Written by: Georgina Smith

Take home message: This study investigates a lactic acid bacteria-fermented formula as a supplement for weaned piglets to help support gut health. The findings suggest that fermented milk is beneficial for the colon health of weaned piglets.

Background: Weaning is one of the biggest challenges in a piglet’s life due to abrupt dietary and social changes and is often the source of post-weaning diseases and disorders. Historically piglets have been treated with antibiotics or zinc oxide as a method of controlling the dysbiosis in the gut during this period, however, understanding has grown, and legislation changed regarding the suitability of these treatments for weaned piglets. Research now focusses on alternative treatments to ease piglets into the next stage of life while maximising welfare, growth and performance. One option is to introduce probiotics, which are beneficial microbial species intended to be fed for their digestive and immune benefits. Fermented milk offers a good carrier for probiotics as it already contains some of these beneficial species and with increased popularity of liquid feeding systems, can be easily supplemented to piglets. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lactic acid bacteria-fermented formula on the colonic health of weaned piglets.

Method: Two groups of Landrace x Large White piglets were used, all at 30 days old. All piglets had ad lib access to a corn-soybean-based feed and fresh water throughout the trial period and one group got an additional 80 mL of the lactic acid bacteria-fermented formula three times a day, whereas the control group were offered additional water three times a day. The formula treatment consisted of bovine milk powder, functional oligosaccharides (complex sugars found in colostrum and milk), sucrose and 3 strains of lactic acid bacteria. All piglets were monitored over a 21-day trial period to assess improvements in gut health and growth performance.

Parameters measured to quantify growth performance included body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, feed intake to weight gain ratio, and diarrhea index. Some of the parameters measured to assess gut health included (but were not limited to) number of goblet cells and associated gene expression (responsible for secreting mucus and associated with improved health due to mucus blocking adhesion of pathogens to the intestinal wall), histological scoring of colonic tissue (to quantify damage seen in the colon through inflammation or injury), analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines (internal markers that indicate levels of inflammation), and microbial populations (abundance and diversity of which can be linked to better or poorer colonic health).

Findings: Some highlights from the results include that the fermented milk supplementation significantly decreased colonic damage scores and decreased some pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting it is beneficial for gut health. The treatment group showed increased average daily gain but no difference was seen in feed intake to weight gain ratio, due to the increase in feed intake that was also seen in the treatment group. It was suggested that the volatile flavour compounds within the fermented milk formula are likely causing the improved feed intake and weight gain. It was discussed that the adjustments in colonic microbiota and gene expression were largely responsible for the improved health and growth performance seen in this trial but it should also be considered that the extra nutrients and energy provided by the formula are also important. Diarrhea scores between groups were no different but the authors comment that the scores were generally low which could be why no stark difference was seen and suggest this as a point for further study as post-weaning diarrhea is a common issue the industry faces.

Conclusion: Fermented milk formula provides beneficial probiotic effects and could support piglet gut health through the challenging weaning period, and, as summarised by the authors, “it is important to consider further promoting liquid feeding facilities and developing lower-cost production processes for the feasibility and sustainability of probiotic fermented milk in future animal husbandry”.

 

A. Lin, X. Yan, R. Xu, H. Wang , Y. Su, W. Zhu

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.100959