Effects of probiotics on growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal microbiota weaning pig challenged with Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica.

Effects of probiotics containing (Lactobacillus planetarium) and chlortetracycline on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, diarrhea score and fecal gas emission in weanling pigs

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary fenugreek seed extract (FSE) on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), diarrhoea scores, blood profiles, faecal microflora and faecal gas emission in weanling pigs. A total of 135 weanling pigs [(Yorkshire×Landrace) ×Duroc] with an average BW of (7.96±1.03kg; 28 days of age) were used in a 42-day study. Piglets were randomly allotted to three experimental diets with nine replicate pens and five pigs per pen. Dietary treatments were as follows: CON, basal diet; FSE1, basal diet+0.1% FSE; FSE2, basal diet+0.2% FSE. Pigs were fed with phase 1 (0-14 days) and phase 2 (14-42 days) diets in the form of mash. Average daily gain (ADG) was linearly increased (p=0.031) by FSE supplementation compared with CON diet during days 0-14. From days 14-42, FSE2 diet had increased ADG and growth efficiency (G/F) compared with the CON diet (p=0.014 and 0.026 respectively). Moreover, ADG and G/F were increased by FSE supplementation during days 0-42 (linear, p=0.037 and 0.014 respectively). Energy digestibility was higher (linear, p=0.030) by FSE supplementation at 6weeks. On day 42, dietary supplementation of FSE linearly increased red blood cells (RBC) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration (p=0.042 and 0.038 respectively). Piglets fed FSE2 diet had higher (linear, p=0.025) serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration compared with those fed CON diet. However, piglets fed FSE2 diet had linearly reduced faecal ammonia (NH3 ) and hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) gas emission compared with those fed the CON diet (p=0.018 and 0.010 respectively). In conclusion, FSE supplementation increased the performance and reduced faecal gas emission in weanling pigs.

Weaning is a stressful event in the pig life cycle. We hypothesized that probiotics could be potential alternatives to antibiotics for promoting growth and ameliorating stress in weaning piglets via gut microbiota modulation and, thus, investigated the beneficial effects of dietary probiotic supplementation in weaning pigs. Ninety weaning piglets (Landrace × large white, 45 males and 45 females, 25 days of age) were randomized into three dietary treatments (30 piglets/treatment, divided into five replicates/treatment, i.e., six piglets/replicate) in this 28-day trial: control (C group, basal diet); probiotic [lactic acid bacteria (LAB) group, basal diet plus Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P-8]; and antibiotic (A group; basal diet plus chlortetracycline). The piglets' growth performance [average daily gain, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR)], immune and antioxidant markers, ileal mucosal morphology, and ileal and colonic microbiomes were compared among treatment groups. Compared to the C and A groups, probiotic supplementation significantly decreased the ADFI, FCR, and ileal mucosal crypt depth while increasing the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, hepatic glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities, and serum levels of interleukin-2. Both probiotic and antibiotic treatments modulated the piglets' gut microbiomes, with more L. plantarum in the LAB group and more Eubacterium rectale and Limosilactobacillus reuteri in the A group. Probiotic supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of genes encoding the acetylene, galactose, and stachyose degradation pathways, potentially enhancing nutrient absorption, energy acquisition, and growth performance. Probiotics are effective alternatives to antibiotics for promoting the health of piglets, possibly via gut microbiome modulation.IMPORTANCEWeaning impacts piglet health, performance, and mortality. Antibiotic treatment during weaning can mitigate the negative effects on growth. However, antibiotic use in livestock production contributes to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, which is a threat to global public health. This comprehensive study describes the gut microbial composition and growth performance of weaned piglets after dietary supplementation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P-8 or antibiotics. L. plantarum P-8 ameliorated stress and improved antioxidant capacity and growth performance in weaned piglets, accompanied by gut microbiota improvement. L. plantarum P-8 is an effective substitute for antibiotics to promote the health of weaned piglets while avoiding the global concern of drug resistance.

