The flavors and sodium butyrate employed in the present
study were provided by DadHank Biotechnology Corporation
(Chengdu, China) as non-hygroscopic powder. Fruitmilk
(FM) flavor and fruit-milk-anise (FMA) were provided
to basic diet and described as follows. The FM flavor was
characterized by fruit and milk cheese, and FMA flavor was
characterized by fruit, milk cheese and anise. The concentration
of sodium butyrate was 98%. In particular, 6 g/kg flavor
was provided for lactating sows and piglets, taking into
account the conventional level in commercial diets, as determined
from an industry survey (personal communication).
Additionally, since sodium butyrate linearly increased
average daily feed intake (ADFI) of weaning piglets with its
level increasing from 0% to 0.4%, which suggested that a
high dose of sodium butyrate was likely beneficial for pigs
(Weber & Kerr 2008). Thus, to ensure the consistent intake
of other nutrients, 6 g/kg sodium butyrate equal to flavors
was carried out in the present study.