Effect of zinc oxide on intestinal functionality in healthy pigs - 16S study1

To improve our understanding of host and intestinal microbiome interaction, this research investigated the effects of a high level zinc oxide in the diet as model intervention on the intestinal microbiome and small intestinal functionality in clinically healthy post-weaning piglets.In study 1 piglets received either a high concentration of zinc as zinc oxide or a low Zn concentration in the diet during the post weaning period. We investigated the effects on the piglets small intestinal microbiome and functionality of intestinal tissue.In study 2 we investigated the impact of timing of the dietary zinc intervention, i.e. between d 0 to 14 and or d 14 to 23 post weaning, and the consecutive effects on the piglets intestinal functionality, here referring to microbiota composition and diversity and gene expression profiles.