Digestibility and Nutritional Value of Microalga <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. for Weaner Piglets

Twenty-four male piglets were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, with increasing <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. incorporation levels (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%). Following a 4-day adaptation period to metabolic cages, the animals were used in a 2-week digestibility trial and slaughtered fo...

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Main Authors: Andreia A. M. Chaves, Cátia F. Martins, David M. Ribeiro, Margarida R. G. Maia, António J. M. Fonseca, Ana R. J. Cabrita, Susana P. Alves, Miguel P. Mourato, Mário Pinho, Rui J. B. Bessa, André M. de Almeida, João P. B. Freire
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/967
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author Andreia A. M. Chaves
Cátia F. Martins
David M. Ribeiro
Margarida R. G. Maia
António J. M. Fonseca
Ana R. J. Cabrita
Susana P. Alves
Miguel P. Mourato
Mário Pinho
Rui J. B. Bessa
André M. de Almeida
João P. B. Freire
author_facet Andreia A. M. Chaves
Cátia F. Martins
David M. Ribeiro
Margarida R. G. Maia
António J. M. Fonseca
Ana R. J. Cabrita
Susana P. Alves
Miguel P. Mourato
Mário Pinho
Rui J. B. Bessa
André M. de Almeida
João P. B. Freire
author_sort Andreia A. M. Chaves
collection DOAJ
description Twenty-four male piglets were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, with increasing <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. incorporation levels (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%). Following a 4-day adaptation period to metabolic cages, the animals were used in a 2-week digestibility trial and slaughtered for digestive tract measurements and sampling. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), N balance, small intestine digesta viscosity and histomorphology, and hindgut digesta volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile were determined. Polynomial contrasts were employed to examine linear and quadratic effects of <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. dietary incorporation. The ATTD of most macronutrients and N retention efficiencies decreased linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. dietary inclusion. The ileum villi height increased linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and the hindgut VFA concentration increased linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with dietary <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. inclusion. The ATTD values estimated for <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. biomass using the regression method were 68.3% ± 3.86 for dry matter (DM), 66.1% ± 5.11 for N, and 61.3% ± 4.28 for gross energy. The values calculated for digestible and metabolizable energy (MJ/kg DM) and digestible crude protein (% DM) for <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. were 9.0, 8.8, and 18.3, respectively. <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. biomass had lower ATTD values when compared to protein sources commonly used in swine nutrition.
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spelling doaj-art-95aa9e2b4ea2425dbb3aca8d5e0751762025-08-20T03:08:43ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-03-0115796710.3390/ani15070967Digestibility and Nutritional Value of Microalga <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. for Weaner PigletsAndreia A. M. Chaves0Cátia F. Martins1David M. Ribeiro2Margarida R. G. Maia3António J. M. Fonseca4Ana R. J. Cabrita5Susana P. Alves6Miguel P. Mourato7Mário Pinho8Rui J. B. Bessa9André M. de Almeida10João P. B. Freire11LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalLEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalLEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalLEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalREQUIMTE, LAQV, ICBAS, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE, LAQV, ICBAS, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalCIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, PortugalLEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalCIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, PortugalCIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, PortugalLEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalLEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalTwenty-four male piglets were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, with increasing <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. incorporation levels (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%). Following a 4-day adaptation period to metabolic cages, the animals were used in a 2-week digestibility trial and slaughtered for digestive tract measurements and sampling. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), N balance, small intestine digesta viscosity and histomorphology, and hindgut digesta volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile were determined. Polynomial contrasts were employed to examine linear and quadratic effects of <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. dietary incorporation. The ATTD of most macronutrients and N retention efficiencies decreased linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. dietary inclusion. The ileum villi height increased linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and the hindgut VFA concentration increased linearly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with dietary <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. inclusion. The ATTD values estimated for <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. biomass using the regression method were 68.3% ± 3.86 for dry matter (DM), 66.1% ± 5.11 for N, and 61.3% ± 4.28 for gross energy. The values calculated for digestible and metabolizable energy (MJ/kg DM) and digestible crude protein (% DM) for <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. were 9.0, 8.8, and 18.3, respectively. <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. biomass had lower ATTD values when compared to protein sources commonly used in swine nutrition.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/967digestible energyfatty acidsfeed evaluationmicroalgaemineralspost-weaning piglets
spellingShingle Andreia A. M. Chaves
Cátia F. Martins
David M. Ribeiro
Margarida R. G. Maia
António J. M. Fonseca
Ana R. J. Cabrita
Susana P. Alves
Miguel P. Mourato
Mário Pinho
Rui J. B. Bessa
André M. de Almeida
João P. B. Freire
Digestibility and Nutritional Value of Microalga <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. for Weaner Piglets
Animals
digestible energy
fatty acids
feed evaluation
microalgae
minerals
post-weaning piglets
title Digestibility and Nutritional Value of Microalga <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. for Weaner Piglets
title_full Digestibility and Nutritional Value of Microalga <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. for Weaner Piglets
title_fullStr Digestibility and Nutritional Value of Microalga <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. for Weaner Piglets
title_full_unstemmed Digestibility and Nutritional Value of Microalga <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. for Weaner Piglets
title_short Digestibility and Nutritional Value of Microalga <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp. for Weaner Piglets
title_sort digestibility and nutritional value of microalga i tetraselmis i sp for weaner piglets
topic digestible energy
fatty acids
feed evaluation
microalgae
minerals
post-weaning piglets
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/967
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