Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation

Table 5 Effect of diet on alpha diversity in piglets fed the experimental diets (n = 8)^abcd

Item	Gluconic acid (g/kg)			SEM	P
Item	0	9	18	SEM	P
*Distal small intestine*
ASV level
Chao1	68.3	55.8	39.7	5.8	0.120
Shannon	2.26	1.64	1.18	0.20	0.068
Reciprocal Simpson	6.95^a	3.26^ab	2.22^b	0.80	0.031
Genus level
Chao1	6.57^a	5.00^ab	4.00^b	0.43	0.040
Shannon	0.58	0.32	0.28	0.06	0.079
Reciprocal Simpson	1.51	1.25	1.28	0.07	0.259
*Mid-colon*
ASV level
Chao1	386	369	370	26	0.959
Shannon	4.58	4.73	5.05	0.13	0.305
Reciprocal Simpson	44.7	49.8	80.3	8.3	0.160
Genus level
Chao1	60.3	54.5	56.9	3.0	0.748
Shannon	2.56	2.47	2.79	0.12	0.557
Reciprocal Simpson	8.39	7.50	10.80	1.14	0.498

^aPiglets were sampled on d 21
^bASV, amplicon sequence variant
^cChao1 index, richness; Shannon index, evenness; reciprocal Simpson index, diversity
^dMeans within row without common superscript are significantly different, P < 0.05

ISSN: 2055-5660