Effects of dietary probiotics on growth performance, faecal microbiota and serum profiles in weaned piglets
Xiaoli Dong A , Naifeng Zhang A , Meng Zhou A , Yan Tu A , Kaidong Deng B and Qiyu Diao A CA Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100081, China.
B College of Animal Science, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210038, China.
C Corresponding author. Email: diaoqiyu@mail.caas.net.cn
Animal Production Science 54(5) 616-621 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN12372
Submitted: 28 October 2012 Accepted: 2 June 2013 Published: 17 July 2013
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with probiotics on growth performance, faecal microbiota, and serum profiles in weaned piglets. Large White × Landrace piglets (n = 144) weaned at 35–37 days of age were selected and divided into four groups, and the piglets from each group were assigned randomly to six pens (replicates) with six animals each. Each group was fed one of four diets for 5 weeks: a basal diet without antibiotics and probiotics (control), or the basal diet supplemented with Lactobacillus plantarum GF103, Bacillus subtilis B27, or a mixture of L. plantarum GF103 and B. subtilis B27. During the first 2 weeks of the supplementation, the piglets supplemented with probiotics had lower (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake than control piglets. The feed conversion ratio was improved (P < 0.05) in probiotic-supplemented groups compared with that of control. The population of E. coli in faeces of the piglets supplemented with L. plantarum GF103 was lower (P < 0.05) than that of control piglets. On day 14, dietary supplementation of the combination of L. plantarum GF103 and B. subtilis B27 increased (P < 0.05) the serum concentrations of total protein, globulin, and creatinine, but decreased (P < 0.05) the ratio of serum albumin to serum globulin, compared with the basal diet. On day 14, dietary supplementation with probiotics increased (P < 0.05) the serum IgM concentration compared with the basal diet. Supplementation of B. subtilis B27 or the combination of L. plantarum GF103 and B. subtilis B27 increased (P < 0.05) the serum IgA concentration at the end of the trial. These results suggest that dietary probiotics improved growth performance and enhanced immune responses at the early stage of the post-weaning period in piglets.
Additional keywords: fecal microbiota, growth performance, probiotics, serum profiles, weaned piglets.
References
AOAC (1990) ‘Official methods of analysis.’ 15th edn (Association of Official Analytical Chemists: Washington, DC)Awosanya B, Joseph JK, Apata DF, Ayoola MA (1999) Performance, blood chemistry and carcass quality attributes of rabbits fed raw and processed Pueraria seed meal. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science 2, 89–96.
Chadwick RW, Elizabeth George S, Claxton LD (1992) Role of the gastrointestinal mucosa and microflora in the bioactivation of dietary and environmental mutagens or carcinogens. Drug Metabolism Reviews 24, 425–492.
| Role of the gastrointestinal mucosa and microflora in the bioactivation of dietary and environmental mutagens or carcinogens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXjtl2rug%3D%3D&md5=12d3f710a99f063632fc7b854c2bf3bdCAS | 1289035PubMed |
Dänicke S, Döll S (2010) A probiotic feed additive containing spores of Bacillus subtilis and B. licheniformis does not prevent absorption and toxic effects of the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol in piglets. Food and Chemical Toxicology 48, 152–158.
| A probiotic feed additive containing spores of Bacillus subtilis and B. licheniformis does not prevent absorption and toxic effects of the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol in piglets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19796665PubMed |
Dong XZ, Cai MY (2001) The determinative methods of common bacteriology. In ‘Manual of determinative bacteriology’. (Ed. XZ Dong) pp. 364–398. (Science Press: Beijing).
Fairbrother JM, Nadeau É, Gyles CL (2005) Escherichia coli in postweaning diarrhea in pigs: an update on bacterial types, pathogenesis, and prevention strategies. Animal Health Research Reviews 6, 17–39.
| Escherichia coli in postweaning diarrhea in pigs: an update on bacterial types, pathogenesis, and prevention strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtFGiurjI&md5=949ad734c5b2ab042de1342f6225d2c2CAS | 16164007PubMed |
Fernandes CF, Shahani KM, Amer MA (1987) Therapeutic role of dietary lactobacilli and lactobacillic fermented dairy products. FEMS Microbiology Letters 46, 343–356.
| Therapeutic role of dietary lactobacilli and lactobacillic fermented dairy products.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fuller R (1989) Probiotics in man and animals. The Journal of Applied Bacteriology 66, 365–378.
| Probiotics in man and animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL1MzislSqsw%3D%3D&md5=5b04298c9014e0b848e05db4745467ffCAS | 2666378PubMed |
Giang HH, Viet TQ, Ogle B, Lindberg JE (2010) Growth performance, digestibility, gut environment and health status in weaned piglets fed a diet supplemented with potentially probiotic complexes of lactic acid bacteria. Livestock Science 129, 95–103.
| Growth performance, digestibility, gut environment and health status in weaned piglets fed a diet supplemented with potentially probiotic complexes of lactic acid bacteria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Giang HH, Viet TQ, Ogle B, Lindberg JE (2011) Effects of supplementation of probiotics on the performance, nutrient digestibility and faecal microflora in growing-finishing pigs. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 24, 655–661.
| Effects of supplementation of probiotics on the performance, nutrient digestibility and faecal microflora in growing-finishing pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXoslOktbc%3D&md5=c2de6037781883c0489d23cd9837b6d9CAS |
Griggs JP, Jacob JP (2005) Alternatives to antibiotics for organic poultry production. The Journal of Applied Poultry Research 14, 750–756.
