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Faculty Papers and Publications in Animal
Science
Animal Science Department
1980
Effects of Microbial Feed Additives on Performance of Starter and Effects of Microbial Feed Additives on Performance of Starter and
Growing-Finishing Pigs Growing-Finishing Pigs
D. S. Pollmann
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
D. M. Danielson
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
E. R. Peo, Jr.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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Pollmann, D. S.; Danielson, D. M.; and Peo, Jr., E. R., "Effects of Microbial Feed Additives on Performance
of Starter and Growing-Finishing Pigs" (1980).
Faculty Papers and Publications in Animal Science
. 650.
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EFFECTS OF MICROBIAL FEED ADDITIVES ON PERFORMANCE
OF STARTER AND GROWING-FINISHING PIGS 1
D. S. Pollmann, D. M. Danielson and E. R. Peo, Jr.
University of Nebraska 2, North Platte 69101
Summary
Three trials were conducted to evaluate
the effect of lactic acid-producing microbial
feed additives (Probiotics) on performance of
starting and growing-finishing pigs. Two com-
mercially available probiotics, Probios (L.
acidopbilus)
and Feed-Mate 68
(Streptococcus
faeciurn
type Cernelle 68), were used. In the
first of two starter trials, 192 crossbred pigs
(initial weight 7 kg) were used in a 2 • 4
factorial arrangement of treatments, with
Probios and antibiotics (ASP-250, lincomycin,
tylosin) as the main effects. Addition of antibi-
otics, regardless of source, improved (P<.05)
average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion
(FC). ADG and FC were improved by 2.6 and
3.6%, respectively, with probiotics (P< .10). A
suggestion of an additive effect was observed for
lincomycin plus Probios. In the second trial,
with 224 pigs, virginiamycin was evaluated in
combination with Probios, Feed-Mate 68 and
DL-lactic acid. The antibiotic effect was not
significant; addition of probiotic products and
DL-lactic acid improved FC (P<.05). Probios
improved ADG 9.7% and FC 4.4%, while
Feed-Mate 68 decreased performance. A grow-
ing-finishing trial was conducted with 144
crossbred pigs (average initial weight 34 kg)
to determine the effect of probiotics, lincomycin
or a combination on ADG and FC of growing-
finishing swine. Probiotics did not affect
performance, but addition of lincomycin
increased ADG by 3.6% (P<.05) and FC by
2.5% (P<.IO).
(Key Words: Swine, Probiotics, Lactoba-
cilli,
Streptococcus faecium,
Antibiotics.)
~Published as Paper No. 5880, Journal Ser.,
Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta.
2 Dept. of Anim. Sci. Acknowledgement is made
to
Debbie Koester and Alice Teter for their assistance in
preparation of the manuscript.
Introduction
The importance of maintaining an ideal
intestinal flora in swine has been recognized for
many years. In the past few decades, the most
common method of repressing the nondesirable
microorganisms has been treatment with anti-
bacterial agents. Since future legislation may
prohibit the use of subtherapeutic levels of
antibacterials, the use of probiotics as a possible
alternative to antibiotics has received renewed
interest.
Metchnikoff (1908) speculated on the
harmful role of intestinal fermentation caused
by proteolytic and putrifying organisms, noting
that it can lead to autointoxication. The
recommended solution was the addition of
lactic acid-producing bacteria (lactobacilli) in
an effort to establish a "desirable" microflora
population in the intestinal tract.
Several possible modes of action for lactoba-
cilli benefits have been suggested: (1) change in
enteric flora and reduction of
E. coli
(Porter
and Kenworthy, 1969; Hill
et al.,
1970a,b;
Moon, 1975; Mitchell and Kenworthy, 1976;
Muralidhara
et al.,
1977); (2) production of
antibiotic substances (Shahani
et al.,
1976,
1977); (3) synthesis of lactate with concomitant
reduction in intestinal pH (White
et al.,
1969;
Herrick, 1972); (4) adhesion to or colonization
in the digestive tract (Fuller and Brooker, 1974;
Muralidhara
et al.,
1977) and (5) prevention of
toxic amine synthesis (Hill
et al.,
1970a,b).
