Efficacy and Mechanisms of Butyric Acid Derivatives as Feed Additives in Weaned Piglet Nutrition: A Review

Early weaning can disrupt the intestinal function and microbial community balance of piglets, and trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby affecting their production performance. In recent years, butyric acid has gained considerable interest as a functional feed additive. However, practical limitations such as its pungent odor and low absorption efficiency in the digestive tract have led to the development of more stable forms, including sodium butyrate, coated butyrate, and butyrate glycerides, etc. Research has shown that butyric acid and its derivatives can serve as effective feed additives by enhancing pigs’ resistance to pathogenic colonization, stabilizing the intestinal microbiota, and alleviating oxidative stress to mitigate challenges such as weaning stress and pathogenic infections. This review systematically highlights the role of butyric acid and its derivatives as dietary supplements for weaned piglets. Importantly, it underscores the potential of butyric acid and its derivatives may contribute to antibiotic-reduction strategies in weaned piglet nutrition, while also highlighting the need for optimized supplementation strategies and further investigation into synergistic effects with other feed additives. This review aims to offer both theoretical and practical insights for the application of butyric acid in weaned piglet nutrition.