Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis RX7 and Bacillus methylotrophicus C14 as probiotics on growth performance, digestibility, blood profile and fecal microbiota in weaned pigs.

Abstract

A total of 60 weaned piglets (28-day old; [Landrace ×Yorkshire]×Duroc) were used to evaluate the efficacy of Bacillus-based probiotic on performance, digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal microbiota in weaned pigs. The piglets were randomly allotted to three treatments with 4 pens per treatment and 5 pigs per pen. Dietary treatments consisted of: CON, basal diet; BS, basal diet + 0.1% of Bacillus subtilis RX7; BM, basal diet + 0.1% of Bacillus methylotrophicus C14. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) was reduced (P=0.01) in BS and BM treatments compared with CON. The apparent total tract digestibility of energy was increased (P less than 0.05) in BS and BM compared with CON on day 14. The supplementation of probiotics led to increase (P less than 0.05) in fecal lactic acid bacteria counts on day 42. In conclusion, probiotic supplementation reduced feed intake, increased energy digestibility and lactic acid bacteria counts and numerically reduced Salmonella counts in weaned pigs.