Synergistic effects of mannan oligosaccharides and beta-glucans on growth performance and economic efficiency of early weaned piglets

This study evaluated the synergistic effects of a mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and beta-glucan (BG) blend on growth performance and economic efficiency in early-weaned piglets. Eighteen sows and their litters were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: T1 (weaned at 42 days basal diet), T2 (weaned at 35 days basal diet) and T3 (weaned at 35 days basal diet supplemented with 0.5 gkg MOSBG). Body weight and feed intake were monitored until 18 weeks of age. Results indicated no significant differences (P0.05) among treatments for final body weight, total weight gain, average daily gain, or overall feed conversion efficiency. However, a significant post-weaning growth check was observed in T2 piglets at weeks 6-8, which was mitigated in the supplemented T3 group, whose performance was comparable to the later-weaned T1 group during this critical period. Although total feed intake and cost were similar, the cost of feed per kg of weight gain was marginally lower in T3 (Rs.84.96) compared to T1 (Rs.87.73) and T2 (Rs.85.28). In conclusion, supplementation with MOS and BG helped early-weaned piglets overcome the immediate post-weaning growth lag, demonstrating a beneficial trend towards improved resilience and economic efficiency without significant overall performance differences.