Small intestinal microbiota data of pigs receiving control or pharmaceutical levels of ZincOxide

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 (Zn, 2690 mg/kg) or a low Zn concentration (100 mg/kg) in the diet during the post weaning period (d 14-23). We investigated the effects on the piglet’s 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 0-14 and/or d 14-23 post weaning, and the consecutive effects on the piglet’s intestinal functionality. We acquired data on the microbiota composition in small intestinal digesta and gene expression profiles of both jejunum and ileum tissue.

Overall, we observed differences in the small intestinal functionality during the post weaning period between piglets receiving a diet with a low or high concentration ZnO content.