Vol. 10, Special Issue 5 (2021)

Author(s):
C Bala Mounica, D Suresh Babu, J Suresh, A Ravi and TNVKV Prasad

Abstract:
In a completely randomized design, the effect of nanochitosan from chitosan as an alternative to antibiotics was evaluated using 4 liters per treatment such that the four dietary treatments had 32 piglets in each group. The dietary treatments were creep feed (T₁, control), creep feed with antibiotic (T₂), creep feed with 1.0% chitosan (T₃), creep feed with 0.1% nanochitosan (T₄) supplementation. The piglets were weaned at 42 days and fed for another 14 days by selecting at random 6 piglets for each treatment. Grower ration (T1) was supplemented with antibiotic (T2), 5.0% chitosan (T₃), 0.5% nanochitosan (T₄). During pre-weaning phase, the initial piglet weight (kg), final piglet weight (kg), average daily gain and weight gain were significantly (P<0.01) different among treatments. During grower phase, the total weight gain (kg) and average daily gain (kg) of pigs were higher (P<0.01) in T₃ and T₄. At 10th day, the villi height (µm), crypt depth (µm) and ratio of villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD) in duodenum, jejunum and ileum and the E. coli and Salmonella count (cfu/g) was not significantly different among treatments T₁ to T₄. At 42^nd day, the villi height (µm) in duodenum was significantly higher (P<0.01) in pigs fed on T₄ ration but in jejunum and ileum, height of villi (µm) was significantly higher (P<0.01) in pigs fed on T₃ and T₄ rations. The crypt depth (µm) in duodenum was significantly lower (P<0.01) in pigs fed on T₂ ration, whereas, in jejunum and ileum the crypt depth (µm) was significantly lower (P<0.01) in pigs fed on T₃ and T₄. The ratio of villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD) in duodenum, jejunum and ileum was significantly higher (P<0.01) in pigs fed on T₄ ration. The E. coli (P<0.01) and Salmonella (P<0.05) count in pigs fed on T₄ ration was significantly lower. At 57^th day, the height of villi (µm) and ratio of villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD) in duodenum, jejunum and ileum in pigs fed on T₄ ration was significantly higher (P<0.01). The crypt depth (µm) in duodenum, jejunum and ileum was significantly lower (P<0.01) in pigs fed on T₄ ration than in other treatments. The E. coli and Salmonella count (cfu/g) was significantly lower (P<0.01) in pigs fed on T₃ and T₄ rations.