Lactobacillus therapy has been shown to
help improve gain and feed efficiency in poultry
(Tortuero, 1973; Fuller and Brooker, 1974)
and swine (Parker, 1975; Baird, 1977; Hale and
Newton, 1979). However, other researchers
(Hines and Koch, 1971; Mahan and Newland,
1976; Cline
et al.,
1976; Holden, 1976) have
observed no significant response in swine. The
efficacy of lactobacillus products has not been
fully elucidated. The objective of this study
was to evaluate the effects of two commercially
577
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, Vol. 51, No. 3, 1980
Journal of Animal Science 51 (1980), pp. 577-581.
Copyright © 1980 American Society of Animal Science. Used by permission.
578 POLLMANN ET AL.
available lactic acid-producing bacterial feed
additives (probiotics) on gains and feed conver-
sion of starting and growing-finishing pigs.
Experimental Procedure
Starter Trials.
Two trials were conducted
with young swine. In the first, 192 crossbred
pigs (12 pigs/treatment, two replications)
approximately 4 weeks old were allotted by
initial weight (average 7 kg) to treatments in a 2
x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments, with
probiotics and antibiotics as the main effects.
Probios 3 (750 mg/kg), a commercial probiotic
product, was evaluated in combination with
ASP-2504, tylosin s or lincomycin 6 in an 18%
crude protein diet (table 1).
The pigs were housed in a conventional
nursery with 40% slatted floors and allowed
ad
libitum
access to water and feed. The study was
3NuLabs Division, Pioneer Hi-Bred International,
Portland, OR.
4ASP-250, American Cyanamid Co., Agr. Div.,
Princeton, NJ.
STylan 10, Elanco Product Co., Division of Eli
Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, IN.
Lincomix 20, TUCO, Division of Up John, Kala-
mazoo, MI.
7 Feed-Mate 68, Anchor Laboratories, Inc., Division
of Phillips Roxane, Inc., St. Joseph, MO.
S Statfac, Animal Health Products, Division of
Smith Kline Corp., Philadelphia, PA.
started on the day of weaning and terminated
30 days later.
In the second trial, another commercial
probiotic product called Feed-Mate 687,
Streptococcus faeciurn
(lactic acid-producing
bacteria) Cernelle 68, was evaluated in combi-
nation with virginiamycin 8 (110 mg/kg) in a 2
• 4 factorial arrangement of treatments with
224 crossbred pigs (14 pigs/treatment, two
replications). DL-lactic acid (LA), added at 220
mg/kg, was also evaluated in an attempt to
discover whether the lactic acid produced by
these bacterial cultures is the cause of their
effect on performance. The experimental
treatments were: (1) control, (2) Probios, (3)
Feed-Mate 68, (4) LA, (5)virginiamycin, (6)
virginiamycin + Probios, (7) virginiamycin +
Feed-Mate 68 and (8) virginiamycin + LA. The
additives were included in the basal diet (table
1), which was fed
ad libitum
for 28 days in the
same nursery in which trial 1 was conducted.
Pigs were allotted to the treatments by initial
weight (average 7 kg) on the day of weaning.
Growing-Finishing Trial.
A growing-finishing
trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of S.
faeciurn
and lactobacillus probiotics in lincomy-
cin-medicated diets on gain and feed efficiency.
A 2 • 3 factorial arrangement of treatments
was used, with lincomycin and probiotic source
as the main effects. The 144 crossbred pigs (six
pigs/treatment, four replications) were allotted
to treatment by initial weight (average 34 kg)
and sex. The pigs were housed in outdoor pens
TABLE 1. COMPOSITION OF'BASAL DIETS
lnternat'l.
