R. Bras. Zootec.22/Jun/2026;55:e20250025.
Dietary supplementation of enzymatic complexes with and without Yucca schidigera extract and emulsifier for weaned piglets
Wilson Araújo da Silva
, Leonardo Augusto Fonseca Pascoal
, Luiz Fernando Costa e Silva
, Ricardo Romão Guerra
, Patrícia Emília Naves Givisiez
, Pedro Henrique Watanabe
, Jorge Luiz Santos de Almeida
, Cícero Jorge de Medeiros
, Mekiciene de Brito Silva
, Mirian Lima de Azevedo
, Pierre Castro Soares
, Wydemberg José de Araújo
ABSTRACT
The effects of dietary supplementation with enzymatic complexes and plant extracts on weaned piglets were evaluated. Sixty piglets (28 days old) were assigned to six treatments: Control diet (CD); CD with 125 g/ton of Yucca schidigera extract (CDY); CD with 200 g/ton of enzymatic complex (CDE); CD with 400 g/ton of multi-enzymatic complex with emulsifier (CDME); CDE + 125 g/ton YSE (CDE+Y1) and CDE + 250 g/ton YSE (CDE+Y2). Piglets on the CDE+Y1 diet had better feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). CDE, CDME and CDE+Y1 improved digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, fiber, energy and phosphorus, reducing phosphorus excretion (P<0.05). CDME improved jejunum morphology, increasing villus height, mucosal thickness and absorptive area (P<0.05), while CDE+Y2 reduced goblet cells (P<0.05). YSE increased serum GGT levels; phosphorus levels were lower with CDE+Y2 and AST was reduced in the CD group (P<0.05). Exogenous enzymes combined with plant extracts lowered TNF-α mRNA expression and increased nutrient transporter expression (SGLT-1, NaPi-IIb, PEPT-1) (P<0.05). Overall, enzymatic additives, with or without plant extracts, improved feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility and intestinal health. However, further research is needed to elucidate the effects of the interaction between enzyme complexes and plant extracts.
Keywords: exogenous enzymes; intestinal health; phytogenics nutrition; swine