Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 26 (1-2), p 57-64, 2010 ISSN 1450-9156
Publisher: Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun UDC 636.087.7
DOI: 10.2298/BAH1002057L
THE EFFECTS OF PROBIOTIC Enterococcus faecium
DSM 7134 IN THE WEANED PIGS NUTRITION
M. Lojanica
1
, M. Manojlović
1
, D. Jeremić
2
, S. Petronijević
3
1
"Paxel" d.o.o. Beograd, Republic of Serbia
2
"Schaumann Agri Austria" Beč, Austria
3
A.D. "Stočar" Varvarinsko Polje , Republic of Serbia
Corresponding author: mlojanica@paxel.rs
Original scientific paper
Abstract: Placing a ban on the use of antibiotics as additives for animal
feed, had raised the producing risk, because of possibility for occurrence of many
diseases in rearing piglets. One of alternative solutions is the use of probiotics as
supplements, directly or in piglets feed. Aim of this study was to investigate the
effects probiotic Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 on the rearing piglets in the
period from weaning to fattening start. This experiment included 500 piglets,
divided in 2 groups, 250 piglets in experiment group (5 cycles with 50 piglets each)
and 250 piglets (5 cycles with 50 piglets) in control group. Difference between
experimental and control groups were in the way of feeding, experiment group had
Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 supplement and control was without. Influence
of these probiotics was observed on the parameters: feed conversion ratio, daily
gain increase and mortality. Piglets in the experiment group with probiotic
Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 in the ration showed lower feed conversion,
higher daily growth increase and lower percentage of mortality, during this
experiment. The difference between control and experimental group, for all
parameters values, were established as statisticaly very significant (p<0.01) effect
of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 on rearing piglets in the period
from weaning to the beginning of fattening.
Key words: probiotics, immunity, piglets, feed conversion, daily gain
increasing, fattening
Introduction
The EU-decision to ban antibiotics as feed additives has increase the
pressure on farmers to rear healthy piglets. At weaning, piglets are subjects to
momentous nutritional and environmental changes that can dramatically alter the
equilibrium of the gastrointestinal microbiota. These changes are coupled with a
loss of intestinal immune protection previously provided by biologically active
M. Lojanica et al.
58
components of the sow’s milk (Blecha, 1998). In this period, colonization of
pathogenic microorganisms is possible and cause disease, consequently brings to
the low growth performance and mortality of piglets. Many researchers, producers
of animal feed and breeders, have tried to answer to this challenge with the use of
probiotics in animal nutrition. By definition, probiotics contribute to an
improvement of the intestinal microbial balance and consequential beneficial
effects for the host animals (Taras et al. 2007). Probiotic preparations generally
consist of viable lactic-acid producing bacteria of intestinal origin, which in
gastrointestinal environment helps to restore/maintain a beneficial intestinal
community, thus preventing digestive disorders and potentially improving growth
performance, (Broom, 2006). In the weaning period, the most promising effects of
the use of probiotics are related to competitive exclusion against nocuous bacteria
(Lalles et al., 2007).
In this study we analyzed the effects of probiotic Enterococcus faecium
DSM 7134 on production performances of rearing piglets in the period from
weaning to beginning of fattening. Influences of probiotic were observed using
production parameters such as daily growth, feed conversion and mortality.
Materials and Methods
Study was conducted during 2008 and 2009 year, with experimental period
of 7 month in every year (may/november), on farm ’’Stočar’’ in Varvarinsko
Polje.Influence of probiotic was determined on 500 piglets, divided in 10 cycles by
50 piglets each, 250 piglets in experiment group (5 cycles) and 250 piglets in
control group (5 cycles). Piglets were four-race hybrids: sows (Landrace x
Yorkshire) and boars (Duroc x Pietrain). Weaning piglets were put in group cages,
7 piglets in each, followed in interval of 42 days, from weaning to beginning of
fattening. Temperature in stable was 25°C and water and feed were given ad
libitum. Parameters measured during examination period were feed conversion,
daily growth and mortality.
Composition of concentrate for control and experiment group is
represented in table 1, with difference in probiotic supplement, because control
group of piglets had diet without Enterococcus faecium. Both groups were fed
starter to achieving 15 kg and after that fed grower until beginning of fattening.
At the time of weaning, production of chloride acid is not enough and often
it requires intake of small amount of feed for providing adequate acidifying that is
prerequisite for normal digestion. In this case, including of organic acid can be
helpful in piglets’ diet, for optimal gastric pH, that also stops the entrance of feed
pathogenic microorganisms as well as their development (Kovčin, 1993).
