Impact of inulin and a multispecies probiotic formulation on performance, microbial ecology and concomitant fermentation patterns in newly weaned piglets

Different Physiochemical Properties of Novel Fibre Sources in the Diet of Weaned Pigs Influence Animal Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Caecal Fermentation

The effect of including micronised fibre sources (FS) differing in fermentability and hydration capacity (HC) on growth performance, faecal digestibility, and caecal fermentation was investigated in piglets. There were four dietary treatments: a control diet (CON) and three treatments differing in the HC and fermentability of FS added at 1.5% to prestarter (28-42 d) and starter (42-61 d) diets. These were: LHC (low-HC by-product-based insoluble fibre (IF) with a prebiotic fraction (PF) from chicory root); MHC (medium-HC by-product-based IF with a PF); and HHC (high-HC non-fermentable wood-based IF with no PF). There were eight replicates per treatment. Over the entire period, LHC and MHC piglets showed a 10% increase in daily growth and feed intake (p ≤ 0.019) and tended to have a reduced feed conversion ratio (p = 0.087) compared to HHC piglets. At 42 d, faecal protein digestibility increased by 5% in the LHC and MHC groups compared with the HHC group (p = 0.035) and did not differ from the CON group. Both LHC and MHC fibres were more fermented in vitro with caecal inocula from 61 d old piglets than HHC fibre (p ≤ 0.003). These results suggest that balanced soluble and insoluble fibre concentrates can improve piglet performance.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L47 and inulin alleviate enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli induced ileal inflammation in piglets by upregulating the levels of α-linolenic acid and 12,13-epoxyoctadecenoic acid

Alternatives to antibiotics for preventing bacteria-induced inflammation in early-weaned farm animals are sorely needed. Our previous study showed that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L47 and inulin could alleviate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. To explore the protective effects of L. plantarum L47 and inulin on the ileal inflammatory response in weaned piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), 28 weaned piglets were assigned into four groups, namely, CON group-orally given 10 mL/d phosphate buffer saline (PBS), LI47 group-orally given a mixture of 10 mL/d L. plantarum L47 and inulin, ECON group-orally given 10 mL/d PBS and challenged by ETEC, and ELI47 group-orally given 10 mL/d L. plantarum L47 and inulin mixture and challenged by ETEC. The results demonstrated that the combination of L. plantarum L47 and inulin reduced inflammatory responses and relieved the inflammatory damage caused by ETEC, including ileal morphological damage, reduced protein expression of ileal tight junction, decreased antioxidant capacity, and decreased anti-inflammatory factors. Transcriptome analysis revealed that L. plantarum L47 and inulin up-regulated the gene expression of phospholipase A2 group IIA (PLA2G2A) (P < 0.05) as well as affected alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism. Moreover, L. plantarum L47 and inulin increased the levels of ALA (P < 0.05), lipoteichoic acid (LTA) (P < 0.05), and 12,13-epoxyoctadecenoic acid (12,13-EpOME) (P < 0.05) and the protein expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) (P = 0.05) in the ileal mucosa. In conclusion, L. plantarum L47 and inulin together alleviated ETEC-induced ileal inflammation in piglets by up-regulating the levels of ALA and 12,13-EpOME via the LTA/TLR2/PLA2G2A pathway.

Average Daily Gain in Lambs Weaned at 60 Days of Age Is Correlated with Rumen and Rectum Microbiota

Colonization of gastrointestinal microbiota in mammals during early life is vital to host health. The objective of this study was to investigate whether lambs with high and low ADG have a different rumen and rectum microbial community. Thus, we investigated potential relationships between rumen and rectum microbiota and average daily gain (ADG) in weaned lambs. Sixteen lambs with similar body weights (7.63 ± 1.18 kg) were selected at 30 days of age. At 60 days of age, lambs were weaned, and ADG was calculated from 60 to 90 days. Then, two groups were generated: higher ADG (HG, 134.17 ± 13.48 g/day) and lower ADG (LG, 47.50 ± 19.51 g/day). Microbiota was evaluated at 30, 60, and 90 days of age. The final live weight and ADG at 90 days of age was higher (p < 0.05) in the HG group compared to the LG group. The maturity of bacterial and fungal communities was increased (p < 0.05) in the HG group for the 30 days vs. 90 days comparison and 60 days vs. 90 days comparison. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis revealed a total of 18 bacterial biomarkers that are ADG-specific in the rumen and 35 bacterial biomarkers in the rectum. Meanwhile, 15 fungal biomarkers were found in the rumen and 8 biomarkers were found in the rectum. Our findings indicated that ADG is related to the rumen and rectum microbiota in lambs.

Direct-fed Enterococcus faecium plus bacteriophages as substitutes for pharmacological zinc oxide in weanling pigs: effects on diarrheal score and growth

OBJECTIVE

Effects of direct-fed Enterococcus faecium plus bacteriophages (EF-BP) were investigated as potential substitutes for pharmacological ZnO for weanling pigs.

