Effects of cetylpyridinium-montmorillonite, as alternative to antibiotic, on the growth performance, intestinal microflora and mucosal architecture of weaned pigs

Cetylpyridinium-montmorillonite (CP-Mt) was used as an alternative to chlortetracycline on growth performance, intestinal microflora and morphology in weaned pigs. A total of 150 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, weaned at 21 ± 1 d age) were allotted to five groups: (1) control; (2) control + 0.5 g/kg CP-Mt; (3) control + 1.0 g/kg CP-Mt; (4) control + 1.5 g/kg CP-Mt; (5) control + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline. Each treatment has six pens with five pigs per pen. The feeding trial lasted three weeks. The results showed that incremental CP-Mt inclusion in the diet increased average daily gain (linear P=0.013; quadratic P=0.034), decreased Escherichia coli and Streptococcus suis in jejunal contents linearly (P=0.004 and P=0.006) and quadratically (P=0.014 and P=0.009), decreased E. coli and Streptococcus suis in colon linearly (P=0.005 and P=0.001) and quadratically (P=0.007 and P=0.004), increased villus height (linear P<0.001; quadratic P=0.001) and the ratio of villus height and crypt depth (linear P<0.001; quadratic P=0.001), reduced plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) (linear P=0.000; quadratic P=0.001), and increased jejunal mucosa DAO (linear P=0.006; quadratic P=0.002). The piglets fed 1.0 g/kg and 1.5 g/kg CP-Mt did not differ from those fed chlortetracycline (P>0.05) in growth performance, intestinal microflora and mucosal architecture. The results indicated that CP-Mt could be a good candidate as an antibiotic alternative in weaned pigs.