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The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Health and Production Performance...
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The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Health and Production Performance in Swine

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Pigs".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 3275

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Dongsheng Che

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Center of Pig Industry Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Interests: swine nutrition; feedstuff evaluation; amino acid nutrition; nutrition regulation; energy nutrition

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutrient regulation constitutes a fundamental research imperative within the modern swine industry, directly governing porcine health and productive performance. The optimal provision of protein, carbohydrates, and lipids not only maximizes feed utilization efficiency but also exerts significant influence on carcass composition, lean tissue accretion efficiency, and overall product quality, while concurrently mitigating metabolic disorder incidence. Vitamins and minerals are indispensable for sustaining essential physiological functions, critically mediating immune response modulation, and fortifying disease resistance. The strategic application of functional nutrients—including probiotics, functional amino acids, and oligosaccharides—serves to enhance intestinal barrier integrity, reduce diarrheal prevalence, and amplify nutrient absorption efficacy. Research in these directions is paramount for implementing precision nutritional frameworks, elevating swine health and production performance, and ensuring sustainable animal agriculture.

Therefore, to explore these topics, we announce a Special Issue titled “The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Health and Production Performance in Swine”. Research paper and literature review submissions are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Dongsheng Che
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • swine
  • feedstuff
  • feed additives
  • health
  • production performance

