Impact of Dietary Supplementation of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermented Rapeseed with or without Macroalgae on Performance and Health of Piglets Following Omission of Medicinal Zinc from Weaner Diets

Abstract

The feeding of medicinal zinc oxide (ZnO) to weaner piglets will be phased out after 2022 in Europe, leaving pig producers without options to manage post-weaning disorders. This study assessed whether rapeseed meal, fermented alone (FRM) or co-fermented with a single (Ascophylum nodosum; FRMA), or two (A. nodossum and Saccharina latissima; FRMAS) brown macroalagae species, could improve weaner piglet performance and stimulate intestinal development as well as maturation of gut microbiota in the absence of in-feed zinc. Weaned piglets (n = 1240) were fed, during 28–85 days of age, a basal diet with no additives (negative control; NC), 2500 ppm in-feed ZnO (positive control; PC), FRM, FRMA or FRMAS. Piglets fed FRM and FRMA had a similar or numerically improved, respectively, production performance compared to PC piglets. Jejunal villus development was stimulated over NC in PC, FRM and FRMAS (gender-specific). FRM enhanced colon mucosal development and reduced signs of intestinal inflammation. All fermented feeds and PC induced similar changes in the composition and diversity of colon microbiota compared to NC. In conclusion, piglet performance, intestinal development and health indicators were sustained or numerically improved when in-feed zinc was replaced by FRM.

Effects of Increasing Doses of Lactobacillus Pre-Fermented Rapeseed Product with or without Inclusion of Macroalgae Product on Weaner Piglet Performance and Intestinal Development

“…In the current study, FRM demonstrated the same desirable effects on ADG, and intestinal development and barrier function as we have previously observed and optimum effects were observed when 8% or 10% FRM was included in the weaner diets [14]. Similar improvements in ADG upon dietary addition of FRM in broiler chicken [27] and fermented soybean meal in piglets [28,29] were reported in other studies.…”

“…We have also previously tested FRM or rapeseed meal co-fermented with the brown macroalgae Ascophyllum nodosum (AN) and or Saccharina latissima (SL) in weaned piglets where 10% FRM inclusion improved growth performance, intestinal health and colon microbiota. However, the inclusion of either AN or AN plus SL in FRM resulted in inconsistent and contradictory findings between growth performance and gut health indices [14].…”

Supplementation of a lacto-fermented rapeseed-seaweed blend promotes gut microbial- and gut immune-modulation in weaner piglets

“…Litter weights during the nursing period were recorded every week, and feed intake was recorded daily. Performance indicators such as body weight, ADFI (average daily feed intake), average daily weight gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and completion rate were calculated at the pen level as previously outlined (Satessa et al 2020a).…”

“…It is the most stressful period in a pig's life and often lead to morbidities like diarrhea. In-feed zinc-oxide used to be a prevalent choice for prophylaxis, but according to the European Union regulations, zinc-oxide shall no longer be directly used in feed or water from 2022 (Satessa et al 2020a). This leaves an urgent need for new prophylactic substitutes.…”

“…The fermentation with lactic acid bacteria of a rapeseed-seaweed (FRS) blend could improve the health and nutritional value by reducing the naturally present anti-nutritional factors and by hydrolyzing protein and fibers down to a more soluble matrix. We have previously reported that dietary supplementation with FRS could contribute favorably in the development of a healthy functional gut barrier as well as the production performance of piglets in the weaning period (Satessa et al 2020a).…”