Effect of Calsporin on Nursing Piglet Growth Performance and Fecal Microflora

Abstract

A total of 26 lactating sows (DNA 241, DNA Genetics, Columbus, NE) and litters were used in a discovery study to evaluate the effects of Calsporin, a direct-fed microbial containing Bacillus subtilis C-3102, on fecal microflora of nursing pigs. The treatments consisted of providing a daily oral dose of Calsporin or a placebo control to piglets during the nursing phase. Sows were randomly assigned to treatments based on farrowing date, parity, and initial BW. The treatments were applied individually to piglets once a day from d 2 after farrowing and equalization until weaning on d 19. Sow BW, sow ADFI, piglet BW, piglet weight gain, litter size, and mortality were recorded on a weekly basis until weaning. Fecal scoring was conducted to categorize the consistency of the feces using a numerical scale from 1 to 5. Also, fecal samples were collected directly from the rectum of the piglets and pooled by litter for microbial analysis. Fecal scoring and microbial analysis were performed on d 2 after birth, and after 1 or 2 weeks of treatment. As expected, and not a primary objective of this study, there was no evidence for differences among treatments on sow and litter performance (P > 0.085). There was no evidence for differences on fecal score at the beginning of the trial and after 1 or 2 weeks of Calsporin supplementation (P > 0.358). Microbial analysis revealed an increase in levels of total Bacillus sp. (P < 0.001) and a decrease in total aerobes (P < 0.026) in litters treated with Calsporin. There was no evidence for differences in number of Lactobacillus sp., Enterococcus sp., Clostridium perfringens, Enterobacteriaceae, and total anaerobes between control-and Calsporin-treated litters (P > 0.05). In conclusion, once per day supplementation of Calsporin to nursing pigs resulted in slight changes in fecal microflora, but there was no influence on nursing pig fecal consistency.

Effect of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 Spores as a Probiotic Feed Supplement on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Diarrhea Score, Intestinal Microbiota, and Excreta Odor Contents in Weanling Piglets

“…However, some conflicting results were found by other researchers. Regarding BW, Menegat et al (2017Menegat et al ( , 2018 reported no evidence for differences between piglet diets supplemented with a commercial probiotic product (Calsporin ® : B. subtilis C-3102) and those without [5,23]. The different conclusions produced by these studies may be related to the composition of the diet, the age of the piglets, and interactions with environmental factors and dietary feed additives [24].…”