Silibinin in Piglet Feed Boosts Intestinal Health, Reveals Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Study

The Pig Nutrition and Feed Innovation Team at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Feed Institute has uncovered a significant breakthrough. Their study reveals that incorporating silibinin into piglet feed can notably enhance intestinal health during the critical weaning stage. This discovery, detailed in the journal "Antioxidants," carries implications for the broader integration of silibinin in livestock and poultry production.

Weaning stress poses a considerable threat to piglet intestinal well-being, often resulting in issues like diarrhea, stunted growth, and even mortality. Silibinin, recognized for its antioxidant properties, emerges as a promising solution. The study demonstrates that supplementing the diet with 400 mg/kg of silibinin improves weaned piglet growth and reduces diarrhea rates under standard feeding conditions. Additionally, it enhances piglet antioxidant capabilities during stress, mitigating disruptions in intestinal flora. These findings underscore the efficacy of incorporating silibinin into feed as a practical approach to bolstering weaned piglet intestinal health, lending theoretical support to its role as a green feed additive.

This groundbreaking research received support from the National Key Research and Development Plan of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the Agricultural Science Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.