The effects of dietary supplementation of palygorskite on intestinal integrity inweaned pigletswere investigated
in this study. Pigs weaned at 24 days of age (n=27) were allocated to three groups and fed the same basal diet
supplementedwith 0mg/kg (control), 2000mg/kg, or 3000mg/kg palygorskite for 42days. Three pigs fromeach
treatment group were slaughtered for assessment of intestinal integrity on days 21 and 42. The results showed
that both the feed/gain and the rate of diarrhea were decreased (P b 0.05) with supplementation of 2000mg/kg
palygorskite, and there were no significant differences between the two palygorskite-treated groups. Pigs fed
palygorskite showed lower (P b 0.05) plasma endotoxin and diamine oxidase concentrations on day 21.
Compared with control, the villus diameters of duodenum (2000mg/kg group) and ileum (3000mg/kg group)
were increased (Pb0.05) on day 21, and villus height of the ileumwas improved in the groups given palygorskite
(P b 0.05) on day 42. Lymphocyte numbers in the jejunum were increased (P b 0.05) with dietary
supplementation of 2000mg/kg palygorskite on day 42, compared with control. Palygorskite was shown to be
beneficial to the intestinal integrity, which resulted in improving growth performance in weaned piglets.