Ingredient, % Ref. No. 1
Trial
Corn, yellow 4-02-931 42.35 63.41
Soybean meal 5-04-604 24.20 24.00
Oats, ground 4-03-309 10.00 9 9 9
Alfalfa meal, dehydrated 1-00-023 5.00 9 9 9
Yeast, brewers dried 7-05-527 1.00 9
Dicalcium phosphate 6-01-080 1.10 .1121
Limestone, ground 6-02-632 .60 .63
Alfalfa hay, suncured, ground 1-00-063 ... 5.00
Fish solubles 5-01-969 2.00 2.00
Lard 4-00-409 2.50 2.50
Whey, dried 4-01-182 10.00 9
Premix a 1.25 "1125
acontalned .15% salt, 1% trace mineral mix, 1.0% vitamin premix in finely ground corn. Vitamin premix sup-
plied (per kilogram diet): vitamin A, 4,394 IU; vitamin D, 426 IU; riboflavin, 3.3 mg; niacin, 21.9 rag; panto-
thenic acid, 4.5 mg; choline, 198 mg; vitamin B~a, 9.7 micrograms. Trace mineral mix supplied (milligrams/kilo-
gram): Zn, 200; Fe, 100; Mn, 55; Cu, 11; Co, 1.0; I, 1.5.
MICROBIAL FEED ADDITIVES FOR PIGS
579
TABLE 2. COMPOSITION OF BASAL DIETS
Internat'l. Diet
Ingredient, % Ref. No. 14% 16%
Corn, ground 4-02-931 79.25 73.65
Soybean meal 5-04-604 14.80 20.50
Alfalfa, suncured, ground 1-00-063 2.50 2.50
Dicalcium phosphate 6-01-080 1.15 1.00
Limestone, ground 6-02-632 .80 .85
Premixa 1.50 1.50
acontained .5% salt, .075% trace mineral mix,
.925% vitamin mix with finely ground corn as a car-
der. Vitamin premix supplied (per kg) diet, 14%: vita-
min A, 2,214 IU; vitamin D, 436 IU; riboflavin, 2.2
mg; niacin, 17.53 mg; pantothenic acid, 9.91 rag; cho-
line, 220 rag; vitamin B 12, 24.26 micrograms. Vita-
min premix, 16% diet: that in
14%
diet
plus
addi-
tional vitamin A, 1,090 IU, vitamin B 12, 24.26 mcg;
(per kg) diet. Trace mineral mix supplied (mg/kg)
diet: Zn, 150; Fe, 75; Mn, 41.25; Cu, 8.25; Co, .75;
I, 1.125.
with a concrete apron and shelter, and fed
ad
libitum.
The pigs received a 16% corn-soy diet
until they reached approximately 57 kg and a
14% diet (table 2) thereafter until termination
of the study. The treatments were: (1) control,
(2) Probios (500 mg/kg), (3) Feed-Mate 68
(500 mg/kg), (4) lincomycin (110 mg/kg), (5)
Probios + lincomycin and (6) Feed-Mate 68 +
lincomycin.
Data were analyzed by least-squares analysis
of variance (Harvey, 1960). The orthogonal
comparison for the main effects and interactions
were performed by methods described by
Snedecor and Cochran (1967).
Results and Discussion
Starter Trials.
The effect of Probios in
medicated diets on performance of young pigs
is shown in table 3. The addition of antibiotics,
regardless of source, improved average daily
gain (ADG) and feed conversion (FC) (P<.05).
There were no significant differences between
sources of antibiotics. There was a trend for
improved ADG (2.6%) and FC (3.6%) in pigs
fed probiotics compared to nontreated animals.
In the groups not receiving antibiotics, Probios
improved ADG 4.5% and FC 7.2%. When
Probios was added to an ASP-250 or tylosin-
medicated diet, a reduction in ADG was ob-
served. Lincomycin produced better ADG when
fed in combination with Probios than without
(.307
versus
.265 kg), suggesting a possible ad-
ditive effect.
