Effects of yeast culture supplementation on growth performance, intestinal health, and immune response of nursery pigs1

Abstract

A total of 216 weaning pigs were used in 2 experiments to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of yeast culture (YC) at different dose levels on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, intestinal microflora, and immune response in weanling pigs and to determine whether YC can be a candidate to replace antibiotic growth promoters (AGP). In Exp. 1, 192 pigs (7.5 +/- 0.2 kg of BW) weaned at 28 d of age were randomly allotted to 6 treatments: 1) control (without AGP or YC); 2) AGP (chlortetracycline, 80 mg/kg); 3) 2.5 g/kg of YC (Diamond V XP Yeast Culture); 4) 5 g/kg of YC; 5) 10 g/kg of YC; and 6) 20 g/kg of YC. Each treatment had 8 replicated pens with 4 pigs per pen. Pigs were fed the experimental diets for 21 d. Average daily gain of pigs fed 5 g/kg of YC was greater (P < 0.05) than that of pigs in the control and other YC groups. However, there was no difference between the YC and AGP group. Pigs supplemented with 5 g/kg of YC, 10 g/kg of YC, and AGP had a greater (P < 0.01) ADFI than the control; however, G:F was not affected by treatment. Thus, 5 g/kg of YC supplementation level was chosen for Exp. 2. In Exp. 2, to elucidate the mode of action of YC, 24 nursery pigs (5.8 +/- 0.1 kg of BW; 21 d of age) were randomly allotted into 3 treatments for a 21-d trial. Treatments consisted of 1) control (without AGP or YC), 2) AGP, and 3) 5 g/kg of YC. Blood samples were collected weekly to measure CD4(+), CD8(+) percentage, and blood cytokine content. All pigs were harvested to determine treatment effects on gut microbiota, morphology, and immune function. Dietary supplementation of 5 g/kg of YC improved (P < 0.05) ADG of pigs compared with the control group, but performance of pigs fed YC was similar to those fed AGP. Pigs receiving 5 g/kg of YC had greater (P < 0.05) digestibility of DM, CP, GE, and jejunal villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05) compared with pigs fed the control diet. However, no differences in performance, digestibility, or gut morphology were observed between pigs fed YC and AGP. Gut interferon (IFN)-gamma concentrations were greater (P < 0.01) for pigs supplemented with YC compared with control pigs and pigs supplemented with AGP on d 21. However, plasma IFN-gamma concentrations were decreased (P < 0.01) in pigs supplemented with YC and AGP compared with control pigs on d 7, and CD4(+) was decreased (P < 0.01) in pigs supplemented with YC and AGP on d 14. Results indicate that dietary YC supplementation at 5 g/kg had a positive effect on growth performance of nursery pigs by improving jejunal villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratio and by modulating gut immune response. The comparable effect of 5 g/kg of YC supplementation and AGP on the growth performance of nursery pigs indicates that YC may be a good candidate as an antibiotic alternative.

The effects of Spirulina platensis ( Arthrospira platensis ) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the distribution and cytokine production of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes in rabbits

“…Some studies have suggested that S. platensis (A. platensis) and S. cerevisiae could improve immunity by increasing the concentration of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4 in newborn pigs (Shen et al 2009) and humans (Hirahashi et al 2002). However, there were no significant differences in expressions of cytokines between experimental groups were found in our study.…”

“…Our results demonstrate that, similarly to the findings of Salazar et al (Salazar-Monroy et al 2012), an increase in CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ in peripheral blood in pigs and the increase of these T lymphocyte subpopulation stimulates the antibody yield in the pigs fed 0.3% S. cerevisiae. In other studies on pigs (Shen et al 2009) the researchers added 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 g S. cerevisiae to feed, and the animals expressed a substantial development in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in experimental groups compared to control. According to our findings and previous studies it was identified that S. cerevisiae may enhance the T lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+) and thereby improves the immunity.…”

“…This may be ascribable to the contribution rate of these natural supplements. There are several studies focused on the immune system modulation by spirulina and yeast (Ortuno et al 2002, Robertsen et al 1990, Watanuki et al 2008, Shen et al 2009.…”

“…The yeast cell wall component beta glucan works as an immunstimulant by activating functional activities of macrophage (Pillemer et al 1954). There are several studies focused on immune system modulation by yeast and beta glucan (Ortuno et al 2002, Robertsen et al 1990, Shen et al 2009.…”

Effects of hydrolyzed yeast supplementation in calf starter on immune responses to vaccine challenge in neonatal calves

“…Many studies have reported that yeast or yeast products influence blood cell composition in weanling pigs or lipopolysaccharide-challenged piglets (Davis et al, 2004;Shen et al, 2009). Davis et al (2004) found a tendency toward a lower level of neutrophils and a greater proportion of lymphocytes in blood of mannan-fed weanling pigs.…”