Effects of fermented soybean meal supplementation on the growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility by modulating the gut microbiome of weaned piglets

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of soybean meal fermented by Enterococcus faecium as a replacement for soybean meal on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, blood profile and gut microbiota of weaned pigs. Eighty piglets (weaned at 21 days) [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with average body weight of 6.52 ± 0.59 kg) were selected and assigned to 4 treatments/4 replicate pens (3 barrows and 2 gilts). The four diets (SBM, 3, 6 and 9% FSBM) were formulated using fermented soybean meal to replace 0, 3, 6 and 9% of soybean meal, respectively. The trial lasted for 42 days phase 1, 2 and 3. Result showed that supplemental FSBM increased (P < 0.05) the body weight gain (BWG) of piglets at day 7, 21 and 42 and ADG at days 1–7, 8–21, 22–42 and 1–42, and ADFI at days 8–21, 22–42 and 1–42 and G: F at days 1–7, 8–21 and 1–42, and crude protein, dry matter, and gross energy digestibility at day 42, and lowered (P < 0.05) diarrhea at days 1–21 and 22–42. The concentration of glucose levels, WBC, RBC, and lymphocytes were increased while, concentration of BUN level in the serum was lowered in the FSBM treatment compared to the SBM group (P < 0.05). Microbiota sequencing found that FSBM supplementation increased the microbial Shannon, Simpsons and Chao indexs, (P < 0.05) and the abundances of the phylum Firmicutes, and genera prevotella, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae and Lachnoclostridium (P < 0.05), lower in the abundances of the phylum bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, genera Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium sensu stricto1, Bacteroides and Parabacteroides (P < 0.05). Overall, FSBM replacing SBM improved the growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, and blood profiles; perhaps via altering the faecal microbiota and its metabolites in weaned pigs. The present study provides theoretical support for applying FSBM at 6–9% to promote immune characteristics and regulate intestinal health in weaning piglets.

The process of solid‐state fermentation of soybean meal: antimicrobial activity, fermentation heat generation and nitrogen solubility index

“…These compounds acted antagonistically against other microorganisms, inhibiting the growth of contaminants. A similar study indicated that fermented soybean meal can improve the growth performance of weaned pigs by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacterial populations 25 …”

“…The FSBM was subjected to fermentation at different environmental temperatures (15,25,30,35, 40 and 45 °C). The internal fermentation temperature of the SBM was measured every 2 h during the fermentation process.…”

“…A similar study indicated that fermented soybean meal can improve the growth performance of weaned pigs by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacterial populations. 25…”

Dietary eubiotics of microbial muramidase and glycan improve intestinal villi, ileum microbiota composition and production trait of broiler

“…Dietary eubiotic supplements could stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria and minimize pathogenic bacteria activity in the poultry gut. Alpha diversity could serve as an indicator of the functional resilience of the intestinal microbial ecosystem, including species richness (Observed species and Chao1) and species diversity (Shannon, Simpson and Pielous evenness) [ 41 , 42 ]. MR increased observed species and Chao1 index and MRPG increased Shannons index in the ileum sample of broilers compared with NC group.…”

Effect of microbial fermentation on the quality of soybean meal

“…Muniyappan et al . (2023) concluded that growth performance, apparent total digestibility and blood status of weaned piglets were improved after replacing soybean meal with fermented soybean meal. Similarly, Abdel‐Raheem et al .…”