Effects of probiotics complex supplementation in low nutrient density diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal microbial, and faecal noxious gas emission in growing pigs

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing low nutrient density diet of growing pigs with probiotics complex on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal microbial, and faecal noxious gas emission. A total of 140 crossbred female and castrated male healthy growing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc, 54 days of age] with an average initial body weight (BW) of 24.39 ± 2.58 kg were used in a 42-day trial. All pigs were randomly allotted to one of four treatment diets based on initial BW and sex (seven replicate pens/treatment; two gilts, and three barrows/pen). Dietary treatments were: (i) HD, high nutrient density diet, (ii) LD, low nutrient density diet, (iii) T1, LD + 0.05% probiotics. (iv) T2, LD + 0.10% probiotics. At the end of the experiment BW, average daily gain (ADG), and gain: feed ratio (G: F) tended to be higher (p < .1) in HD diet compared with LD treatment. However, supplementation of probiotics complex to LD diet showed a comparable effect as that of HD diet. There were no differences (p > .05) in average daily feed intake (ADFI), backfat thickness, lean meat percentage, and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and energy among the treatments. The supplementation of probiotics complex to LD diet increased (p < .05) faecal Lactobacillus counts and reduced NH3 gas emission compared with the LD diet. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated the beneficial effects of the probiotics complex supplementation on growth performance, faecal Lactobacillus concentration, and faecal NH3 emission in LD diet suggesting. Highlights To evaluate the effects of supplementing low nutrient density diet with 2 levels (0.05%, 0.1%) of probiotics complex (Bacillus subtilis ms1, Bacillus licheniformis SF5-1, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in growing pigs. Probiotics complex supplementation has shown the beneficial effects on growth performance. The supplementation of probiotics complex to low nutrient density diets increased (p < .05) faecal Lactobacillus counts and reduced NH3 gas emission. The probiotics of B. subtilis ms1, B. licheniformis SF5-1, and S. cerevisiae complex may be a helpful alternative to antibiotics.