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 336 KB  
Article
Effects of Yucca schidigera Supplementation on In Vitro Cecal Fermentation and In Vivo Nutrient Digestibility in Male and Female Lean Fattening Pigs
by Matteo Santoru, Jennifer Muñoz-Grein, María Ángeles Latorre, Luciano Pinotti, Luciana Rossi and Javier Alvarez-Rodriguez
Animals 2026, 16(9), 1354; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16091354 - 28 Apr 2026
Viewed by 268
Abstract
The effect of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE; 10.8% saponins) on in vitro caecal disappearance (IVCD) was tested by incubating pre-digested feed with 0, 150, or 300 mg YSE/kg using caecal inocula from male and female pigs (Experiment 1). The apparent total tract digestibility [...] Read more.
The effect of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE; 10.8% saponins) on in vitro caecal disappearance (IVCD) was tested by incubating pre-digested feed with 0, 150, or 300 mg YSE/kg using caecal inocula from male and female pigs (Experiment 1). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and fermentation products were assessed in vivo in 40 crossbred finishing pigs fed with 0 or 300 mg YSE/kg for 42 days (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, YSE did not affect IVCD or gas production, but reduced caecal ammonia-N across sexes (p < 0.05). Caecal pH decreased progressively with increasing YSE in female-derived inocula only (p = 0.015), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) were suppressed in females at the highest dose (p = 0.013), while male-derived inocula remained unaffected. Entire males exhibited higher IVCD (p < 0.001) and lower ammonia-N (p = 0.034) and VFA production (p < 0.10) than females. In Experiment 2, YSE did not influence faecal ammonia-N, or VFA profile (p > 0.10), but reduced the ATTD of crude protein (p < 0.001) and organic matter (p < 0.001) relative to the control diet. YSE selectively modulated in vitro caecal fermentation in pigs, but these effects were not confirmed in vivo. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Health and Production Performance in Swine)
18 pages, 7789 KB  
Article
Dose-Dependent Responses of Weaned Piglets to Multi-Species Solid-State Fermented Apple Pomace: Enhanced Growth Performance, Intestinal Health, and Gut Microbiota Modulation
by Jiongjie He and Shengyi Wang
Animals 2026, 16(2), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020334 - 21 Jan 2026
Viewed by 549
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Apple pomace, a major by-product of juice production, represents both an environmental burden and an underutilized resource. This study aimed to enhance the nutritional value of apple pomace via solid-state fermentation (SSF) to develop a functional feed ingredient and systematically evaluate its [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Apple pomace, a major by-product of juice production, represents both an environmental burden and an underutilized resource. This study aimed to enhance the nutritional value of apple pomace via solid-state fermentation (SSF) to develop a functional feed ingredient and systematically evaluate its effects on growth, metabolism, and intestinal health in weaned piglets. Methods: Apple pomace was fermented using a multi-species consortium (Geotrichum candidum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhizopus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, and Trichoderma viride). A total of 180 weaned piglets were fed iso-nitrogenous diets containing 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10% fermented apple pomace for 35 days. Growth performance, serum biochemical and immuno-antioxidant indices, diarrhea incidence, jejunal morphology, and fecal microbiota were analyzed. Results: Dietary fermented apple pomace supplementation showed dose-dependent effects. The 8% fermented apple pomace group exhibited optimal growth performance, with increased average daily gain and feed intake and reduced feed-to-gain ratio (p < 0.05). Serum analysis indicated enhanced protein synthesis, antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px), and immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgG, IgM), along with reduced urea nitrogen and oxidative stress marker MDA. This group also had the lowest diarrhea rate, associated with improved jejunal villus morphology. Microbiota analysis revealed that 8% fermented apple pomace effectively increased α-diversity, promoted beneficial bacteria (e.g., lactic acid bacteria and butyrate-producing Clostridium sensu stricto_1), and suppressed pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus). Conclusions: Multi-species SSF successively enhanced the nutritional profile of apple pomace. Inclusion at 8% showed the most favorable response in terms of growth performance, metabolic profile, and immune–antioxidant status in weaned piglets, mediated through improved intestinal morphology and targeted modulation of the gut microbiota toward a more diverse and beneficial ecosystem. These findings support the high-value, functional utilization of apple pomace as a feed additive in swine nutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Health and Production Performance in Swine)
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22 pages, 1405 KB  
Article
The Role of CP Level and Interaction with Antibiotics in the Post-Weaning Piglets’ Diet: Growth Performance, Body Composition, Nutrient Digestion, and Intestinal Health
by Rui Wang, Lei Hou, Qiwen Wu, Xiaolu Wen, Yunxia Xiong, Xuefen Yang, Kaiguo Gao, Zongyong Jiang, Shuting Cao and Li Wang
Animals 2026, 16(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16010024 - 21 Dec 2025
Viewed by 869
Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of crude protein (CP) levels and antibiotics in feed on the growth performance, body composition, nutrient digestion and absorption, gut health, and microbiota of weaned piglets. A total of 100 piglets (Duroc × [...] Read more.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of crude protein (CP) levels and antibiotics in feed on the growth performance, body composition, nutrient digestion and absorption, gut health, and microbiota of weaned piglets. A total of 100 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, weaned at day 21) with an initial weight of 6.39 ± 0.03 kg were randomly assigned to four treatments and fed with 18% CP antibiotic-free diets, 18% CP with antibiotics diets, 24% CP antibiotic-free diets, and 24% CP with antibiotics diets for 0–14 d (S1). Furthermore, the piglets were fed with an identical diet (19% CP and without antibiotics) starting day 15 until they reached 25 kg (S2). Results indicated that the average daily gain (ADG) and gain feed ratio (G:F) during the S1 phase as well as BW at day 14, were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the 18% CP group compared with the 24% CP group. Similarly, piglets in the 18% CP group showed a significantly decreased body protein content and body water, protein deposition rates at the S1 phase, and significantly improved the body lipid content and deposition rate but not (p > 0.05) at the S2 phase. The 18% CP group demonstrated significantly increased (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, and Lysine in weaned piglets during the S1 phase, while Glycine concentration significantly decreased, and no significant (p > 0.05) effects were observed in the S2 phase. Furthermore, dietary antibiotic supplementation had no effect on (p > 0.05) piglet growth performance, body composition, nutrient digestion, and metabolism throughout the entire trial period. In the absence of antibiotics, compared to the 24% CP diet group, the piglets fed with an 18% CP diet significantly increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the colon of weaned piglets upon reaching 25 kg BW (p < 0.05). Compared to the diet without added antibiotics, the addition of antibiotics to the diet significantly decreased the relative abundance of Pseudoramibacter in the colon of weaned piglets on day 14. No significant (p > 0.05) difference was observed in intestinal morphology or gastrointestinal pH among the groups. In conclusion, lower dietary protein levels in the early post-weaning period reduced growth performance and promoted gut microbiota balance, and compensatory growth occurred after returning to higher protein levels two weeks after weaning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Health and Production Performance in Swine)
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23 pages, 2909 KB  
Article
Effect of the Interaction Between Dietary Fiber Structure and Apparent Viscosity on the Production Performance of Growing Pigs
by Feng Yong, Huijuan Li, Bing Hu, Bo Liu, Rui Han and Dongsheng Che
Animals 2025, 15(22), 3310; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15223310 - 17 Nov 2025
Viewed by 954
Abstract
To investigate the regulatory effects of dietary fiber structure (β-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratio, β/AX) and apparent viscosity (AV) on production performance in pigs, this study used a 2 × 3 factorial design, randomly assigning 36 growing pigs (47.2 ± 1.5 kg) to six dietary treatments [...] Read more.
To investigate the regulatory effects of dietary fiber structure (β-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratio, β/AX) and apparent viscosity (AV) on production performance in pigs, this study used a 2 × 3 factorial design, randomly assigning 36 growing pigs (47.2 ± 1.5 kg) to six dietary treatments (two AV levels and three β/AX ratios), and observed the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, intestinal microbiota, and liver lipid metabolism. The results showed that increased dietary β/AX and AV reduced subcutaneous fat deposition, improved meat tenderness and the nutrient content of meat, but decreased pig weight gain and dressing percentage. Increased dietary β/AX and AV selectively promoted the relative abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria and the concentration of butyrate in the middle colon, thereby regulating the expression of genes related to hepatic de novo lipid synthesis and oxidation, reducing serum glucose and total cholesterol levels, and increasing plasma glucagon-like peptide-1. These findings reveal the potential mechanism by which the physicochemical properties of dietary fiber mediate lipid metabolism to reduce weight gain and provide new insights for regulating fat deposition in pigs by controlling the structural and physical properties of dietary fiber. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Health and Production Performance in Swine)
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