The effects of Lactobacillus Acidophilus fermentation products as an alternative to antibiotics

Authors: KNAPP, J - University Of Arkansas; Wells, James - Jim; MAXWELL, C - University Of Arkansas; TSAI, T - University Of Arkansas; Durso, Lisa; Oliver, William

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/8/2017
Publication Date: 2/5/2018
Citation: Knapp, J.P., Wells, J.E., Maxwell, C.V., Tsai, T., Durso, L.M., Oliver, W.T. 2018. The effects of Lactobacillus Acidophilus fermentation products as an alternative to antibiotics [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 96(Supplement 2):154-155.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This experiment compared the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation products (LAFP) to carbadox and copper sulfate on growth performance and complete blood counts (CBC). Eight hundred pigs were weaned at 24 d of age and utilized in a randomized block design (4 farrowing groups, blocked by litter, gender and weaning weight). Pigs were blocked into 1 of 48 pens and received either control diets (C; 2 phase nursery regime), C + carbadox (25 g/ton of feed)/CuSO4 (250 mg/kg of feed), or C + LAFP (0.91 kg/ton of feed) for 28 d. Feed disappearance and BW were recorded weekly. Blood samples from 12 pigs per treatment (median BW) were collected on d 28 for CBC. No differences were observed due to dietary treatments from d 0 to 14 of study (P > 0.10). Pigs fed Carbadox/CuSO4 grew at a greater rate (0.488 ± 0.028 vs 0.408 ± 0.025 and 0.422 ± 0.025 kg/d, respectively; P < 0.05) and had improved feed conversion (gain:feed, G:F; 0.751 ± 0.017 vs. 0.662 ± 0.017 and 0.694 ± 0.011 kg/kg, respectively; P < 0.05) than C and LAFP-fed pigs from d 14 to 28 of the experiment. Similarly, ADG (P < 0.05), ADFI (P < 0.10) and G:F (P < 0.05) were increased for the entire 28-d study when compared to LAFP or the control diet (Table 1). No difference in growth performance was seen between LAFP and the control diet throughout the experiment (P > 0.10). Pigs fed LAFP showed greater red blood cell (RBC) size (P < 0.10) and increased amount of hemoglobin per RBC (P < 0.05). Pigs consuming Carbadox/CuSO4 had decreased RBC distribution width (P < 0.05) and elevated numbers of basophils (P < 0.10). Results suggest that pigs fed diets supplemented with LAFP performed similar to pigs not supplemented in an unstressed environment. Table 1: LAFP & Carbadox/CuSO4 supplementation on growth performance and CBC Diet Variable Control Control+Carbadox/CuSO4 C+LAFP Ending BW, kg 15.01±0.16a 16.32±0.18b 15.07±0.17a ADG Overall, kg/d 0.262±0.017a 0.315±0.018b 0.265±0.018a ADFI Overall, kg×pen-1×d-1 7.77±0.25x 8.34±0.20y 7.73±0.19x G:F Overall, kg/kg 0.670±0.016a 0.753±0.015b 0.702±0.008a Basophils, % 1.50±0.12x 1.68±0.14y 1.39±0.08x RBC Distribution Width, % 21.61±0.71a 23.20±1.03b 20.61±0.75a Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin, pg 17.22±0.53a 16.42±0.48a 18.08±0.34b Mean Corpuscular Volume, fL 53.82±1.52x 52.03±1.37x 55.65±0.75y a,bWithin a row, means without a common superscript differ (P < 0.05). x,yWithin a row, means without a common superscript differ (P < 0.10).