Impact of Dietary Supplementation of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermented Rapeseed with or without Macroalgae on Performance and Health of Piglets Following Omission of Medicinal Zinc from Weaner Diets.

Gizaw D Satessa,Tomasz Cieplak,Mette O Nielsen,Dennis S Nielsen,Yan Hui,Grete Brunsgaard,Søren Kjærulff,Paulina Tamez-Hidalgo,Lukasz Krych

doi:10.3390/ani10010137

Abstract

Simple SummaryWeaning is the most stressful event in pig production and is often associated with reduced performance, diarrhoea and piglet mortality. Currently, a high dose of zinc oxide (ZnO) is used to prevent weaning-related loss in productivity. However, the feeding of ZnO in weaner piglets will be phased out by 2022 in Europe, leaving pig producers without options to manage post-weaning disorders. This study investigated whether fermented rapeseed meal (FRM) alone or in combination with one (FRMA) or more (FRMAS) brown macroalgae species could improve weaner piglet growth, intestinal development and health compared to either non-supplemented diets (negative control, NC) or diets supplemented with 2500 ppm ZnO (positive control, PC). Both FRM and FRMA resulted in a similar production performance to PC when fed to weaned piglets. The PC, FRM and FRMAS (gender-specific) improved jejunal villus development more than the NC. Colon mucosal development was stimulated, and signs of intestinal inflammation were reduced by FRM. The composition and diversity of colon microbiota were similar between all fermented feeds and PC, but different compared to NC. In conclusion, FRM was at least as effective as ZnO to improve piglet growth, intestinal development and health.The feeding of medicinal zinc oxide (ZnO) to weaner piglets will be phased out after 2022 in Europe, leaving pig producers without options to manage post-weaning disorders. This study assessed whether rapeseed meal, fermented alone (FRM) or co-fermented with a single (Ascophylum nodosum; FRMA), or two (A. nodossum and Saccharina latissima; FRMAS) brown macroalagae species, could improve weaner piglet performance and stimulate intestinal development as well as maturation of gut microbiota in the absence of in-feed zinc. Weaned piglets (n = 1240) were fed, during 28–85 days of age, a basal diet with no additives (negative control; NC), 2500 ppm in-feed ZnO (positive control; PC), FRM, FRMA or FRMAS. Piglets fed FRM and FRMA had a similar or numerically improved, respectively, production performance compared to PC piglets. Jejunal villus development was stimulated over NC in PC, FRM and FRMAS (gender-specific). FRM enhanced colon mucosal development and reduced signs of intestinal inflammation. All fermented feeds and PC induced similar changes in the composition and diversity of colon microbiota compared to NC. In conclusion, piglet performance, intestinal development and health indicators were sustained or numerically improved when in-feed zinc was replaced by FRM.

Highlights

The weaning of piglets in modern pig production is generally done at an early age and is associated with stresses due to major changes in diet, environment and social groups
Piglets supplemented with fermented alone (FRM) and FRMA after weaning had similar ADG during the experimental period (28–85 days of age) and achieved high body weights at 85 days of age as the pigs from the PC group
In piglets supplemented with FRMAS, ADG and body weights at 85 days age were not improved over the NC, and they had poorer performance compared to PC and FRM piglets (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

The weaning of piglets in modern pig production is generally done at an early age and is associated with stresses due to major changes in diet, environment and social groups. Weaned piglets experience a reduced feed intake, intestinal and immune dysfunction, as well as increased risk of infection with enteric pathogens [1,2]. The production efficiency of the piggeries is eventually reduced due to the stunted growth, post-weaning diarrhoea and increased mortality of the piglets [3]. Pig producers in Europe have, to a large extent, relied heavily on pharmacological doses of zinc oxide (ZnO) to control post-weaning diarrhoea, but, due to environmental concerns [5] and the risk of antibiotic resistance associated with its uses [6], the EU passed a new law, which suspends the use of pharmacological doses of ZnO from 2022 [7]. There is an urgent need to find suitable alternative strategies to high doses of in-feed ZnO to sustain the performance and gut health of weaner piglets in countries such as Denmark, where ZnO is still widely used

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