This assay was carried out to evaluate the effect of fumaric acid; latic acid and calcium propionate on the performance and morphological and morphometric characteristics of small intestine in weaning piglets. A total of 180 weaning piglets were used (90 males and 90 females) with 15 days of age and an initial weight of 4.78 1.1 kg, distributed in a completely randomized block designed with five treatments: T1 - Control ration (CR); T2 - CR + 0.5%fumaric acid; T3 - CR + 0.5% fumaric acid + 1.0% calcium propionate; T4 - CR + 0.5% fumaric acid +1.0% lactic acid; T5 - CR + 0.5% fumaric acid + 0.5% calcium propionate + 0.5% lactic acid , six replicates of six animals. The performance, morphological and morphometric characteristics of small intestine were evaluated. Daily weight gain, daily feed intake, weight gain: feed intake ratio was not affected by treatments. Significant differences between treatments were not observed for intestinal epithelium height of duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P>0.05). No significant differences between treatments were observed (P<0.05) for the pH of stomach and jejunum. No effect of fumaric acid on piglets performance was observed.
organic acid; performance; piglet; small intestine; morphology
