Effects of Early Fructooligosaccharides Intervention on Growth Performance and Jejunal Development in Suckling Piglets

Fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) are a class of functional prebiotics that effectively modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota and regulate metabolic processes in animals. This study aimed to determine how early FOS supplementation affects jejunal development, which is vital for the rapid growth of suckling piglets. Sixty newborn piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) from six litters were randomly assigned to either a control (CON) or an FOS group (n = 5 per litter per group). From days 2 to 21, piglets in the FOS group received 5 mL of an FOS solution orally (3 g/day/piglet), while those in the CON group received an equal volume of saline. Piglets were weighed on days 1, 7, 14, and 21, and samples were collected on days 7, 14, and 21. Early FOS intervention can enhance the growth performance of suckling piglets (p < 0.01), which is related to the development of the jejunum. Specifically, it improved intestinal morphology, stem cell function, and nutrient transport by increasing mRNA and protein expression of key genes in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This may be related to increased abundance of jejunal Lactobacillus and the concentrations of metabolites such as lactate and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Early FOS intervention drove jejunal development through Wnt/β-catenin activation, a process mediated by microbiota-metabolite shifts that augmented intestinal stem cell renewal.