Dietary Supplementation with Flammulina velutipes Stem Waste on Growth Performance, Fecal Short Chain Fatty Acids and Serum Profile in Weaned Piglets

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Flammulina velutipes stem waste (FVS) is the by-product of Flammulina velutipes (FV), which is rich in amino acids, vitamins and trace minerals. The direct disposal of FVS can cause serious environmental pollution. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the utilization and effects of FVS in diets for weaned piglets. Effective utilization of FVS can avoid the waste of resources, and have direct positive effects on environmental pollution reduction. ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary FVS supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, biochemical profile of serum and fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production in weaned piglets. In Exp.1, 150 weaned pigs (initial body weight: 6.89 ± 1.17 kg) were allotted to five dietary treatments. The treatment diets included a basal diet and four experimental diets supplemented with 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% FVS respectively. The animal trial lasted for 28 days. In Exp.2, 72 piglets (initial body weight: 8.20 ± 1.67 kg) were allotted to three dietary treatments. The treatment diets included a basal diet and two experimental diets supplemented with 1.5% and 3.0% FVS, respectively. The animal trial lasted for 56 days. The results showed that pigs fed dietary FVS with 3% or lower inclusion levels had no significant difference (p > 0.10) on growth performance compared with pigs fed the control diet during day 1–28 and day 1–56. Dietary FVS supplementation decreased the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients on day 28, day 35 and day 56, but no significant changes (p > 0.05) of nutrient digestibility were observed on day 14. Although piglets fed diets with higher levels of FVS showed impaired growth performance and ATTD of nutrients, dietary FVS supplementation improved the fecal SCFA production, antioxidant capacity, interleukin-2 and growth hormone levels in serum, and reduced the harmful low-density lipoprotein levels in serum on day 56. In conclusion, as a promising alternative fibrous ingredient, FVS could be supplemented in diets of weaned piglets with a proportion under 3%.