In the second trial (table 4), virginiamycin
was evaluated in combination with Probios,
Feed-Mate 68 and DL-lactic acid. The antibiotic
effect on gain was not significant, but FC was
improved slightly (2.68
versus
2.79). The addi-
tion of Probios improved ADG by 9.7% and FC
by 21.4%, whereas Feed-Mate 68 decreased
TABLE 3. EFFECT OF PROBIOS IN MEDICATED DIETS FOR YOUNG PIGS a
Antibiotic source
Item Probios b None ASP-250 c Tylosin d Lincomycin e Avg
ADG, kg
+
Avg f
Feed to gain
ratio
+
Avg f
.223 .294 .269 .265 .263
.233 .289 .253 .307 .270
.228 .291 .261 .286
2.67 2.11 2.18 2.18 2.28
2.49 2.10 2.28 1.94 2.20
2.58 2.10
2.23 2.06
a192 crossbred pigs (12 pigs treatment; two replications). Average initial weight, 7 kg; length of study, 30
days.
bprobios (MuLabs Division, Pioneer Hybrid International) at 750 mg/kg.
CASP-250 (American Cyanamid) is chlorotetracyclin, streptomycin and penicillin at 110, 110 and 55 mg/kg
diet, respectively.
dTylan (Elanco) at 110 mg/kg.
eLincomix (Upjohn) at 110 mg/kg.
fAntibiotic effect (P<.05).
580
POLLMANN ET AL.
TABLE 4. EFFECT OF DRIED MICROBIAL CULTURES AND DL-LACTIC ACID
IN MEDICATED DIETS FOR YOUNG PIGS a
Additive
Item Antibiotic b None Lactobacilli c
S. Faecium d
Lactic acid e Avg
ADG, kg - .145 .150 .141 .158 .151
+ .145 .168 .127 .122 .141
Avg .145 .159 .134 .145
Feed to gain ratio - 3.49 2.46 2.88 2.34 2.79
§ 2.68 2.40 2.75 2.87 2.68
Avg f 3.09 2.43 2.82 2.61
a224 crossbred pigs (14 pigs/treatment; two replications). Average initial weight 7 kg; length of study, 28
days.
bvirginiamycin (Smith Kline Corp) at 110 mg/kg.
Cprobios (NuLabs) at 750 mg/kg.
dFeed-Mate 68 (Anchor Labs) at 1,250 mg/kg.
eDL-Lactie Acid added at 220 mg/kg.
fTreatment effect (none
versus
additive) P<.05.
ADG. The difference in response between the
first trial and second trial may have been
partially related to diet. (The diet in the second
trial was less complex.)
It has been suggested that the lactic acid
produced as a metabolite during fermentation
of a lactic acid-producing bacterial culture is
the cause of any improvement in performance.
The lactic acid treatment without virginiamycin
produced the best feed conversion.
Growing-Finishing Trial.
The results of the
growing-finishing trial in which Feed-Mate 68
and Probios were fed in lincomycin-medicated
diets are presented in table 5. Lincomycin was
selected as the antibiotic because of the possi-
ble additive effect that was observed when it
was fed in combination with probiotics in the
starter diet in trial 1. The lincomycin-medicated
groups showed improved ADG (P<.05) and FC
(P<.10) by comparison with the nonmedica-
TABLE 5. EFFECT OF
STREPTOCOCCUS FAECIUM
AND LACTOBACILLUS PROBIOTICS IN
LINCOMYCIN MEDICATED DIETS ON PERFORMANCE OF GROWING-FINISHING SWINE a
Probiotic
Item Lincomycin b None Lactobacilli c
S. Faecium d
Avg
ADG, kg - ~83 .82 .82 .82
+
.86 .85 .85 .85 e
Avg .84 .83 .83
Feed to gain ratio - 3.22 3.22 3.25 3.23
+ 3.12 3.19 3.14 3.15 f
Avg 3.17 3.20 3.20
a144 crossbred pigs (six/treatment; four replications). Average initial weight, 34 kilograms.
bTUCO, Division of UpJohn Co.; added at 110 mg/kg diet.
Cprobios (NuLabs product) added at 500 mg/kg diet.
dFeed-Mate 68 (Anchor Labs) added at 500 mg/kg diet.
eAntibiotic effect (P<.05).
fAntibiotic effect (P<.IO).