Live Multi-Strain Probiotics Enhance Growth Performance by Regulating Intestinal Morphology and Microbiome Population in Weaning Piglets

Abstract

The effects of different forms of multi-strain probiotics on weaning piglets are limitedly addressed. Thus, this study investigated the effects of live or inanimate multi-strain probiotics comprising Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, intestinal morphology, fecal microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, and intestinal gene expression of weaning piglets. A total of 160 weaning piglets (4 weeks old) were randomly allocated into four treatments (CON: basal diet; AB: basal diet with 110 ppm and 66 ppm colistin in the weaning and nursery phases, respectively; LP: basal diet with 2.0 × 109 CFU/kg live probiotics; and IP: basal diet with 2.0 × 109 CFU/kg inanimate probiotics). Piglets fed with LP had significantly lower FCR compared to those of the CON and IP groups in week 4 to week 8 (p p Bifidobacterium population compared to CON at week 6 and lowered Enterobacteriaceae at week 6 and week 10 (p p p < 0.05). Overall, live multi-strain probiotics improved growth efficiency by enhancing gut integrity and microbiome balance, making them a potential antibiotic alternative to ameliorate weaning stress and promote productive performance in weaning piglets.

Keywords

• probiotics
• intestinal integrity
• gene expression
• growth performance
• weaning piglets