Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Quillaja Saponin or Fructooligosaccharide and a Mixture of Both on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Fecal Microbial, and Gas Emissions in Growing Pigs

Abstract Quillaja saponin is derived from the soap bark (Quillaja saponaria Molina) tree, contains a triterpenoid (non-steroidal) sapogenin structural component and exhibits a variety of effects when used as a feed additive. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Quillaja saponin and fructooligosaccharide alone or in combination on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial, and fecal noxious gas emissions in growing pigs. A total of 100 pigs [Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) average body weight (BW) of 23.83 ± 1.95] were randomly allotted into 1 of 4 dietary treatment groups according to initial BW and sex (5 replicate/ treatment, with 3 gilts and 2 barrows per pen) in a 56-d trial. The treatments included a basal diet as negative control (NC), QS diet (QS, NC+ 0.2% QS), a FOS diet (FOS, NC+ 0.10% FOS), and a QS plus FOS diet (QSFOS, NC+ 0.2% QS+ 0.10% FOS). Pigs fed diet supplemented with QS, FOS, and QSFOS resulted in increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain and average daily feed intake during d 28-56 and 0-56, as well as improved the digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen during day 56 compared with NC. On d 28 and 56, there was an increase (P < 0.05) in body weight in the treatment’s groups compared with NC. The fecal Lactobacillus counts was increased and a reduction (P < 0.05) in fecal E. coli counts and HN3 and CO2emission from the feces was observed from pigs fed QS, FOS, and QSFOS supplemented diets. Dietary QS, FOS, and QSFOS supplementation has beneficial effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial, and noxious gas emissions in growing pigs.