Comparative Effects of Different Dietary Acidifiers on Growth Performance and Intestinal Health in Weaned Piglets

Abstract

Simple Summary Weaning exposes piglets to nutritional, intestinal, and environmental challenges that can compromise feed intake and growth. Benzoic acid is commonly used in nursery diets, and formulations combining benzoic acid with other functional components are also available. This study compared conventional benzoic acid, a benzoic acid formulation containing a permeabilizing complex, and a compound acidifier in weaned piglets. Conventional benzoic acid produced the clearest feed-intake and growth response. The benzoic acid formulation containing the permeabilizing complex increased average daily gain compared with the control and produced segment-specific changes in intestinal morphology. In contrast, the compound acidifier improved nutrient digestibility, but this response did not translate into greater growth. Overall, conventional benzoic acid produced the clearest growth response, while the benzoic acid formulation increased average daily gain relative to the control and showed segment-specific effects on intestinal morphology.