PSXIII-10 Effects of Dietary Lactobacillus Reuteri on Growth Performance, Frequency of Diarrhea, and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Weaned Pigs

Abstract

Abstract Weaning stress of pig causes reduction of growth performance and high risk of diseases. These effects are directly connected to economic losses. Antibiotic growth promotors commonly used for improving the negative effects of weaning stress of pigs, but are banned for public health concerns. Therefore, probiotics can be one potential of an antibiotic alternative. Dietary Lactobacillus reuteri is one of the strains of probiotics which has the ability to enhance growth performance of animals. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Lactobacillus reuteri on growth performance, frequency of diarrhea, and biochemical parameters of weaned pigs. A total of 48 weaned pigs [Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire); initial body weight (BW) = 6.51 ± 0.87 kg; 21 days old)] were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (4 pigs/pen; 6 replicates/treatment) and fed for 4 weeks in a randomized complete block design (block = initial BW and sex). Dietary treatments consisted of a basal weaner diet (CON) and CON supplemented with 0.02% Lactobacillus reuteri IDCC 3701 (LR; ILDONG Bioscience Co., Ltd., Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea). The frequency of diarrhea was calculated daily during two weeks in each pen with optical diarrhea scores. The scoring of diarrhea was from 1 to 5, and a score of over 4 was considered diarrhea. Blood samples were obtained from randomly selected one pig per pen at the end of the experiment. Sera were obtained from the blood sample to measure the blood biochemical parameters using the specific kits and a clinical auto-analyzer. All data were analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS. The experimental unit was a pen. Statistical model for growth performance and blood biochemical parameters included dietary treatments as a main effect and initial BW as a covariate. The frequency of diarrhea was analyzed by the Chi-square test. Pigs fed LR increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain from day 1 to 7 and 15 to 28 and gain to feed ratio from day 1 to 7 compared with those fed CON. Pigs fed LR tended to have reduced (P < 0.10) frequency of diarrhea during the first two weeks of experiment than those fed CON. In addition, pigs fed LR tended to have greater (P < 0.10) serum alanine aminotransferase than those fed CON, but no differences were observed in other blood biochemical parameters. In conclusion, addition of dietary Lactobacillus reuteri in weaner diet improved growth performance, reduced the frequency of diarrhea, and modulated the blood biochemical parameters of weaned pigs.