METHODS

Dietary treatments were supplementations to a basal diet with none (NC), 3,000- ppm ZnO (PC), 1×1010 colony-forming units of E. faecium plus 1×108 plaque-forming units (PFU) of anti-Salmonella typhimurium bacteriophages (ST) or 1×106 PFU of each of anti-enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (F4)-, K99 (F5)-, and F18-type bacteriophages (EC) per kg diet. In Exp 1, twenty-eight 21-day-old crossbred weanling pigs were individually fed one of the experimental diets for 14 days and euthanized for histological examination on intestinal mucosal morphology. In Exp 2, 128 crossbred weanling pigs aged 24 days were group-fed the same experimental diets in 16 pens of 8 piglets on a farm with a high incidence of post-weaning diarrhea.

RESULTS

None of the diarrheal score or fecal consistency score (FCS), average daily gain (ADG), gain: feed ratio, structural variables of the intestinal villus, and goblet cell density, differed between the EF-BP (ST+EC) and NC groups, between EF-BP and PC, or between ST and EC, with the exception of greater gain: feed for EF-BP than for PC (p<0.05) during days 7 to 14 (Exp 1). In Exp 2, ADG was less for EF-BP vs PC during days 0 to 7 and greater for EF-BP vs NC during days 7 to 14. FCS peaked on day 7 and declined by day 14. Moreover, FCS was less for EF-BP vs NC, did not differ between EF-BP and PC, and tended to be greater for ST vs EC (p = 0.099). Collectively, EF-BP was comparable to or slightly less effective than PC in alleviating diarrhea and growth check of the weanling pigs, with ST almost as effective as PC, when they were group-fed.

CONCLUSION

The E. faecium-bacteriophage recipe, especially E. faecium-anti-S. typhimurium, is promising as a potential substitute for pharmacological ZnO.

Prebiotics and β-Glucan as gut modifier feed additives in modulation of growth performance, protein utilization status and dry matter and lactose digestibility in weanling pigs

There are growing interests in developing novel gut modifier feed additives and alternative therapeutics to replace antimicrobials to enhance efficiency of nutrient utilization and to address the antimicrobial resistance threat to public health facing the global pork production. Biological mechanisms of supplementing lactose for enhancing weanling pig growth and nitrogen utilization are unclear. Thus, this study was prompted to determine effects of dietary supplementation of 3 prebiotics and oat β-glucan vs. a sub-therapeutic antibiotic on growth performance, whole-body protein utilization status, the apparent total tract dry matter (DM) and lactose digestibility in weanling pigs fed corn and soybean meal (SBM)-based diets. Six experimental diets were formulated with corn (40%), SBM (28%) and supplemented with dried whey powder (20%) and fish meal (9%) with titanium oxide (0.30%) as the digestibility marker. Diet 1 (NC, negative control), as the basal diet, contained no antibiotics and no supplemental prebiotics or β-glucan. Diet 2 (PC, positive control), contained an antibiotic premix (Lincomix-44 at 0.10%) in the basal diet at the expense of cornstarch. Diets 3, 5 and 6 contained 0.75% of the three test prebiotics of retrograded cornstarch (Diet 3), Fibersol-2 (Diet 5, a modified digestion-resistant maltodextrin) and inulin (Diet 6), and the viscous soluble fiber oat β-glucan (Diet 4), respectively, at the expense of cornstarch. A total of 144 Yorkshire pigs, at the age of 21 days (d) and an average body weight (BW) of 5.5 kg, were allocated to 12 floor pens with 3 barrows and 3 gilts per pen, and fed one of the 6 diets for 21 d in 2 study blocks according to a completely randomized block design. Initial and final pig BW, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), representative pig plasma urea concentration as well as the apparent total tract DM and lactose digestibility during d 8-15 were measured. Analyses of variances, Dunnett’s and Tukey’s tests were conducted on the endpoints by using the SAS mixed model. There were no differences (P &gt; 0.05) in ADG, ADFI, feed to gain ratio, plasma urea concentration, the apparent total tract apparent DM and lactose digestibility and the predicted whole-gut lactase digestive capacity among the diets, as examined by the Tukey’s test. There were no differences (P &gt; 0.05) in these endpoints between each of the four treatment diets and the NC or the PC diet as examined by the Dunnett’s test. The total tract lactose digestibility was determined to be at 100%. The predicted whole-gut lactase digestive capacity was about eight times of the daily lactose intake when dietary lactose contents were supplemented at 10 - 12% (as-fed basis). In conclusion, dietary supplementation (at 0.75%) of the prebiotics and the oat β-glucan did not significantly affect the major growth performance endpoints, whole-body protein utilization status as well as the apparent total tract DM and lactose digestibility in the weanling pigs fed the corn and SBM-based diets. The promoting effect for growth and nitrogen utilization associated with dietary supplementation of lactose is due to the fact that lactose is a completely and rapidly digestible sugar rather than acting as an effective prebiotic in weanling pig nutrition.