Research of the effects ...
59
Table 1. Composition of concentrate
Feed In mixture (%)
Starter Grower
Corn, ground 58.00 44.00
Soybean meal, 44% 21.00 18.00
Wheat -- 14.00
Wheat middlings 10.70 --
Barley 5.00 14.00
Soybean, extruded -- 5.00
Vit.mineral premix* with E. faecium 4.00 4.00
Acidifier* 1.30 1.00
Phytase (mg) 500.00 500.00
Probiotic+acidifier 1.00 1.00
Total 100 100
ME DLG (MJ/kg) 12.56 13.15
Met:Lys 1:087 1:0.85
Lys:MC:Tre:Try 1:0.59:064:0.17 1:0.59:0.3:0.18
Ca:P 1.21:1 1.39:1
Crude protein (g/kg) 164.00 170.00
Calcium 7.50 7.50
Phosphorus 6.20 5.40
*Acidifier was combination of 5 organic acids
Because of that, beside the probiotic Enteroccocus faecium DSM 7134,
acidifier was included in diet for preserving pH of gastrointestinal tract under 4.
Also, acidifier increases the permeability of cell membrane, bands the growth of
gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) and affects formation of protective bio film on
digestive tract mucosa, promotes growth of desirable microorganism and activity
of intestinal cells.
Experimental period lasted two years. Obtained data were statistically
analyzed using Duncan’s test (Statistica v.6. Stat Soft 2003).
Results and Discussion
The effects of using probiotic Enteroccocus faecium DSM 7134 on feed
conversion, daily gain and piglets’ mortality throughout the experimental period
are shown in Table 1. Piglets in experimental group fed mixture with probiotic
Enterococcus faecium showed better feed conversion, greater daily gain and lower
mortality.
M. Lojanica et al.
60
Table 2. Observed production parameters of piglets
Number of turnusa-n Feed conversion ratio
(kg/kg)
Daily gain
(g)
Mortality
(%)
1- control g. 2.49 321 4.26
2- control g 2.30 331 4.14
3- control g 2.29 334 3.8
4- control g 2.41 320 5.1
5- control g 2.39 327 6.49
6 - experiment g. 1.92 474 3.7
7- experiment g. 1.79 448 3.18
8- experiment g. 1.79 460 2.24
9- experiment g. 1.73 452 1.98
10- experimentg. 1.66 460 2.1
Average
Control group 2.38 327 4.76
Experimental group 1.78
**
459
**
2.65
**
Average feed conversion for experimental group was 1778.57 g, and for
control group was 2378.57 g. Greater daily gain was obtained for piglets fed
experimental concentrate (459.19 g), whereas daily gain of control group was
327.15 g. Mortality in the experimental group (2.65%) was lower than obtained in
the control group (4.76%). Effect of using Enterococcus faecium was highly
significant (p<0.01) for all observed production parameters: feed conversion, daily
gain and piglets’ mortality.
Effects of used probiotic are shown on Figures 1-3.
Figure 1. Feed conversion g kg
-1
of gain
Similar results about daily growth and feed conversion, reported Guerra et
al. (2007) for effect of Enterococcus faecium CECT 410. Results obtained in this
Research of the effects ...
61
study, for the same interval of 42 days, from weaning to fattening start,
demonstrated significant effect of probiotic bacteria (p<0.05) on weight gain and
feed conversion of piglets.
Using of probiotics Bacillus spp (0.01%) in fattening pigs diet, improved
gain by 11.46% and feed intake by 10.12%, while feed conversion was not
affected compared with control group (Živković et al., 2004).
Figure 2. Daily gain g/day
In Figure 2 is showed increasing of daily growth of experimental group
with added probiotic Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 in diet, comparing the
control group. Using of probiotics in piglets nutrition stimulates growing, improves
feed conversion, is important for animal health control, stimulates immune
response, inactivates and eliminates antinutritive components as phytic acid,
trypsin inhibitor etc. (Pupavac et al., 2002). According to this, enzyme phytase is
included in the mixture.
The study of Broom et al. (2006), showed different results for using
probiotic Enterococcus faecium SF 68 as piglets feed supplement, because there
were no affect on piglets growth performances. Authors suggest that the reason is
origin of Enterococcus faecium SF68 that was isolated from human intestinal tract
and ability of this strain to survive intestinal transit and remain vialable may
warranted.
The genus Enterococcus and in particular the species Enterococcus
faecium are regarded as normal components of the intestinal microbiota of swine