Effect of swine based probiotic on performance, diarrhoea scores, intestinal microbiota and gut health of grower-finisher crossbred pigs

A total of 120 weanling pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc, weaned at day 21 after birth] with an average body weight (BW) of 7.95 ± 1.22 kg were used in 6-week experiment to evaluate the effects of lactulose supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, faecal microbial shedding, faecal score and faecal noxious gas emission. Pigs were randomly allotted to one of four experimental diets according to initial BW. There were six replicate pens per treatment with five pigs per pen. Dietary treatments were: NC, basal diet; PC, NC + 0.05% tiamulin; L1, NC + 0.1% lactulose; L2, NC + 0.2% lactulose. The experiment included two phases (days 1–14 and days 15–42). Pigs fed PC and L1 diets had greater (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and gain/feed (G/F) than those fed NC diet during days 1–14. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) was improved (P < 0.05) by PC and L1 treatments compared with NC treatment during days 15–42. During days 1–42, ADG and ADFI were higher (P < 0.05) in PC and L1 than that in NC. Pigs fed L1 diet increased (P < 0.05) the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy compared with those fed NC diet at week 2, and the ATTD of N in PC and L1 treatments was increased (P < 0.05) compared with NC treatment. The concentration of faecal Lactobacillus was increased (P < 0.05), and E. coli counts were decreased (P < 0.05) by L1 treatment compared with NC treatment. Pigs fed L1 and L2 diets had lower (P < 0.05) faecal score compared with those fed NC diet. Dietary supplementation of 0.1% lactulose decreased (P < 0.05) the faecal NH3 emission compared with NC treatment. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 0.1% lactulose improved the growth performance, ATTD of energy and N, and concentration of faecal Lactobacillus, and decreased E. coli counts and excreta NH3 emission in weaning pigs.

Antibiotic growth promotor (AGP) and zinc oxide (ZnO) has been shown to inhibit bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, resulting in improved animal growth performance and reduced post-weaning diarrhea but, their usage should be minimized at pig farms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of green tea and butyric acid (hereafter called Gutluk) as alternative BSH inhibitors on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, blood profile, and gut microbiota of weaning pigs. A total of 192 weaned pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc)] were divided into six groups. Dietary treatments were NC, Basal diet; PC1, Basal diet + 0.2% antibiotics (colistin); PC2, Basal diet + 2,000ppm ZnO; TRT1, Basal diet + 0.05% Gutluk; TRT2, Basal diet + 0.10% Gutluk; TRT3, Basal diet + 0.20% Gutluk. After 4 wk of the trial, fresh fecal samples were collected from the rectum for microbiome analysis. TRT3 improved average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) at wk 3 and 4. The digestibility, white blood cell, red blood cell, lymphocyte percentage, blood urea nitrogen, fecal score and diarrhea score of weaned pigs were not affected by the addition of Gutluk. The treatment groups showed decreased TNF-α and IL-6 (P &amp;lt; 0.05) while immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG) increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05). GutLuk significantly enriched Bifidobacterium (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Conversely, GutLuk reduced the abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto 6, Marvinbryantia, and Clostridia vadinBB60 group, and marginally reducing Muribaculaceae, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus. The correlation analysis also revealed that the abundance of secondary bile acid biosynthesis had a strong positive correlation with Marvinbryantia, Enterococcus, Clostridium sensu stricto 6, Lactobacillus, and Clostridia vadinBB60 (P &amp;lt; 0.001). The ADG of the pigs also exhibited a slight negative correlation with secondary bile acid biosynthesis. These results indicated that the supplementation of GutLuk had an inhibitory effect on the BSH activity of certain gut microbiota. Consequently, A combination of green tea and butyric acid can be effective alternatives of AGP and ZnO in early weaning pig diet to improve growth performance, immune response, oxidative stress, diarrhea score and gut microbiota.

Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation in different energy and nutrient density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, fecal microbiota shedding, and fecal noxious gas emission in weaning pigs

In order to reduce the negative effects caused by oxidative stress on broilers, it is particularly important to find ways to alleviate oxidative stress. As a natural plant extract, L-theanine has a variety of biological effects, such as improving antioxidant capacity, promoting growth, and enhancing immunity and antitumor. This trial evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of L-theanine on growth performance, antioxidation, meat quality, and intestinal microflora in 817 White Feather Broilers. A total of 108 21-day-old 817 broilers with similar body weight (BW) were randomly divided into three groups with six replicates per group and six chickens within each replicate. The three groups were corn-soybean-based diet (NC group); basal diet plus drinking water with 30 mg hydrocortisone/kg (PC group); and basal diet supplemented with 400 mg L-theanine/kg plus drinking water with 30 mg hydrocortisone/kg (LT group). Compared with the NC group, from 21 to 24 days of age, the PC and LT groups had decreased BW, average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI), and increased feed to gain ratio (F/G; p < 0.05). At 24 days of age, the LT group had improved superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in serum as compared to the NC group (p < 0.05). The LT group broilers also had significantly higher concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and liver (p < 0.05). On the 42nd days, the PC group had lower PH45min (p < 0.05) than the NC and LT groups and higher cooking loss and shear force (p < 0.05). Moreover, the villi height of the PC group was significantly lower in jejunum than the NC group (p < 0.05). The LT group had a higher ZO-1 content in duodenum than the NC and PC groups (p < 0.05). The activity of GSH-Px in the liver of the LT group was increased than in the PC group (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Firmicutes in the LT group was significantly higher than in the NC and PC groups (p < 0.05). These results suggested that the effects of acute oxidative stress on growth performance and meat quality of broilers are continuous, and dietary supplementation of L-theanine could improve the growth performance and meat quality, enhance the intestinal mucosal barrier and antioxidant capacity, and improve the composition of the intestinal flora of broilers caused by acute oxidative stress.

Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota and fecal noxious gas emission in weaning pigs fed high and low density diet with and without protected organic acid blends

Plant essential oils (PEOs) have received significant attention in animal production due to their diverse beneficial properties and hold potential to alleviate weaning stress. However, PEOs effectiveness is often compromised by volatility and degradation. Microencapsulation can enhance the stability and control release rate of essential oils. Whether different microencapsulation techniques affect the effectiveness remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PEOs coated by different microencapsulation techniques on growth performance, immunity, and intestinal health of weaned Tibetan piglets. A total of 120 Tibetan piglets, aged 30 days, were randomly divided into five groups with four replicates, each containing six piglets. The experimental period lasted for 32 days. The groups were fed different diets: a basal diet without antibiotics (NC), a basal diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg tylosin and 50 mg/kg colistin sulfate (PC), 300 mg/kg solidified PEO particles (SPEO), 300 mg/kg cold spray-coated PEO (CSPEO), or 300 mg/kg hot spray-coated PEO (HSPEO). The results showed that supplementation with SPEO, CSPEO, or HSPEO led to a notable decrease in diarrhea incidence and feed to gain ratio, as well as duodenum lipopolysaccharide content, while simultaneously increase in average daily gain, interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels and the abundance of ileum Bifidobacterium compared with the NC group (p < 0.05). Supplementation with SPEO, CSPEO, or HSPEO significantly elevated serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and concurrently reduced serum lipopolysaccharide and interferon γ levels compared with the NC and PC groups (p < 0.05). Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels in the SPEO and HSPEO groups significantly increased compared with the NC group (p < 0.05). Additionally, CSPEO and HSPEO significantly reduced jejunum pH value (p < 0.05) compared with the NC and PC groups (p<0.05). Additionally, Supplementation with HSPEO significantly elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), abundance of ileum Lactobacillus, along with decreased serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels compared with both the NC and PC groups. Our findings suggest that different microencapsulation techniques affect the effectiveness. Dietary supplemented with PEOs, especially HSPEO, increased growth performance, improved immune function, and optimized gut microbiota composition of weaned piglets, making it a promising feed additive in piglet production.

