Effect of emulsifier (lysophospholipids) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and blood profile in weanling pigs

• We evaluated the effect of lysophospholipids (LPL) supplementation in weanling pigs.
• LPL addition improved ADG when a reduced energy diet was given to weanling pigs.
• Increased ATTD of nutrients was observed by the supplementation of LPL.
• LPL decreased serum triglyceride concentration when a reduced energy diet was given.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of emulsifier (lysophospholipids; LPL) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and blood profile in weanling pigs. A total of 144 weanling pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of 7.95 ± 0.97 kg were randomly allotted to one of four treatments for a 35 d experiment. There were two phases with different net energy (NE) including phase 1 (d 0–14) and phase 2 (d 15–35). The treatments included: (1) RET, reduced energy treatment (NE = 10.57 and 10.32 MJ/kg for phase 1 and phase 2), (2) BDT, basal diet treatment (NE = 10.87 and 10.63 MJ/kg), (3) RET05, RET + 0.5 g/kg LPL, and (4) RET10, RET + 1.0 g/kg LPL. During d 0–14, 15–35, and the overall period, average daily gain (ADG) in pigs fed the BDT and RET10 treatments was greater (P < 0.05) than pigs fed the RET treatment. Pigs fed the BDT and RET10 treatments had higher (P < 0.05) gain:feed than those fed the RET treatment during d 15–35. On d 14 and 35, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter, gross energy, and crude fat in pigs fed the RET05 and RET10 treatments was increased (P < 0.05) compared with RET and BDT treatments, while RET05 treatment had higher (P < 0.05) ATTD of nitrogen than RET and BDT treatment. On d 35, pigs fed the BDT treatments had higher (P < 0.05) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration compared with those fed the RET treatments. Triglyceride concentration was decreased (P < 0.05) in RET05 and RET10 treatments compared with that in RET and BDT treatments on d 35. However, no effects were detected on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol concentrations on d 14 and 35 among dietary treatments. In conclusion, LPL addition improved ADG, nutrient digestibility, but decreased the serum triglyceride concentration when a reduced energy diet was given to weanling pigs.