Taurine is an amino acid that has been considered by animal husbandry as a feed additive due to its abundant biological functions. However, the effective dose of taurine added to feed is unknown. The aim of current study was to determine the optimal taurine supplementation level by investigating its effects on growth performance, diarrhea index, intestinal health and antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets. A total of 160 crossbred piglets (Landrace × Yorkshire, initially 8.39 ±0.11 kg) were assigned to 4 groups (10 pigs/pen and 4 replicates/group). Basal diets containing 0 (control, CON), 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% taurine were respectively provided to the piglets for a duration of 28 days. Six piglets from each group were selected for euthanasia and subsequent sample collection on day 29. The results showed that dietary 0.3% or 0.5% taurine supplementation increased average daily gain (P < 0.05), feed to gain ratio (P < 0.01), and serum albumin (P < 0.05), and decreased diarrhea index (P < 0.01) and diamine oxidase (DAO) level in the serum (P < 0.05). The greater expression of tight junction-related genes, including ZO-1 (P < 0.05) and Claudin-1 (P < 0.01), were observed in the duodenum after supplementation with 0.5% taurine. The supplementation of 0.3% or 0.5% taurine resulted in a significant reduction of crypt depth (P < 0.01) and an increase of villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (P < 0.01) in the duodenum. A greater abundance of goblet cells was detected in the duodenum and jejunum of piglets fed 0.5% taurine (P < 0.05). In addition, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) level, liver catalase (CAT) level and liver total antioxidant capacity level were all significantly (P < 0.05) increased with 0.1%, 0.3% or 0.5% dietary taurine supplementation. On the whole, dietary supplementation with 0.3% or 0.5% taurine has the potential to significantly enhance the growth performance of piglets by improving the integrity of the intestinal barrier and boosting their antioxidant capacity.

中文翻译：

---

牛磺酸通过改善断奶仔猪的肠道完整性和抗氧化能力来提高生长性能


牛磺酸是一种氨基酸，由于其丰富的生物学功能，已被畜牧业视为饲料添加剂。然而，饲料中添加牛磺酸的有效剂量尚不清楚。本研究的目的是通过调查牛磺酸对断奶仔猪生长性能、腹泻指数、肠道健康和抗氧化能力的影响来确定最佳牛磺酸补充水平。共将 160 头杂交仔猪（约克郡长白×最初 8.39 ±0.11 kg）分配到 4 组（10 头猪/栏和 4 头重复/组）。分别向仔猪提供含有 0%（对照，CON）、0.1%、0.3% 和 0.5% 牛磺酸的基础日粮，持续 28 天。从每组中选择 6 头仔猪进行安乐死，随后在第 29 天采集样本。结果表明，日粮中添加 0.3% 或 0.5% 牛磺酸可增加血清中平均日增重 （P < 0.05）、料增比 （P < 0.01） 和血清白蛋白 （P < 0.05），降低血清中腹泻指数 （P < 0.01） 和二胺氧化酶 （DAO） 水平 （P < 0.05）。补充 0.5% 牛磺酸后，在十二指肠中观察到紧密连接相关基因的表达增加，包括 ZO-1 （P < 0.05） 和 Claudin-1 （P < 0.01）。添加 0.3% 或 0.5% 牛磺酸导致十二指肠隐窝深度显着降低 （P < 0.01） 和绒毛高度与隐窝深度比增加 （P < 0.01）。在饲喂 0.5% 牛磺酸的仔猪的十二指肠和空肠中检测到更丰度的杯状细胞 （P < 0.05）。此外，膳食中添加牛磺酸蛋白 0.1%、0.3% 或 0.5% 时，血清超氧化物歧化酶 （SOD） 水平、肝过氧化氢酶 （CAT） 水平和肝脏总抗氧化能力水平均显著升高 （P < 0.05）。 总体而言，添加 0.3% 或 0.5% 牛磺酸的日粮补充剂有可能通过改善肠道屏障的完整性和提高仔猪的抗氧化能力来显着提高仔猪的生长性能。