Reproductive performance of sows was improved by administration of a sporing bacillary probiotic (Bacillus subtilis C-3102)

Abstract

This field study assessed the efficacy of a probiotic based on viable spores of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 (Calsporin; Calpis Co. Ltd., Japan) on the health status and productivity of sows and their litters through 2 full, sequential reproductive cycles from service of the first cycle to weaning of the second cycle. Fifty-six sows were allocated to 2 experimental groups, an untreated control (T1) group and a probiotic-treated (T2) group that received the same basal feed as the T1 group plus the probiotic at an approximate allowance of 30 g/t of feed (3 × 10(5) cfu/g). The offspring of T1 and T2 sows were offered basal and T2 creep feed (3 × 10(5) cfu/g), respectively. Health and zootechnical parameters of sows and piglets were recorded. Feeding the probiotic to sows and piglets resulted in significant benefits, observed in both cycles: 1) improved sow body condition during pregnancy (P < 0.05), 2) increased sow feed consumption, 3) reduced sow weight loss during lactation (P < 0.05), 4) reduced sow weaning-estrus interval (P < 0.05), and 5) higher BW of piglets at weaning (P < 0.05). Additionally, a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in piglet birth weight and in the number of piglets weaned was observed in the second cycle of T2 sows, while a significant improvement of mean daily gain of piglets from birth to weaning was observed in the first cycle of T2 sows. Microbiological examination of fecal samples showed that probiotic treatment significantly reduced both Escherichia coli and Clostridium spp. in piglet feces, particularly during the second cycle. The data suggested that continuous feed supplementation with the probiotic is beneficial for both sows and piglets, since zootechnical benefits were observed in both cycles.

Effects of chromium-enriched bacillus subtilis KT260179 supplementation on chicken growth performance, plasma lipid parameters, tissue chromium levels, cecal bacterial composition and breast meat quality

“…Oral administration of B. subtilis can exert a range of beneficial effects, including improvement of growth, enhancement of meat characteristics, optimizing the balance of intestinal microbiota, prevention and treatment of some diarrheal diseases, and reduction of serum cholesterol [9, 10]. For these reasons, B. subtilis has attracted considerable attention as a potentially beneficial dietary supplement for animal health.…”

Effect of diet supplementation with live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on performance of rabbit does and their progenies

“…P<0.05). Kritas et al (2015) did not observe any effect of 3×10 5 CFU of Bacillus subtilis C-3102/g of diet on neonatal mortality of piglets.…”

Probiotic supplementation improves reproductive performance of unvaccinated farmed sows infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus

“…Previously, a probiotic compound containing B. licheniformis and B. subtilis spores was supplemented to sows for two reproductive cycles (Kritas et al., ). Kritas et al.…”

“…However, Kritas et al. () showed that giving B. subtilis C‐3102 to sows helped them return to estrus more rapidly. In the present study, probiotic supplementation to PED‐infected sows significantly reduced the number of days to recurrence of estrus (Figure ).…”

“…Moreover, Kritas et al. () reported that piglets of sows infected with pathogenic E. coli did not benefit from B. subtilis C‐3102 supplementation, as the body weight at birth and weaning of piglets from probiotic‐supplemented and control sows were similar. In contrast, in the present study piglets farrowed by probiotic‐supplemented sows had a significantly lower mortality percentage and tended to have a greater weight at birth than did those farrowed by control sows (Figure ).…”