Intestinal development and health influences absorption of nutrients and animals health.Glutamate is a flavor enhancer and a major oxidative fuel for the energy metabolism of the small intestine.However,little attention has been paid to glutamate nutrition in pigs.The present study is,therefore,conducted to investigate the effect of oral administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on growth performance,intestinal development,and health in sucking piglets.Results indicated that average daily gain in pigs supplemented with 0.5 g MSG/kg/d was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the high MSG group (1.0 g/kg/d).Concentrations of many amino acids in plasma including glutamate,aspartate,alanine,isoleucine,leucine,and phenylalanine,were increased by MSG supplementation in acute and chronic situation.Glucagon-like peptide 1 production by the intestine,antioxidant capacity,EAAC1 expression in the jejunum and ileum were increased by MSG supplementation.The MSG treatment also enhanced villus height and crypt depth in the small intestine and favorably modulated intestinal morphology.In conclusion,enteral provision of 0.5 g MSG/kg/d MSG is safe for piglets and improves intestinal development and health in sucking piglets.