Multispecies probiotics alter fecal short-chain fatty acids and lactate levels in weaned pigs by modulating gut microbiota

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are metabolic products produced during the microbial fermentation of non-digestible fibers and play an important role in metabolic homeostasis and overall gut health. In this study, we investigated the effects of supplementation with multispecies probiotics (MSPs) containing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, and Levilactobacillus brevis on the gut microbiota, and fecal SCFAs and lactate levels of weaned pigs. A total of 38 pigs weaned at 4 weeks of age were fed either a basal diet or a diet supplemented with MSPs for 6 weeks. MSP administration significantly increased the fecal concentrations of lactate (2.3-fold; p < 0.01), acetate (1.8-fold; p < 0.05), and formate (1.4-fold; p < 0.05). Moreover, MSP supplementation altered the gut microbiota of the pigs by significantly increasing the population of potentially beneficial bacteria such as Olsenella, Catonella, Catenibacterium, Acidaminococcus, and Ruminococcaceae. MSP supplementation also decreased the abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia and Chlamydia. The modulation of the gut microbiota was observed to be strongly correlated with the changes in fecal SCFAs and lactate levels. Furthermore, we found changes in the functional pathways present within the gut, which supports our findings that MSP modulates the gut microbiota and SCFAs levels in pigs. The results support the potential use of MSPs to improve the gut health of animals by modulating SCFAs production.

Pre-Weaning Inulin Supplementation Alters the Ileal Transcriptome in Pigs Regarding Lipid Metabolism

Prebiotics, such as inulin, are non-digestible compounds that stimulate the growth of beneficial microbiota, which results in improved gut and overall health. In this study, we were interested to see if, and how, the ileal transcriptome altered after inulin administration in the pre-weaning period in pigs. Seventy-two Piétrain–Landrace newborn piglets were divided into three groups: (a) a control (CON) group (n = 24), (b) an inulin (IN)-0.5 group (n = 24), and (c) an IN-0.75 group (n = 24). Inulin was provided as a solution and administered twice a day. At week 4, eight piglets per group, those closest to the average in body weight, were sacrificed, and ileal scrapings were collected and analyzed using 3′ mRNA massively parallel sequencing. Only minor differences were found, and three genes were differentially expressed between the CON and IN-0.5 group, at an FDR of 10%. All three genes were downregulated in the IN-0.5 group. When comparing the CON group with the IN-0.75 group, five genes were downregulated in the IN-0.75 group, including the three genes seen earlier as differentially expressed between CON and IN-0.5. No genes were found to be differential expressed between IN-0.5 and IN-0.75. Validation of a selection of these genes was done using qRT-PCR. Among the downregulated genes were Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), Aquaporin 7 (AQP7), and Apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1). Thus, although only a few genes were found to be differentially expressed, several of them were involved in lipid metabolism, belonging to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway and known to promote lipolysis. We, therefore, conclude that these lipid metabolism genes expressed in the ileum may play an important role when supplementing piglets with inulin early in life, before weaning.

Lactobacillus delbrueckii Protected Intestinal Integrity, Alleviated Intestinal Oxidative Damage, and Activated Toll-Like Receptor-Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase-Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 Pathway in Weaned Piglets Challenged with Lipopolysaccharide

Oxidative stress is increasingly being recognized as a player in the pathogenesis of intestinal pathologies, and probiotics are becoming an attractive means of addressing it. The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus delbrueckii (LAB) on intestinal integrity and oxidative damage in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged piglets. A total of 36 crossbred weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire) were randomly divided into three groups: (1) non-challenged controls (CON), (2) LPS-challenged controls (LPS), and (3) 0.2% LAB (2.01 × 10¹⁰ CFU/g) + LPS treatment (LAB + LPS). On the 29th day of the experiment, the LPS and CON groups were injected intraperitoneally with LPS and saline at 100 ug/kg body weight, respectively. The results show that the LPS-induced elevation of the serum diamine oxidase (DAO) level and small intestinal crypt depth (CD) were reversed by the dietary addition of LAB, which also markedly increased the ileal expression of tight junction proteins (occludin, ZO-1, and claudin-1) in the LPS-challenged piglets. Furthermore, LAB supplementation normalized other LPS-induced changes, such as by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) in both the serum and intestinal mucosa and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the jejunal mucosa, increasing glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in both the serum and intestinal mucosa, and increasing glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the jejunal mucosa. LAB also activated Toll-like receptor (TLR)–Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk)–nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) signaling pathways in the intestine, suggesting that it plays a vital role in the ameliorative antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets. In summary, LAB increased intestinal integrity by improving the intestinal structure and tight junctions while enhancing antioxidant functions via the activation of the TLR–Btk–Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Effects of Xylo-Oligosaccharides on Growth and Gut Microbiota as Potential Replacements for Antibiotic in Weaning Piglets

Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) is a well-known kind of oligosaccharide and extensively applied as a prebiotic. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of XOS supplementation substituting chlortetracycline (CTC) on growth, gut morphology, gut microbiota, and hindgut short chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents of weaning piglets. A total of 180 weaned piglets were randomly allocated to three treatments for 28 days, as follows: control group (basal diet, CON), basal diet with 500 mg/kg (XOS500) XOS, and positive control (basal diet with 100 mg/kg CTC). Compared with the CON group, the piglets in the XOS500 group improved body weight (BW) on days 28, average daily gain (ADG) and reduced feed: gain ratio during days 1–28 (P < 0.05). The XOS500 supplementation increased Villus height and Villus height: Crypt depth ratio in the ileum (P < 0.05). Villus Height: Crypt Depth of the ileum was also increased in the CTC treatment group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the XOS500 supplementation increased significantly the numbers of goblet cells in the crypt of the cecum. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed distinct differences in microbial compositions between the ileum and cecum. XOS500 supplementation significantly increased the bacterial diversity. However, CTC treatment markedly reduced the microbial diversity (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, XOS500 supplementation in the diet significantly increased the abundance of Lactobacillus genus compared to the CON and CTC group in the ileum and cecum (P < 0.01), whereas the level of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Escherichia-Shigella, and Terrisporobacter genus in the XOS500 group were markedly lower than the CON and CTC group (P < 0.05). In addition, dietary supplementation with XOS500 significantly increased the total short-chain fatty acids, propionate and butyrate concentrations and decreased the acetate concentration compared to the CON group in the cecum (P < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplemented with XOS500 could enhance specific beneficial microbiota abundance and decrease harmful microbiota abundance to maintain the structure of the intestinal morphology and improve growth performance of weaned piglets. Thus, XOS may potentially function as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics in weaned piglets in modern husbandry.

Overall assessment of antibiotic substitutes for pigs: a set of meta-analyses

Background

Antibiotic growth promoters are widely used to improve weight gain. However, the abuse of antibiotics can have many negative effects on people. Developing alternatives to antibiotics is an urgent need in livestock production. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis and network meta-analysis (NMA) to investigate the effects of feed additives as potential antibiotic substitutes (ASs) on bacteriostasis, growth performance, intestinal morphology and immunity. Furthermore, the primary, secondary, and tertiary ASs were defined by comparing their results with the results of antibiotics.

Results

Among 16,309 identified studies, 37 were summarized to study the bacteriostasis effects of feed additives, and 89 were included in the meta-analysis and NMA (10,228 pigs). We summarized 268 associations of 57 interventions with 32 bacteria. The order of bacteriostasis effects was as follows: antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) ≈ antibiotics>organic acids>plant extracts>oligosaccharides. We detected associations of 11 feed additives and 11 outcomes. Compared with a basal diet, plant extract, AMPs, probiotics, microelements, organic acids, bacteriophages, lysozyme, zymin, and oligosaccharides significantly improved growth performance (P < 0.05); organic acids, probiotics, microelements, lysozyme, and AMPs remarkably increased the villus height:crypt depth ratio (V/C) (P < 0.05); and plant extracts, zymin, microelements, probiotics, and organic acids notably improved immunity (P < 0.05). The optimal AMP, bacteriophage, lysozyme, microelements, oligosaccharides, organic acids, plants, plant extracts, probiotics, and zymin doses were 0.100%, 0.150%, 0.012%, 0.010%, 0.050%, 0.750%, 0.20%, 0.040%, 0.180%, and 0.100%, respectively. Compared with antibiotics, all investigated feed additives exhibited no significant difference in effects on growth performance, IgG, and diarrhoea index/rate (P > 0.05); AMPs and microelements significantly increased V/C (P < 0.05); and zymin significantly improved lymphocyte levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, linear weighting sum models were used to comprehensively estimate the overall impact of each feed additive on pig growth and health.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that AMPs and plant extracts can be used as primary ASs for weaned piglets and growing pigs, respectively. Bacteriophages, zymin, plants, probiotics, oligosaccharides, lysozyme, and microelements can be regarded as secondary ASs. Nucleotides and organic acids can be considered as tertiary ASs. Future studies should further assess the alternative effects of combinational feed additives.

