Journal of Animal Science and Technology
Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology
Article

Effects of fructooligosaccharides and inulin on growth performance, immunity and the gut microbiome in weaned piglets

Gi Beom Keum1, Jinho Cho2, Minho Song3, Yejin Choi1, Juyoun Kang1, Hyunok Doo1, Jinok Kwak1, Haram Kim1, Yeongjae Chae1, Hyunjin Yang1, Suyoung Lee1, Eun Sol Kim4, Sheena Kim1,*, Hyeun Bum Kim1,**
1Departement of Animal Biotechnology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea.
2Division of Food and Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea.
3Division of Animal and Dairy Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Korea.
4Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC 27599, United States.
*Corresponding Author: Sheena Kim, Departement of Animal Biotechnology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea, Republic of. E-mail: sheen915@gmail.com.
**Corresponding Author: Hyeun Bum Kim, Departement of Animal Biotechnology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea, Republic of. E-mail: hbkim@dankook.ac.kr.

© Copyright 2025 Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Received: Jul 02, 2025; Revised: Aug 12, 2025; Accepted: Aug 26, 2025

Published Online: Oct 02, 2025

Abstract

Prebiotics such as fructooligosaccharides and inulin are biological activators that selectively stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. However, their specific effects when applied during the weaning period in piglets remains limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of fructooligosaccharides and inulin supplementation in weaned piglets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune response, and gut microbiota composition with the aim of exploring their potential benefits for piglet health during the weaning transition. A total of 72 weaned piglets (28 days of age) were allocated to three dietary groups: CON (basal diet), FOS (CON + 0.3% fructooligosaccharides), and INU (CON + 3% inulin) to investigate the effects of fructan supplementation. Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, immune responses, and fecal microbiota were evaluated. Although fructan supplementation did not induce significant changes in growth performance or nutrient digestibility, it significantly increased serum immunoglobulin A levels. Furthermore, the fecal microbiota of the supplemented piglets was enriched with short-chain fatty acid–producing bacteria, including <italic>Phascolarctobacterium, Agathobacter, Clostridium sensu stricto</italic>, and <italic>Flavonifractor</italic>. Fructan supplementation in the diets of weaned piglets positively influenced immune response and gut microbiota composition, suggesting its potential to enhance gut health during the weaning period.

Keywords: Fructooligosaccharides; Inulin; Weaned piglet; Growth performance; 16S rRNA gene; Metagenome