Effect of lactobacilli probiotics supplementation on intestinalbacteria and growth performance in weaned pigs

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of lactobacilli probiotics supplementation on intestinal bacteria and growth performance in weaned pigs. A total of 48 weaned pigs (Landrace x Largewhite x Duroc) with 5.4 kg body weight (19-24 days old) were allotted into 4 groups as follows: T1 given basal diet (B) without probiotics (control group), T2 given B + single-strain (Lactobacillus plantarum strain L21) probiotics at 1 x 109 CFU/ml/day/pig, T3 given B + multi-strain (L. plantarum strain L21 and L80, L. paraplantarum strain L103) probiotics at 1 x 109 CFU/ml/day/pig, and T4 given B + commercial probiotics, consisted of Bacillus subtilis, L. acidophilus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 0.25 g/pig/day. Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Nutrition provided as recommended by the national research council (NRC). Probiotics were given by oral gavage for 28 days. The results showed that T3 and T4 groups had an average daily gain (ADG) at 321 g was greater than the other groups. In contrast, an average daily feed intake (ADFI) at 401 g, feed per gain ratio (F: G) at 1.25, were lower than other groups. The fecal Escherichia coli decreased and Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) increased at 3.58-4.76 and 8.03-8.25 log CFU/ml, respectively at day 28, 35, 42, and 49 compared with the control group (p<0.05). This study indicated that multi-strain probiotics supplementation at 21-49 days old in weaned pigs was increasing growth performance and the amount of LAB, and decreasing the amount of E. coli greater than either nonor single-strain probiotics supplementation groups.