Acetylsalicylic acid supplementation improves protein utilization efficiency while vitamin E supplementation reduces markers of the inflammatory response in weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic E.coli

Background： This experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that vitamin E（Vit E） and acetylsalicylic acid（ASA）, a cyclooxygenase-2（COX-2） inhibitor, will additively reduce the production of the immunosuppressive molecule prostaglandin E_2（PGE_2） and hence reduce inflammatory responses in weaner pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli.Methods： The experiment was conducted in a research facility with 192 individually-housed male weaner pigs（Landrace × Large White） weighing 6.6 ± 0.04 kg（mean ± SEM）. The pigs were experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli and were allocated to a 2 × 3 factorial design with the respective factors being without and with 125 ppm ASA and three levels of Vit E supplementation（50, 100 or 200 IU/kg diet, dl-α-tocopheryl acetate）.Results： Acetylsalicylic acid supplementation improved average daily gain（P 〈 0.05） and tended to improve feed：gain ratio（P 〈 0.10） during the first 14 d after weaning. Acetylsalicylic acid supplementation also improved（P 〈 0.001） amino acid utilization efficiency（as assessed by plasma urea level） and tended to decrease（P 〈 0.10） PGE2 production in the liver without affecting smal intestinal histology and tight junction protein mR NA expression in the jejunal epithelium. Vitamin E supplementation greater than 100 IU/kg diet sustained both the plasma Vit E concentration（P 〈 0.001） and plasma haptoglobin content（P 〈 0.001） after weaning. However, there was no additive effects of the combined supplementation of ASA and Vit E on performance, intestinal barrier function and inflammatory responses of weaned pigs.Conclusions： Although ASA and vitamin E improved amino acid utilization efficiency and reduced acute inflammatory responses, ASA and vitamin E did not additively reduce production of PGE2 and inflammatory responses in weaner pigs experimental y infected with an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli.

P recision L ivestock F arming: A n international review of scientific and commercial aspects

Precision Livestock Farming(PLF)is potentially one of the most powerful developments amongst a number of interesting new and upcoming technologies that have the potential to revolutionise the livestock farming industries.If properly implemented,PLF or Smart Farming could(1)improve or at least objectively document animal welfare on farms;(2)reduce greenhouse gas(GHG)emission and improve environmental performance of farms;(3)facilitate product segmentation and better marketing of livestock products;(4)reduce illegal trading of livestock products;and(5)improve the economic stability of rural areas.However,there are only a few examples of successful commercialisation of PLF technologies introduced by a small number of commercial companies which are actively involved in the PLF commercialisation process.To ensure that the potential of PLF is taken to the industry,it is recommended to:(1)establish a new service industry;(2)verify,demonstrate and publicise the benefits of PLF;(3)better coordinate the efforts of different industry and academic organisations interested in the development and implementation of PLF technologies on farms;and(4)encourage the commercial sectors to assist with professionally managed product development.