A comparison of features and the microbial constitution of the fresh feces of pigs fed diets supplemented with or without dietary microbes.

Abstract

The features and the constitution of the microbial population of fresh feces were compared between pigs fed a diet supplemented with dietary microbes and pigs given nonsupplemented diets. The former were reared on farm C and the latter on farms A and B. The concentrations of ammonia-N, indole, and skatole of fresh feces were not significantly different between pigs reared on farm C and those raised on farms A and B, but the concentrations of ammonia-N and the skatole of fresh feces were significantly different between pigs reared on farms A and B. The total VFA (volatile fatty acids) concentration of fresh feces in pigs on farm C was slightly lower than in those on farms A and B. Moreover, the molar proportion of the acetic acid in feces in pigs on farm C was lower; inversely, that of propionic and butyric acids was higher in comparison with those on farms A and B. No differences were evident in the total viable counts of feces among pigs reared on the three different farms. Clostridium perfringens was abundant in feces of pigs raised on farms A and B, but it was not detected in pigs reared on farm C. Megasphaerae, bifidobacteria, and clostridia except for C. perfringens were more abundant in the feces of pigs fed a diet supplemented with dietary microbes on farm C, compared with pigs given the nonsupplemented diets on farms A and B.

The Effects of Oral Controlled Exposure on Colostrum Characteristics in Swine

“…However much attention has recently been devoted to this topic due to an increased public concern focused on the possible association with antimicrobial resistance. In response to this concern, studies in which sows pre-farrowing were supplemented with either prebiotics or probiotics have been conducted and results indicated a reduction of Cp shedding at farrowing (Krueger et al, 2002;Nagamine et al, 1998). Prebiotics can be defined as nondigestible food, primarily oligosaccharides.…”