Supplementing Synbiotic in Sows' Diets Modifies Beneficially Blood Parameters and Colonic Microbiota Composition and Metabolic Activity in Suckling Piglets

Nutrients in the maternal diet favor the growth and development of suckling piglets and alter their gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity, thus affecting the hosts. The present study analyzed, in suckling piglets from sows receiving antibiotic or synbiotic supplements from pregnancy to lactation, several biochemical parameters, oxidative/anti-oxidative indices, inflammatory cytokines, and ingestion-related factor levels in plasma, as well as colonic microbiota composition and metabolic activity, and mucosal expression of genes related to the intestinal barrier function. Compared with the control group, maternal synbiotic supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the plasma levels of glucose, AMM, TC, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), MDA, H₂O₂, ghrelin, CCK, PP, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, Ala, Cys, Tau, and β-AiBA, the levels of propionate and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colonic luminal content, and colonic abundances of RFN20, Anaerostipes, and Butyricimonas; while increased (P < 0.05) the plasma levels of urea nitrogen (UN), Ile, Leu, α-AAA, α-ABA, and 1-Mehis, as well as colonic abundances of Sphingomonas, Anaerovorax, Sharpea, and Butyricicoccus. Compared with the antibiotic group, maternal synbiotic supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the plasma levels of glucose, gastrin, and Ala, as well as abundances of Pasteurella and RFN20 and propionate level in the colonic content. Expression of genes coding for E-cadherin, Occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2, IL-10, and interferon-α were down-regulated in the colonic mucosa. The synbiotic supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the plasma levels of UN, Leu, α-ABA, and 1-Mehis, the abundances of Anaerovorax, Sharpea, and Butyricicoccus and expression of genes coding for E-cadherin, Occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2, IL-10, and interferon-α. Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between colonic Anaerostipes abundance and acetate and SCFAs levels; whereas a negative correlation between Fusobacteria and Fusobacterium abundances and acetate level. These findings suggest that synbiotic supplementation in the maternal diet improved nutrient metabolism and intestinal barrier permeability, reduced oxidative stress, and modified colonic microbiota composition and metabolic activity in suckling piglets.

The Effect of Recently Developed Synbiotic Preparations on Dominant Fecal Microbiota and Organic Acids Concentrations in Feces of Piglets from Nursing to Fattening

Simple Summary

Widespread antibiotic resistance among microorganisms led to a prohibition or limitation of using antibiotic growth promoters in livestock breeding. In order to maintain the animal production on the level which could satisfy the demands, and to reduce the risk of infections occurrence among the livestock, alternative preparations are being searched for. Pro- and prebiotics are wildly studied; however, their combination, which are called synbiotics, are expected to impact animals’ health more considerably. There are a number of pro- and prebiotic preparations available on the market; nevertheless, synbiotics are rare, which is why this research was focused on their impact on pigs’ intestinal microbiota and organic acids synthesis. The results showed that newly developed synbiotics could have a more beneficial impact on piglets’ health rather than commercial probiotics.

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the influence of newly elaborated synbiotic preparations on piglets’ intestinal microbiota and its metabolism. Animals were distributed among six experimental groups, in reference to used feed supplements, namely, synbiotics (A, B, or C) or commercially available probiotics (BioPlus 2B^®, Chr. Hansen A/S, Horsholm, Denmark or Cylactin^® LBC, DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Kaiseraugst, Switzerland), or its absence (control group). Until the 29th day of life, piglets were breastfed by sows, whose feed was supplemented, and fecal samples were collected at the 7th and 28th day of piglets’ life. After weaning of the piglets, the research was continued until the 165th day of the pigs’ life. The area of this work included the analysis of the piglets’ dominant fecal microbiota by the plate count method. Moreover, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis (HPLC) was applied to establish variations in the concentrations of organic acids, namely, lactic acid, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs). It was observed that synbiotics have a more significant beneficial effect on the intestinal microbiota of piglets and their metabolism, and therefore their health, in comparison to commercial probiotics used individually. Moreover, synbiotic preparations prevent the negative impact of weaning on piglets’ microbial population in the gastrointestinal tract, which could reduce the occurrence of diarrhea.

Vinasse in the diet of lactating sows and its effect on litter

The aim of this study was to verify the impact of adding vinasse as an acidifier in sows diet during the lactating period and its effect on litter. A total of 14 agroceres females were used from the first day of lactation until weaning. The vinasse was obtained in a mill near the experimental facility and was stored in sterilized barrels. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design into two treatments: control liquid diet and liquid diet with the inclusion of vinasse in each feed supply of the day. The diets were supplied four times a day, containing a mixture of ½ L of vinasse and ½ L of water. Feed leftovers were weighted daily. Feed intake was used to evaluate sows’ performance. The piglets were weighted every week after birth until weaning in order to obtain weight gain. Vinasse inclusion showed an increase (p < 0.05) in feed intake of lactating sows, improving diet palatability. Inclusion of acidifier in the diet did not show (p > 0.05) difference in weight gain of piglets. Vinasse consumption by sows did not influence litter performance. The inclusion of vinasse in the diet of lactating sows is beneficial because increases feed consumption.

