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

<p>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.</p> <p>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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s intestinal functionality. We acquired data on the microbiota composition in small intestinal digesta and gene expression profiles of both jejunum and ileum tissue.</p> <p>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.</p>