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Cullen JT, Lawlor PG, Viard F, Lourenco A, Gómez-Mascaraque LG, O'Doherty JV, Cormican P, Gardiner GE. Optimising the hygiene of a liquid feeding system to improve the quality of liquid feed for pigs. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16516. [PMID: 39019905 PMCID: PMC11255203 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65097-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Poor feeding system hygiene may contribute to uncontrolled spontaneous fermentation in liquid pig feed and its associated undesirable effects. This study aimed to determine the effects of an intensive sanitisation programme in a grow-finisher liquid feeding system by monitoring microbiological and physico-chemical parameters of liquid feed and microbial colonisation of the feeding system surfaces. The sanitisation programme involved a combination of physical and chemical cleaning between batches of grow-finisher pigs, combined with nightly rinsing of the system with an organic acid blend. Improved hygiene of the internal surfaces of the mixing tank and feed pipeline, particularly until week 5 post-cleaning, was evidenced by reduced counts of lactic acid bacteria, total aerobes, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and moulds and decreased adenosine triphosphate concentrations. Enterobacteriaceae and moulds remained undetectable on pipeline surfaces for 10 weeks. Scanning electron microscopy of the feed pipelines confirmed these findings. Conversely, the impact on liquid feed microbiology was minimal and short-lived. However, acetic acid, ethanol and biogenic amine concentrations decreased in the feed post-cleaning and no gross energy losses were observed. Therefore, by controlling surface microbial communities on liquid feeding systems via implementation of the sanitisation programme developed in the current study, on-farm liquid feed quality should be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- J T Cullen
- Eco-Innovation Research Centre, Department of Science, South East Technological University, Cork Road Campus, Waterford, X91 K0EK, Ireland
- Teagasc Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland
| | - P G Lawlor
- Teagasc Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland
| | - F Viard
- Teagasc Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - A Lourenco
- Food Bioscience Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland
| | - L G Gómez-Mascaraque
- Food Chemistry and Technology Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland
| | - J V O'Doherty
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - P Cormican
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, C15 PW93, Ireland
| | - G E Gardiner
- Eco-Innovation Research Centre, Department of Science, South East Technological University, Cork Road Campus, Waterford, X91 K0EK, Ireland.
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Cullen JT, Lawlor PG, Cormican P, Gardiner GE. Microbial Quality of Liquid Feed for Pigs and Its Impact on the Porcine Gut Microbiome. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102983. [PMID: 34680002 PMCID: PMC8532943 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Liquid feed is produced by mixing dry feed ingredients with water, and sometimes liquid co-products from the food and beverage industry, at a defined ratio. Liquid feeding of pigs is popular, particularly in parts of northern and western Europe, and can be associated with lower feed costs, improved dry matter intake, growth rate and gut health, compared to dry feeding. However, spontaneous/uncontrolled fermentation upon mixing of feed with water or co-products can decrease the microbial and nutritional quality of the feed, resulting in poorer pig health and growth. For this reason, strategies aimed at optimising liquid feed microbial quality are frequently employed. These include: deliberate fermentation with/without the use of lactic acid bacteria starter cultures that produce lactic acid and lower the feed pH, thereby preventing growth of pathogens. Fermenting only the cereal component of the diet is preferred to whole diet fermentation to minimise loss of free amino acids from the diet during fermentation. This review examines the microbiome of liquid feed and explores how optimisation strategies impact both feed microbial quality and the gut microbiota and growth of liquid-fed pigs. It also covers cleaning and disinfection of liquid feeding systems and how this might impact liquid feed microbial quality. Abstract There is evidence that spontaneous fermentation frequently occurs in liquid pig feed that is intended to be delivered as fresh liquid feed, often with a resultant deterioration in the microbial and nutritional quality of the feed, which can negatively affect pig health and growth. Strategies including controlled fermentation with microbial inoculants, pre-fermentation or soaking of the cereal fraction of the diet, enzyme supplementation and dietary acidification have been employed to inhibit pathogens and prevent deterioration of feed nutritional quality, with promising results obtained in many cases. This review evaluates the impact of these strategies on the microbial quality of liquid feed and discusses how they can be further improved. It also investigates if/how these strategies impact the pig gut microbiota and growth performance of liquid-fed pigs. Finally, we review liquid feed system sanitisation practices, which are highly variable from farm to farm and discuss the impact of these practices and whether they are beneficial or detrimental to liquid feed microbial quality. Overall, we provide a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge on liquid feed for pigs, focusing on factors affecting microbial quality and strategies for its optimisation, as well as its impact on the pig gut microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T. Cullen
- Department of Science, Waterford Institute of Technology, Co. Waterford, X91 K0EK Waterford, Ireland;
| | - Peadar G. Lawlor
- Teagasc, Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996 Cork, Ireland;
| | - Paul Cormican
- Teagasc, Animal Bioscience Research Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, C15 PW93 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Gillian E. Gardiner
- Department of Science, Waterford Institute of Technology, Co. Waterford, X91 K0EK Waterford, Ireland;
- Correspondence:
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