Effects of dietary inulin supplementation on growth performance, intestinal barrier integrity and microbial populations in weaned pigs

Here, we explored the influences of dietary inulin (INU) supplementation on growth performance and intestinal health in a porcine model. Thirty-two male weaned pigs (with an average body weight of 7·10 (sd 0·20) kg) were randomly assigned to four treatments and fed with a basal diet (BD) or BD containing 2·5, 5·0 and 10·0 g/kg INU. After a 21-d trial, pigs were killed for collection of serum and intestinal tissues. We show that INU supplementation had no significant influence on the growth performance in weaned pigs. INU significantly elevated serum insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration but decreased diamine oxidase concentration (P < 0·05). Interestingly, 2·5 and 5·0 g/kg INU supplementation significantly elevated the villus height in jejunum and ileum (P < 0·05). Moreover, 2·5 and 5·0 g/kg INU supplementation also elevated the villus height to crypt depth (V:C) in the duodenum and ileum and improved the distribution and abundance of tight-junction protein zonula occludens-1 in duodenum and ileum epithelium. INU supplementation at 10·0 g/kg significantly elevated the sucrase activity in the ileum mucosa (P < 0·05). INU supplementation decreased the expression level of TNF-α but elevated the expression level of GLUT 2 and divalent metal transporter 1 in the intestinal mucosa (P < 0·05). Moreover, INU increased acetic and butyric acid concentrations in caecum (P < 0·05). Importantly, INU elevated the Lactobacillus population but decreased the Escherichia coli population in the caecum (P < 0·05). These results not only indicate a beneficial effect of INU on growth performance and intestinal barrier functions but also offer potential mechanisms behind the dietary fibre-regulated intestinal health.

Effects of inulin supplementation to piglets in the suckling period on growth performance, postileal microbial and immunological traits in the suckling period and three weeks after weaning

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inulin (IN) supplementation to suckling piglets at and 3 weeks post-weaning. A total of 72 newborn piglets were used. Twenty-four piglets per group received different amounts of IN during the suckling period: (a) CON: no IN; (b) IN-0.5: 0.5 g IN/d on the 1st week, 1 g IN/d on the 2nd week, 1.5 g IN/d on the 3rd week and 2 g IN/d on the 4th week, or (c) IN-0.75: 0.75 g IN/d on the 1st week, 1.5 g IN/d on the 2nd week, 2.25 g IN/d on the 3rd week and 3 g IN/d on the 4th week. Starting at 28 d of age, piglets were weaned and received a post-weaning diet without inulin during the following 3 weeks. At both 28 d and 49 d of age, piglets were euthanised for sampling. Piglets of group IN-0.5 had the highest body weight starting from the 3rd week (p < 0.05), concomitant with the highest villus height and the ratio of villus height/crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum on both sampling days (p < 0.05). At 28 d of age, an increased concentration of propionate, iso-butyrate or total short chain fatty acids was observed between treatment IN-0.5 and the other groups in the caecum or colon (p < 0.05). Moreover, the relative abundance of Escherichia coli (p = 0.05) and Enterobacteriaceae (p = 0.01) in colonic digesta were reduced in IN-0.5-treated piglets, and in both IN-supplemented groups, colonic interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-α and toll-like receptor-4 mRNA abundance were decreased compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). However, at 49 d of age, most of these differences disappeared. In conclusion, treatment IN-0.5 improved during the suckling period of piglets development of intestine, but these beneficial effects were not lasting after weaning, when IN supplementation was terminated. Treatment IN-0.75, however, did not display a prebiotic effect.

Application of Complex Probiotics in Swine Nutrition – A Review

The use of probiotics as alternatives to antibiotics for farm animals is gaining more and more interest during recent years. Probiotics are living microorganisms that provide a wide variety of health benefits to the host when ingested in adequate amounts. The bacterial strains most frequently used as probiotic agents are Bacillus, lactic acid bacteria, Enterococcus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been suggested that multi-strain probiotics might be more effective than mono-strain probiotics due to the additive and synergistic effects, and many previous studies demonstrated that dietary complex probiotics supplementation had growth promoting effects on pigs. However, the effect of complex probiotics in practice is not always consistent, the effect of probiotic could be affected by strain composition, dosage, feed formula, and the age of animals. In this review, we will give an overview on the current use of complex probiotics for weaning, growing and finishing pigs and sows.

Effect of Postpartum Endocrine Function, Metabolism, and Mastitis on Fertility in High-Yielding Cows – A Review

Decreasing fertility in dairy cows, especially in the highest yielders, may be due to excessive metabolic burdens placed on their bodies. Many authors attribute decreasing reproductive efficiency in high-yielding cows to energy deficiencies in early lactation and to associated metabolic and hormonal disorders. The complexity of the issues involved in the efficient reproductive management of cows and the scientifically and practically important understanding of factors affecting fertility in high-producing cows mandate continuous updating of existing knowledge. The aim of this study was to present the effect of postpartum endocrine function, metabolism, and mastitis on fertility in high-yielding cows. Gaining insight into these mechanisms and their relationships with factors such as nutrition and milk yield appears to be crucial for improving dairy cow fertility.

Microbial Mechanistic Insight into the Role of Inulin in Improving Maternal Health in a Pregnant Sow Model

General consumption of “western diet” characterized by high refined carbohydrates, fat and energy intake has resulted in a global obesity epidemics and related metabolic disturbance even for pregnant women. Pregnancy process is accompanied by substantial hormonal, metabolic and immunological changes during which gut microbiota is also remarkably remodeled. Dietary fiber has been demonstrated to have a striking role in shifting the microbial composition so as to improve host metabolism and health in non-pregnant individuals. The present study was conducted to investigate effects of adding a soluble dietary fiber inulin (0 or 1.5%) to low- or high- fat (0 or 5% fat addition) gestational diet on maternal and neonatal health and fecal microbial composition in a sow model. Results showed that inulin addition decreased the gestational body weight gain and fat accumulation induced by fat addition. Circulating concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, adipokine leptin and chemerin were decreased by inulin supplementation. Inulin addition remarkably reduced the average BMI of newborn piglets and the within litter BMI distributions (%) ranging between 17 and 20 kg/m², and increased the BMI distribution ranging between 14 and 17 kg/m². 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3-V4 region showed that fecal microbial changes at different taxonomic levels triggered by inulin addition predisposed the pregnant sow to be thinner and lower inflammatory. Meanwhile, fecal microbial composition was also profoundly altered by gestation stage with distinct changes occurring at perinatal period. Most representative volatile fatty acid (VFA) producing-related genera changed dramatically when reaching the perinatal period and varied degrees of increases were detected with inulin addition. Fecal VFA concentrations failed to show any significant effect with dietary intervention, however, were markedly increased at perinatal period. Our findings indicate that positive microbial changes resulted by 1.5% soluble fiber inulin addition would possibly be the potential mechanisms under which maternal body weight, metabolic and inflammatory status and neonatal BMI were improved. Besides, distinct changes of microbial community at perinatal period indicated the mother sow is undergoing a catabolic state with increased energy loss and inflammation response at that period compared with other stages of gestation.

Dietary inulin affects the intestinal microbiota in sows and their suckling piglets

Background

Several studies have focused on the effects of dietary inulin on the intestinal microbiota of weaned piglets. In the present study, inulin was added to a diet for gestating and lactating sows, expecting not only effects on the faecal microbiota of sows, but also on the bacterial cell numbers in the gastrointestinal tract of their piglets during the suckling period. Sows were fed a diet without (n = 11) or with (n = 10) 3% inulin, and selected bacterial groups were determined in their faeces ante and post partum. Suckling piglets, 8 per group, were euthanised on day 10 after birth to analyse digesta samples of the gastrointestinal tract.

Results

Dietary inulin increased the cell numbers of enterococci, both, in the faeces of the sows during gestation and lactation, and in the caecum of the piglets (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, higher cell numbers of eubacteria (stomach) and C. leptum (caecum), but lower cell numbers of enterobacteria and L. amylovorus (stomach) were detected in the digesta of the piglets in the inulin group (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions

In conclusion, inulin seems to have the potential to influence the gastrointestinal microbiota of suckling piglets through the diet of their mother, showing the importance of the mother-piglet couple for the microbial development. Early modulation of the intestinal microbiota could be especially interesting with regard to the critical weaning time.

Impact of a probiotic, inulin, or their combination on the piglets' microbiota at different intestinal locations

Natural feed additives are used to maintain health and to promote performance of pigs without antibiotics. Effects of a probiotic, inulin, and their combination (synbiotic), on the microbial diversity and composition at different intestinal locations were analysed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), real-time PCR, and 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. Bacterial diversity assessed by DGGE and/or pyrosequencing was increased by inulin in all three gut locations and by the synbiotic in the caecum and colon. In contrast, the probiotic did only affect the microbiota diversity in the ileum. Shifts in the DGGE microbiota profiles of the caecum and colon were detected for the pro- and synbiotic fed animals, whereas inulin profiles were more similar to the ones of the control. 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing revealed that all three additives could reduce Escherichia species in each gut location, indicating a potential beneficial effect on the gut microbiota. An increase of relative abundance of Clostridiaceae in the large intestine was found in the inulin group and of Enterococcaceae in the ileum of probiotic fed pigs. Furthermore, real-time PCR results showed that the probiotic and synbiotic increased bifidobacterial numbers in the ileum, which was supported by sequencing results. The probiotic and inulin, to different extents, changed the diversity, relative abundance of phylotypes, and community profiles of the porcine microbiota. However, alterations of the bacterial community were not uniformly between gut locations, demonstrating that functionality of feed additives is site specific. Therefore, gut sampling from various locations is crucial when investigations aim to identify the composition of a healthy gut microbiota after its manipulation through feed additives.

