (PCR-DGGE), as well to sample Longissimus muscle for meat analysis. ANOVA and orthogonal contrasts were performed to determine the effects of dietary hop &beta;-acids levels (0, 120, 240, and 360 mg/kg) on all variables, as well as to compare the antimicrobial treatment with all other treatments. Increasing dietary levels of hop &beta;-acids linearly improved (P<0.05) BW, ADG, G:F, and apparent digestibility of ether extract of weanling pig diets. The antimicrobial treatment improved (P<0.03) BW, ADG, and G:F compared to negative control, but did not affect (P>0.05) nutrients and energy digestibility. No effects (P>0.05) of treatments were observed on ADFI. Overall, the diarrhea occurrence was lower (P<0.01) for antimicrobial treatment, negative control, and 360 mg/kg hop &beta;-acids than for 120 and 240 mg/kg hop &beta;-acids, while no unthrifty pigs were identified throughout all experimental period. No effects (P>0.05) of dietary treatments were observed on blood respiratory burst, organ weights, small intestine histology, and intestine microbial diversity. Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive, while Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurim, and Enterococcus faecalis were resistant to hop &beta;-acids. No effects (P>0.05) of hop &beta;-acids were observed on meat physical attributes. Quadratic effects (P<0.05) of hop &beta;-acids were observed on fat, protein, and TBARS-values of meat, showing that dietary levels of 176, 150 and 181 mg/kg hop &beta;- acids provided, respectively, 16.20% fat reduction, 1.95% protein accretion, and 23.31% TBARS reduction. Therefore, dietary hop (Humulus lupulus) &beta;-acids up to 360 mg/kg showed to be efficient as an alternative to antimicrobial growth promoters for weanling pigs, as well to reduce fat, increase protein, and prevent lipid oxidation of meat. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/01005-3 - Use of beta-acids of hops (Humulus lupulus) in weanling pig diets
• Grantee: Maicon Sbardella
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate