ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2022 25 This regulation positively affects the intestinal health and reduces the incidence of diarrhea in piglets. Besides this, the modulation of microbiota also has an effect on the dietary utilization and metabolism of energy and protein, which may render available more energy and nutrients for the host animal. In the small intestine, for example, bacteria can produce the bile salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme, which is involved in lipid metabolism and energy release. A reduction of this enzymatic activity has been reported as effective to enhance feed efficiency and body weight gain in monogastric animals. As Cu is one of the main BSH inhibitors, a modulation of the intestinal microbiota composition may be one mechanism by which Cu improves growth performance in piglets. This may explain why some recent studies demonstrated that Cu supplementation seems to enhance pigs' ability to utilize fat after absorption, resulting in increased energy utilization of the entire diet. HYPOTHESIS OF POST ABSORPTION EFFECT OF Cu Once Cu is in the intestine, the Cu (II) form must be reduced at membrane level to the Cu(I) form, so it can be absorbed by the enterocytes. Then, it is bound Figure 1. Body weight of piglets fed with different doses of Cu (15, 80 and 160 ppm) from CuSO4, from weaning to 56 days after weaning. Figure 2. Relative E. coli abundance (A) in the colon of piglets, and final body weight (B) after 35d of supplementation.
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