Abstract
ABSTRACT: The effects of the oral supplementation of probiotics on the performance and intestinal histo-morphology of the duodenal, jejunal, and ileal mucosa, comparing with two different genetic lines (purebred Large White or crossbred Large White x Landrace) of suckling piglets were evaluated between 2 and 19 days of age. In total, 276 piglets were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, with four replicates each. Treatments consisted of two genetic lines (130 purebred Large White and 146 crossbred Large White x Landrace piglets), two different probiotic products (probiotic bacteria or a combination of yeast and probiotic bacteria), and a control (basal diet with no addition). Probiotics increased the average daily weight gain (P=0.02), independently of genetic line, but did not influence (P>0.10) average daily feed intake. Crossbred piglets presented higher average daily feed intake (P=0.03) than purebreds. The incidence of diarrhea was not significantly different (P>0.10) among the treatments. Intestinal histo-morphometric parameters were not influenced by genetic lines (P>0.10). However, the piglets fed with the probiotic products exhibited higher duodenal villi compared with the control (P=0.01). In conclusion, piglets that received oral probiotics improved intestinal health and average daily weight gain, independent of the genetic lines. Higher duodenal villus were measured in P2 and P3 (450.37 μm and 435.62 μm, respectively) compared with the control group P1 (309.25 μm; P=0.01). Higher average daily weight gain was obtained in P2 and P3 (259.55 g and 250.50 g, respectively) compared with P1 (221.9 g; P=0.02).
Highlights
The growing concern with the withdrawal of antibiotics in pig production, coupled with the need to increase the zootechnical performance of livestock, motivates the search for alternatives that reduce the potential negative impact on performance by reducing antibiotics and growth promoters administered to animals intended for human consumption
With this progress is the perception that several beneficial microorganisms are affected by probiotics and that they can contribute to intestinal health
Treatments consisted of two genetic lines, purebred Large White (L1) and crossbred Landrace x Large White (L2) piglets, which were fed with two different commercial probiotic products available in the market (P2 and P3) and no probiotic (P1), which was considered as the control group and used to compare the effects of P2 and P3
Summary
The growing concern with the withdrawal of antibiotics in pig production, coupled with the need to increase the zootechnical performance of livestock, motivates the search for alternatives that reduce the potential negative impact on performance by reducing antibiotics and growth promoters administered to animals intended for human consumption. The concept of using probiotics is advancing, most likely because of research efforts that contribute to the knowledge of the composition of microbiota and allow the identification of other substances that influence intestinal colonization. With this progress is the perception that several beneficial microorganisms are affected by probiotics and that they can contribute to intestinal health. The establishment and maintenance of a beneficial gut microbiota early in life is crucial in pigs, since early gut colonizers are pivotal in the establishment of permanent microbial community structures affecting the health and growth performance of pigs later in life (GUEVARRA et al, 2019)
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