Pakistan Journal of Nutrition1680-51941994-7984Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjn.2016.954.962SakdeeJ. PoeikhamphaT. RakangthongC. PoungpongK. BunchasakC. 1120161511Background and Objective: The period after weaning is a critical period in swine production due to several factors affecting the function of the small intestine. Since, tributyrin is a potential alternative for overcoming these problems, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing tributyrin in diet on productive performance and gastrointestinal tract of nursery pigs. Materials and Methods: The 64 castrated commercial piglets were studied for 56 days (from 21-77 days of age) and kept under evaporative cooling system. The piglets were arranged by completely randomized design; a t-test was used to compare mean different of the treatments. The pigs were randomly divided into 2 treatments and each treatment consisted of 8 replications, 4 pigs each. Results: Feeding tributyrin had no significant effects on the growth performance (p>0.05), while ileum villous height tended to increase (p = 0.07). Gastrointestinal pH, populations of E. coli and Lactobacillus spp., in the caecum and caecal short-chain fatty acids concentration were not influenced by tributyrin supplementation (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although, tributyrin did not have significant effect on productive performance and gut ecology of healthy piglets, it may positively support intestinal morphology. In healthy piglets, the effect of various levels of tributyrin supplementation in diet on intestinal morphology is interesting and should be more investigated.]]>Campbell, J.M., J.D. Crenshaw and J. Polo,20132013Wijtten, P.J., J. van der Meulen and M.W. Verstegen,2011105967981Heo, J.M., F.O. Opapeju, J.R. Pluske, J.C. Kim, D.J. Hampson and C.M. Nyachoti,201397207237Chiang, M.L., H.C. Chen, K.N. Chen, Y.C. Lin, Y.T. Lin and M.J. Chen,2015811631170Herfel, T., S. Jacobi, X. Lin, E. van Heugten, V. Fellner and J. Odle,201391907913Zentek, J., F. Ferrara, R. Pieper, L. Tedin, W. Meyer and W. Vahjen,20139132003210Zeng, Z., S. Zhang, H. Wang and X. Piao,20156716Li, P., X. Piao, Y. Ru, X. Han, L. Xue and H. Zhang,20122516171626Suiryanrayna, M.V.A.N. and J.V. Ramana,201564555Salminen, S., C. Bouley, M.C. Boutron, J.H. Cummings and A. Franck et al.,199880S147S171Von Engelhardt, W., J. Bartels, S. Kirschberger, H.D.M. Duttingdorf and R. Busche,1998205259Piva, A., A. Prandini, L. Fiorentini, M. Morlacchini, F. Galvano and J.B. Luchansky,200280670680Li, J., Y. Hou, D. Yi, J. Zhang and L. Wang et al.,20152817841793National Research Council,2012Nunez, M.C., J.D. Bueno, M.V. Ayudarte, A. Almendros, A. Rios, M.D. Suarez and A. Gil,1996126933944Biagi, G., A. Piva, M. Moschini, E. Vezzali and F.X. Roth,200684370378Franklin, M.A., A.G. Mathew, J.R. Vickers and R.A. Clift,20028029042910Krutthai, N., C. Vajrabukka, K. Markvichitr, A. Choothesa and J. Thiengtham et al.,201560123131Fernandes, J., A.V. Rao and T.M.S. Wolever,2000in vitro fermentation of human feces.]]>13019321936Araujo, G., M. Terre, A. Mereu, I.R. Ipharraguerre and A. Bach,2015Holstein calves.]]>2015Fang, C.L., H. Sun, J. Wu, H.H. Niu and J. Feng,201498680685Hou, Y., L. Wang, D. Yi, B. Ding and X. Chen et al.,201411117481758Hou, Y.Q., Y.L. Liu, J. Hu and W.H. Shen,20061914701477Hanczakowska, E., B. Niwinska, E.R. Grela, K. Weglarzy and K. Okon,201459460470Chiofalo, B., L. Liotta, V.L. Presti, A.S. Agnello, G. Montalbano, A.M.F. Marino and V. Chiofalo,201424148He, J., L. Dong, L.L. Zheng, T. Kou and K. Bai et al.,201538838843Aumaitre, A., J. Peiniau and F. Madec,1995167379Partanen, K.H. and Z. Mroz,199912117145Diao, H., P. Zheng, B. Yu, J. He, X.B. Mao, J. Yu and D.W. Chen,2014167249256Radcliffe, J.S., Z. Zhang and E.T. Kornegay,19987618801886Manzanilla, E.G., M. Nofrarıas, M. Anguita, M. Castillo and J.F. Perez et al.,20068427432751De Santana, M.B., A.D.B. Melo, D.R. Cruz, C.A.P. Garbossa, C. de Andrade, V.D.S. Cantarelli and L.B. Costa,20154510931098Dibner, J.J. and P. Buttin,200211453463Schroder, C., K. Eckert and H.R. Maurer,1998in vitro.]]>1313351340Gill, R.K., S. Saksena, W.A. Alrefai, Z. Sarwar and J.L. Goldstein et al.,2005289C846C852Pluske, J.R., I.H. Williams and F.X. Aherne,199662131144Dong, L., X. Zhong, J. He, L. Zhang and K. Bai et al.,201635399407Ricke, S.C.,200382632639Davidson, P.M.,20012001pp: 593-628pp: 593-628Ahmed, S.T., J.A. Hwang, J. Hoon, H.S. Mun and C.J. Yang,20142793100Walia, K., H. Arguelloa, H. Lyncha, F.C. Leonard and J. Granta et al.,2016Salmonella carriage, seroprevalence and growth of finishing pigs.]]>1317986Walsh, M.C., M.H. Rostagno, G.E. Gardiner, A.L. Sutton, B.T. Richert and J.S. Radcliffe,2012Salmonella infection in weanling pigs through water delivery of direct-fed microbials or organic acids: Part II. Effects on intestinal histology and active nutrient transport.]]>9025992608Calveyra, J.C., M.G. Nogueira, J.D. Kich, L.L. Biesus and R. Vizzotto et al.,2012Salmonella typhimurium in experimentally infected growing pigs.]]>934647Acikgoz, Z., H. Bayraktar and O. Altan,20112496102Van Immerseel, F., F. Boyen, I. Gantois, L. Timbermont and L. Bohez et al.,2005Salmonella in poultry.]]>8418511856Thompson, J.L. and M. Hinton,1997Salmonellas in the crop.]]>385965Hanczakowska, E., A. Szewczyk, M. Swiatkiewicz and K. Okon,201316647654Lampromsuk, P., C. Bunchasak, C. Kaewtapee, S. Sawanon and T. Poeikhampha,201212553560Poeikhampha, T. and C. Bunchasak,201124844850Fuller, R.,1977188594