Interaction between dietary protein content and the source of carbohydrates along the gastrointestinal tract of weaned piglets

Although fermentable carbohydrates (CHO) can reduce metabolites derived from dietary protein fermentation in the intestine of pigs, the interaction between site of fermentation and substrate availability along the gut is still unclear. The current study aimed at determining the impact of two different sources of carbohydrates in diets with low or very high protein content on microbial metabolite profiles along the gastrointestinal tract of piglets. Thirty-six piglets (n = 6 per group) were fed diets high (26%, HP) or low (18%, LP) in dietary protein and with or without two different sources of carbohydrates (12% sugar beet pulp, SBP, or 8% lignocellulose, LNC) in a 2 × 3 factorial design. After 3 weeks, contents from stomach, jejunum, ileum, caecum, proximal and distal colon were taken and analysed for major bacterial metabolites (D-lactate, L-lactate, short chain fatty acids, ammonia, amines, phenols and indols). Results indicate considerable fermentation of CHO and protein already in the stomach. HP diets increased the formation of ammonia, amines, phenolic and indolic compounds throughout the different parts of the intestine with most pronounced effects in the distal colon. Dietary SBP inclusion in LP diets favoured the formation of cadaverine in the proximal parts of the intestine. SBP mainly increased CHO-derived metabolites such as SCFA and lactate and decreased protein-derived metabolites in the large intestine. Based on metabolite profiles, LNC was partly fermented in the distal large intestine and reduced mainly phenols, indols and cadaverine, but not ammonia. Multivariate analysis confirmed more diet-specific metabolite patterns in the stomach, whereas the CHO addition was the main determinant in the caecum and proximal colon. The protein level mainly influenced the metabolite patterns in the distal colon. The results confirm the importance of CHO source to influence the formation of metabolites derived from protein fermentation along the intestinal tract of the pig.

Lactulose and Lactobacillus plantarum, a potential complementary synbiotic to control postweaning colibacillosis in piglets

The potential of a prebiotic oligosaccharide lactulose, a probiotic strain of Lactobacillus plantarum, or their synbiotic combination to control postweaning colibacillosis in pigs was evaluated using an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 oral challenge. Seventy-two weanlings were fed four diets: a control diet (CTR), that diet supplemented with L. plantarum (2 × 10(10) CFU · day(-1)) (LPN), that diet supplemented with 10 g · kg(-1) lactulose (LAC), or a combination of the two treatments (SYN). After 7 days, the pigs were orally challenged. Six pigs per treatment were euthanized on days 6 and 10 postchallenge (PC). Inclusion of lactulose improved the average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.05) and increased lactobacilli (P < 0.05) and the percentage of butyric acid (P < 0.02) in the colon. An increase in the ileum villous height (P < 0.05) and a reduction of the pig major acute-phase protein (Pig-MAP) in serum (P < 0.01) were observed also. The inclusion of the probiotic increased numbers of L. plantarum bacteria in the ileum and colon (P < 0.05) and in the total lactobacilli in the colon and showed a trend to reduce diarrhea (P = 0.09). The concentrations of ammonia in ileal and colonic digesta were decreased (P < 0.05), and the villous height (P < 0.01) and number of ileal goblet cells (P < 0.05) increased, at day 10 PC. A decrease in plasmatic tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P < 0.01) was also seen. The positive effects of the two additives were combined in the SYN treatment, resulting in a complementary synbiotic with potential to be used to control postweaning colibacillosis.

Dietary supplementation of Bifidobacterium longum strain AH1206 increases its cecal abundance and elevates intestinal interleukin-10 expression in the neonatal piglet

Intestinal microbiota of infants differ in response to gestational age, delivery mode and feeding regimen. Dietary supplementation of probiotic bacteria is one method of promoting healthy populations. We examined the impact of a novel probiotic strain of Bifidobacterium longum (AH1206) on the health, growth and development of neonatal pigs as a model for infants. Day-old pigs were fed milk-based formula containing AH1206 at 0, 10⁹, or 10¹¹ CFU/d for 18 d (n=10/treatment). Differences were not detected in growth, organ weights or body temperatures (P>0.1); however pigs fed the high dose showed a small (2%) reduction in feed intake. Bacterial translocation was not affected as indicated by total anaerobic and aerobic counts (CFU) in samples of spleen, liver and mesenteric lymph nodes (P>0.1). Feeding AH1206 had no effects on fecal consistency, but increased the density of B. longum in the cecum. Ileal TNF expression tended to increase (P=0.08) while IL-10 expression increased linearly (P=0.01) with supplementation. Based upon findings in the suckling piglet model, we suggest that dietary supplementation with B. longum (AH1206) may be safe for human infants based on a lack of growth, development or deleterious immune-related effects observed in piglets.