Dietary stimulation of the endogenous somatotropic axis in weaner and grower-finisher pigs using medium chain triglycerides and cysteamine hydrochloride

Abstract

Background: Three experiments were conducted to examine the overall hypothesis that addition of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) and cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) into the diets of young and growing pigs would stimulate the endogenous somatotropic axis to improve growth and performance. Results: In Experiment 1, weaner pigs were given either a 5 d dietary supplement of 5 % MCT (n=8) or a control diet (n=8). MCT increased the plasma concentration of growth hormone (GH; P<0.05) and the GH secretagogue, ghrelin (P<0.05). Additionally, the MCT treatment reduced scouring (P<0.05), maintained villous height in the small intestine (P<0.05) and stabilised daily weight gain (P<0.05), compared to the..