Effects of Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 supplementation in different energy and crude protein density diets on ileal amino acid digestibility and intestinal shedding of lactobacilli and Escherichia coli in finishing pigs

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134, in different energy and crude protein density diets on ileal amino acid digestibility and intestinal microbial shedding in finishing pigs. Twelve finishing barrows (initial body weight=75.1±3.44kg) were surgically equipped with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and arranged in a triplicate 4×4 Latin square design with four diets and four periods. Diets were formulated with two levels of nutrient density (high energy: 14.6MJ/kg ME or low energy: 14.2MJ/kg ME) and two levels of probiotic (0 or 1.0×109cfu/kg diet). The coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) of crude protein (CP), gross energy (GE), and most of the indispensable amino acids (AA) except for His-Phe and Val were increased (P<0.05) by 5.3%, 6.0%, and 5.2–7.2% in pigs fed the E. faecium compared with non-supplemented groups. The CAID of Cys and Gly was 6.2% and 7.0% greater (P<0.05) in E. faecium groups than non-supplemental groups. Ileal and fecal Lactobacilli counts were increased (P<0.05) by 19.9% and 16.6%, and Escherichia coli counts were decreased (P<0.05) by 8.9% and 9.5% in pigs fed the diets supplemented with probiotic, respectively. The CAID of CP, Lys-Met-Thr-Leu-Ile-Cys-Gly as well as the lactobacilli counts were increased in both E. faecium treatments, but values were increased higher in the high density diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 1.0×109cfu/kg of E. faecium DSM 7134 exerted beneficial effects on the CAID of CP and AA and intestinal lactobacilli shedding, especially was administrated in high energy and crude protein density diets.