In total, 28 multiparous sows (n = 7) and their litters were used to determine the effects of levan-type fructan supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal noxious gas emissions. The dietary treatments included (1) CON, basal diet; (2) FC1, CON + 0.1% fructan; (3) FC2, CON + 0.2% fructan; and (4) FC3, CON + 0.3% fructan. No significant differences were observed (P &gt; 0.05) in body weight (BW), average daily feed intake, or back fat loss in lactating sows among treatments. However, blood lymphocyte concentrates were higher (P &lt; 0.05) in sows fed levan-containing diets than in those fed the CON diet. Weaning BW and overall average daily gain (ADG) of piglets in the FC3 treatment were higher (P &lt; 0.05) than piglets in the CON treatment. Blood lymphocytes and nutrient digestibility of sows, as well as the weaning BW and the ADG of piglets were increased linearly (P &lt; 0.05) as the concentration of levan increased in the diet. The diarrhea score of piglets and the fecal gas emissions of sows decreased linearly (P &lt; 0.05) as dietary levan increased. In conclusion, levan supplementation did not affect feed intake or decrease back fat loss of lactating sows, but it improved nutrient digestibility and immune ability, decreased fecal noxious gas emissions of lactating sows, and it improved growth performance and reduced diarrhea in piglets.

Simple SummaryThe weanling period is a vital stage for piglets. Due to lack of a complete digestive system and an immune system, a series of stress problems develop, such as diarrhea. As a kind of microecological additive with high stability and rapid proliferation, Bacillussubtilis is suitable for piglets’ diets as an additive. The objective of our study was to determine and confirm the effect of Bacillussubtilis C-3102 spores as a probiotic feed supplement on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, intestinal microbiota, and excreta odor contents in weanling piglets. Taken together, our results suggest that dietary supplementation with Bacillussubtilis C-3102 spores could benefit the body weight, average daily gain, and gain-to-feed ratio of weanling piglets and improve the ATTD of dry matter, crude protein, and energy.It has been well-documented that the dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis could improve piglet performance. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 spores as a probiotic feed supplement on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, intestinal microbiota, and excreta odor contents in weanling piglets. A total of 150 crossed ((Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc) weanling piglets (28-days-old), with an average initial body weight of 7.53 ± 1.23 kg, were divided into two treatment groups according to sex and initial body weight (BW) for a 6-week experiment. In each group, fifteen replicate pens consisting of five piglets per pen (three gilts and two barrows) were used in a randomized complete block design. Treatments consisted of (1) CON, a basal diet; (2) BSC, a diet of CON + 300 g Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) C-3102 spores per ton of feed. Supplementation with the B. subtilis C-3102 spores in the diet increased the BW, average daily gain (ADG), and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) throughout the whole trial (p < 0.05). Weanling piglets that were fed B. subtilis C-3102 spores had increased dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and energy (E) digestibility compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Lower diarrhea scores were observed in the B. subtilis C-3102 spores group on Day 7 (p < 0.05). Taken together, our results suggest that dietary supplementation with B. subtilis C-3102 spores could benefit the BW, ADG, and G:F of weanling piglets and improve the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of the DM, CP, and E.

Effects of dietary Lactobacillus plantarum B1 on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, and short chain fatty acid profiles in broiler chickens

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of fermented soybean meal (FSBM) with coconut oil on growth performance in weaning pigs. A total of 80 crossbred weanling pigs [42 days old] with average body weight (BW) of 6.52 ± 0.59 kg were used in a 6-week experiment trial. Pigs were blocked based on BW and sex and randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments [5 pigs per pen (2 barrows and 3 gilts); 4 pens per treatment]. Treatments consisted of pigs fed: 1) CON, a basal diet with 2% coconut powder; 2) basal diet with a 3% cocosoya 3) basal diet with a 6% cocosoya 4) basal diet with 9% cocosoya. The supplementation of increasing levels of cocosoya to diet weaning pigs linearly increased (P = 0.05) the BW at week 1, 3 and 6 compared with the pigs fed the control diet. The average daily gain (ADG) and gain: feed (G:F) ratio was linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) during day 1to7. The ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and G: F was linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) during day 8 to 21 were observed with the increase in the supplemental of cocosoya. The ADG and ADFI linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) during day 22 to 42. The overall ADG, ADFI and G:F was linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in pigs fed increasing levels of cocosoya during overall experimental period. The creatinine was linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration were trend to increase (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in pigs fed increasing levels of cocosoya during day 22. Thus, the supplementation of FSMB has beneficial effects on the growth performance and immunity and it may help to overcome the stress faced by the weaning piglets during the transition of liquid to solid feed intake.

Dietary yeast extract complex supplementation increases growth performance and nutrient digestibility of weaning pigs