Dietary antibiotics were once widely used to enhance feed efficiency and animal health. However, misuse has led to bacterial resistance and residues, challenging sustainable husbandry and public health. Therefore, searching for effective antibiotic alternatives has become a research hotspot.
Objective: This study evaluated a commercial blend of three monoglycerides: glycerol monopropionate, glycerol monobutyrate, and glycerol monolaurate, mixed in a 1:1:1 weight ratio, as an antibiotic alternative in weaned piglets.
Methods: A total of 180 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire; 24 ± 1 d) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments: control (CON, basal diet), antibiotic (ANTI, basal diet + 500 mg/kg enramycin), and three doses (T1: 600, T2: 1,000, T3: 1,400 mg/kg) of the blend. During a 3-day adaptation period, all piglets were fed the basal diet. On day 0 of the trial, piglets were directly switched to their respective experimental diets, which were maintained throughout a 42-day experimental period. Growth performance, diarrhea incidence, serum biochemistry, immunity, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbiota were assessed.
Results: Compared with the control, both ANTI and T2 significantly increased final body weight and average daily gain, and reduced feed-to-gain ratio. Diarrhea rate was significantly decreased in ANTI, T2, and T3. T2 also elevated serum total protein, albumin, and total antioxidant capacity without increasing alanine aminotransferase activity, and enriched beneficial gut bacteria (Lactobacillus and Eubacterium). In contrast, the lowest dose of the blend showed no significant effects on growth or diarrhea, while the highest dose reduced diarrhea but did not improve growth performance.
Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of the monoglyceride blend at 1,000 mg/kg effectively improved growth performance, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and modulated gut microbiota in weaned piglets, demonstrating promising potential as an antibiotic alternative at an appropriate dosage.
Li Y, Zhou Y, Lu C, Cao H. Medium and short chain fatty acid monoglycerides as an antibiotic alternative reduce diarrhea, improve growth, and modulate gut microbiota in weaned piglets. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2026; 13: 1873487. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1873487.