Guo X, Li D, Lu W, Piao X, Chen X (2006) Screening of Bacillus strains as potential probiotics and subsequent confirmation of the in vivo effectiveness of Bacillus subtilis MA139 in pigs. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 90, 139–146.
| Screening of Bacillus strains as potential probiotics and subsequent confirmation of the in vivo effectiveness of Bacillus subtilis MA139 in pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XotlChu7s%3D&md5=3c17c9f4d1bd909475695bae4be83979CAS | 16820971PubMed |
Hentges DJ (1992) Gut flora and disease resistance. In ‘Probiotics: The science basis’. (Ed. R Fuller) pp. 87–110. (Chapman & Hall: London)
Jensen BB (1998) The impact of feed additives on the microbial ecology of the gut in young pigs. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences 7, 45–64.
Kabir SML (2009) The role of probiotics in the poultry industry. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 10, 3531–3546.
| The role of probiotics in the poultry industry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhtVemurjF&md5=305c0a96faad61808dce3f95c458cf29CAS |
Le Bon M, Davies HE, Glynn C, Thompson C, Madden M, Wiseman J, Dodd CER, Hurdidge L, Payne G, Le Treut Y, Craigon J, Totemeyer S, Mellits KH (2010) Influence of probiotics on gut health in the weaned pig. Livestock Science 133, 179–181.
| Influence of probiotics on gut health in the weaned pig.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McCracken KJ, Kelly D (1993) Development of digestive function and nutrition/disease interactions in the weaned pig. In ‘Recent advances in animal nutrition in Australia’. (Ed. DJ Farrell) pp. 182–192. (University of New England: Armidale, NSW)
NRC (1998) ‘Nutrient requirements of swine.’ 10th edn (National Academy Press: Washington, DC)
O’Loughlin A, McGee M, Waters SM, Doyle S, Earley B (2011) Examination of the bovine leukocyte environment using immunogenetic biomarkers to assess immunocompetence following exposure to weaning stress. BMC Veterinary Research 7, 45–57.
| Examination of the bovine leukocyte environment using immunogenetic biomarkers to assess immunocompetence following exposure to weaning stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtFKms7jJ&md5=c28af8ac8174a73e69dba3d62eda38e9CAS | 21834971PubMed |
Pluske JR (2001) Morphological and functional changes in the small intestine of the newly-weaned pig. In ‘Gut morphology of pigs’. (Eds A Piva, KE Bach Knudsen, JE Lindberg) pp. 1–27. (Nottingham University Press: Nottingham, UK)
Pollman DS (1986) Probiotics in pig diets. In ‘Recent advances in animal nutrition’. (Eds W Haresign, DJA Cole) pp. 193–205. (Butterworth: London)
Ross GR, Gusils C, Oliszewski R, Colombo de Holgado S, González SN (2010) Effects of probiotic administration in swine. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering 109, 545–549.
| Effects of probiotic administration in swine.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtVCktbzE&md5=f5540c4c8a2d241a52b7d7f4e382ae26CAS | 20471591PubMed |
Sun P, Wang JQ, Zhang HT (2010) Effects of Bacillus subtilis natto on performance and immune function of preweaning calves. Journal of Dairy Science 93, 5851–5855.
| Effects of Bacillus subtilis natto on performance and immune function of preweaning calves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXjs1Kis7k%3D&md5=70588f4558163eacf2087f83987c1cddCAS | 21094758PubMed |
Szabó I, Wieler LH, Tedin K, Scharek-Tedin L, Taras D, Hensel A, Appel B, Nöckler K (2009) Influence of a probiotic strain of Enterococcus faecium on Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 infection in a porcine animal infection model. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 75, 2621–2628.
| Influence of a probiotic strain of Enterococcus faecium on Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 infection in a porcine animal infection model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19270131PubMed |
Walter J (2008) Ecological role of lactobacilli in the gastrointestinal tract: implications for fundamental and biomedical research. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74, 4985–4996.
| Ecological role of lactobacilli in the gastrointestinal tract: implications for fundamental and biomedical research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhtVehu7jF&md5=eb1586acbaffbfbbb334e9ede9352df7CAS | 18539818PubMed |
Wang JP, Yoo JS, Kim HJ, Lee JH, Kim IH (2009) Nutrient digestibility, blood profiles and fecal microbiota are influenced by chitooligosaccharide supplementation of growing pigs. Livestock Science 125, 298–303.
| Nutrient digestibility, blood profiles and fecal microbiota are influenced by chitooligosaccharide supplementation of growing pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weichselbaum E (2009) Probiotics and health: a review of the evidence. Nutrition Bulletin 34, 340–373.
| Probiotics and health: a review of the evidence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yu HF, Wang AN, Li XJ, Qiao SY (2008) Effect of viable Lactobacillus fermentum on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and immunity of weaned pigs. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences 17, 61–69.
Yun JH, Lee KB, Sung YK, Kim EB, Lee HG, Choi YJ (2009) Isolation and characterization of potential probiotic lactobacilli from pig feces. Journal of Basic Microbiology 49, 220–226.
| Isolation and characterization of potential probiotic lactobacilli from pig feces.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXmtVyrtbc%3D&md5=cce871fd580690d3d88d2e249cd197f0CAS | 18792047PubMed |
Zhang GQ, Dong XF, Tong JM, Wang ZH, Zhang Q (2010) Isolation and identification of a Bacillus sp. strain. Microbiology China 37, 1159–1163.
