We evaluated the effects of 3 additives,
sodium butyrate (AC), avilamycin (AB), and a combination
of plant extracts (XT), on the productive performance
and the intestinal environment of the earlyweaned
pig. The XT was a standardized mixture with
5% (wt/wt) carvacrol (from Origanum spp.), 3% cinnamaldehyde
(from Cinnamonum spp.), and 2% capsicum
oleoresin (from Capsicum annum). Pigs (n = 32) weaned
at 18 to 22 d of age with an initial BW of 6.0 ± 0.10 kg
were allocated to 8 pens that, in turn, were allocated
to 4 treatments. The treatments included a basal diet
(CT) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.3% of AC,
0.04% of AB, or 0.03% of XT. Productive performance
was determined during the initial 14 d postweaning.
On d 19 and 21 of the experiment, the pigs were killed
to allow collection of digesta and intestinal tissue to
evaluate variables indicative of aspects of the gastrointestinal
environment. TreatmentsAB andAC improved
G:F (P = 0.012 and 0.003, respectively) compared with
the CT. Butyrate included in the diet was only detected
in the stomach but not in cranial jejunum. When com-