The effect of palm kernel meal supplementation in the diet on the growth performance and meat quality of swine, and on the level of odorous compounds and bacterial communities in swine manure

Abstract

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of palm kernel meal (PKM), as a fermentable carbohydrate source, on the growth performance, meat quality, concentration of odorous compound, and changes in bacterial community in swine manure. Swine (average initial body weight of 51.36 ± 1.02 kg) were fed diet which included three levels of PKM (0, 2 and 4%), and their manure samples were collected from the slurry pit. Growth performance and meat quality were not affected by PKM treatments (p > 0.05). Levels of phenols and indoles were decreased in the 2 and 4% PKM treatments compared to 0% PKM (control; p < 0.05). Especially, compared to the control, the 2% PKM group showed decreased levels of phenols by 35% and indoles by 34%. Among the dominant bacterial genera, the main change in relative abundance occurred in those belonging to the Firmicutes phylum in PKM treatments. Terrisporobacter and Clostridium were decreased in the PKM groups compared to the control. However, the relative abundance of Intestinibacter, AM406061_g, Coprococcus_g2, Phascolarcotobacterium, EF401875_g, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus were increased in the PKM group compared to control. Taken together, administration of PKM had a beneficial effect on reducing production of odorous compounds in swine manure, possibly by modulating the communities of predominantly carbohydrateutilizing bacteria in the large intestine of swine.