Lactobacillus-based fermentation product and lactose level in the feed for weanling pigs: Effects on intestinal morphology, microbiota, gas emission, and targeted intestinal coliforms

Abstract

A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was used to investigate the interactions between lactose levels (100 g/kg versus 200 g/kg) and Lactobacillus-based fermentation product (FP; 0 and 1 × 1011 CFU Lactobacillus casei/kg) on weanling piglet performance and nutrient digestibility. Two hundred and forty weaned piglets (24 days old, 7.05 kg live weight) were blocked on the basis of live weight and assigned to one of four dietary treatments with six replicates and 10 piglets per replicate in two phases (phase 1, from d 1 to 14; phase 2, from d 14 to 28). Volatile fatty acid concentrations and bacterial counts were performed in ileal, cecal, and colonic contents. In phase Ⅰ, ADG was increased (P < 0.01) in pigs fed FP. The digestibility of DM and GE were greater (P < 0.01) in pigs offered high lactose level. The interactions between lactose level and FP were significant for the concentration of ileal acetate (P < 0.05) and propionate (P < 0.01). The concentration of propionate in the cecum and colon, as well as butyrate in the ileum, were greater (P < 0.05) in high lactose treatment. Dietary supplementation of FP decreased acetate level in the cecum. The emission of total organic carbon and ammonia in pigs feces were decreased (P < 0.01) in both high lactose and FP-supplemented diets. The interactions between lactose and FP were significant (P < 0.05) for the population of Salmonella spp. in the ileum. The pH of colon digesta was lower (P < 0.05) in pigs offered high lactose level. The abundance of Lactobacillus spp. was increased (P < 0.05) only in the cecum digesta in pigs offered high lactose diet. In phase Ⅱ, there was a significant improvement in the feed:gain in pigs fed the diet with high lactose content. The overall result showed that ADG and ADFI were increased in pigs in FP treatment. The greater digestibility of DM was observed in pigs offered FP. The concentration of butyric acid in the colon was increased in pigs fed FP. The supplementation of FP decreased ileal and cecal Escherichia coli. This study demonstrates that dietary FP improved the growth performance and DM digestibility of weanling pigs. When the dietary FP, and the lactose level were combined there was no evidence of an interaction on growth performance. However, both lactose and FP decreased the emissions of total organic carbon and ammonium.