Heat Stress in Growing–Finishing Pigs: Effects of Low Protein with Increased Crystalline Amino Acids on Growth, Gut Health, Antioxidant Status and Microbiome

A total of sixty crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) pigs with an initial body weight of 46.34 ± 0.13 kg were randomly assigned to four treatments under thermoneutral (TN, 22 °C) or heat-stress (HS, 31 °C) conditions for 54 d trial (Phase 1: 0-26 d; Phase 2: 27-54 d): a control diet (16% CP in phase 1, 14% CP in phase 2) under TN (PC), a control diet under HS (NC), a low crude protein (LCP) diet (14% CP in phase 1, 12% CP in phase 2) under HS (LCP) and an LCP diet with increased crystalline AA (an increase in 5% in Lys, Met, Thr and Trp based on calculated SID AA) (LCP5) under HS. Experimental treatments consisted of five replicate pens, with three pigs per pen. The results showed that HS reduced (<i>p</i> < 0.05) growth performance and nutrient digestibility compared to TN. However, LCP5 improved (<i>p</i> < 0.05) growth performance and nutrient digestibility compared to other HS groups. Heat stress adversely affected (<i>p</i> < 0.05) intestinal morphology, gut integrity and serum oxidative markers, but these effects were alleviated (<i>p</i> < 0.05) by LCP5 supplementation. Notably, LCP5 improved (<i>p</i> < 0.05) the production of butyric acids among short-chain fatty acid production and decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) <i>proteobacteria</i> and <i>Spirochaetota</i> in phylum in feces. These findings highlight the potential of LCP diets supplemented with crystalline AA as an effective nutritional strategy to mitigate the negative effects of HS on pigs, enhancing their performance, gut health and overall welfare in high-temperature environments.