Effects of Supplementation of Probiotics on the Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Faecal Microflora in Growing-finishing Pigs

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Bacillus, Saccharomyces and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on performance and nutrient digestibility in grower and finisher pigs. In Exp. 1, 80 pigs (32 females and 48 males), 28.7±0.9 kg body weight (BW), were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups balanced for sex and weight (5 pigs per pen, 4 pens per treatment). They were fed one of four diets: a basal grower (20-50 kg BW) and finisher (>50 kg BW) diet without any addition of probiotic or antibiotic (diet C), the basal diet supplemented with Bacillus subtilis H4 (diet B), diet B supplemented with Saccharomyces boulardi Sb (diet BS) and diet BS supplemented with a LAB complex (diet BSL). The LAB complex consisted of Enterococcus faecium 6H2, Lactobacillus acidophilus C3, Pediococcus pentosaceus D7, and Lactobacillus fermentum NC1. In Exp. 2, 16 male pigs, 29.2±0.8 kg BW, were kept in individual pens and divided into 4 groups (4 pigs in each group). All 4 groups were given exactly the same growing-period diets (diet C, B, BS and BSL) as in Exp 1. The total faeces and urine were collected during 5 days (day 20-24) to determine nitrogen retention and total tract digestibility. In the growing period, average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected by diet B and BS (p>0.05), but ADG increased (+5.9%) (p<0.05) and FCR improved (+5.9%) (p<0.05) on diet BSL compared with the control, although ADFI was not different (p>0.05). Digestibility of crude protein and organic matter was higher (p<0.05) in diet BSL and digestibility of crude fibre was higher (p<0.05) in diet BS and BSL than in diet C. Nitrogen retention was not affected by diet (p>0.05). The faecal LAB counts were increased in grower pigs fed diet BSL (p<0.05) and faecal E. coli counts were decreased in pigs fed diets BS and BSL (p<0.05). In the finishing period, no effects of diet were found in ADFI, ADG, FCR, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen retention (p>0.05). Faecal LAB and E. coli counts in the finisher pigs were not affected by diet (p>0.05). In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that a mixture of bacteria and yeast has the potential to be used as a probiotic dietary supplement in grower pigs.

Effects of probiotics on growth performance, blood parameters, and antibody stimulation in piglets

“…In this study, the supplementation of probiotics did not reduce enteric bacterial counts nor increased lactic acid bacterial (LAB) counts in fecal samples (Figure 1). These results are similar to those reported by Giang et al (2011), where how probiotics supplementation affects performance, nutrient digestibility and fecal microflora in growing-finishing pigs was evaluated. The authors reported that inclusion of Bacillus in pig diet did not affect fecal microflora.…”

Influence of Bacillus subtilis GCB‐13‐001 on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, faecal microbiota and faecal score in weanling pigs

“…For instance, Kritas and Morrison () failed to observe any significant growth performance effects with dietary supplementation of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis product (1,012 CFU/0.45 kg total Bacillus) in pigs. Similarly, Giang, Viet, Ogle, and Lindberg () reported that basal diet supplemented with either Bacillus subtilis H4 (6 × 1,011 CFU/ml) had no effect on the performance in grower‐finisher pigs.…”

Effects of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis complex on growth performance and faecal noxious gas emissions in growing‐finishing pigs

“…and coliforms counts but had no effect on Lactobacillus counts in weaning pigs. Giang et al . reported that dietary Bacillus supplementation had no effect on faecal Lactobacillus or E. coli counts in growing and finishing pigs.…”

“…and coliforms counts but had no effect on Lactobacillus counts in weaning pigs. Giang et al 29 reported that dietary Bacillus supplementation had no effect on faecal Lactobacillus or E. coli counts in growing and finishing pigs. In the present study, dietary B. licheniformis and B. subtilis complex supplementation had no effect on faecal E. coli counts but increased faecal Lactobacillus counts.…”