Combination of a bacillus-based probiotic and yeast-based prebiotic improves fecal consistency and reduces individual antibiotic treatment in early weaned piglets

17th BOKU-Symposium,Vienna12th April 2018

Introduction• Weaning is considered as one of the most significant

events in the life of pigs accompanied by a high incidence of intestinal disturbances and diarrhea and finally by suppressed growth performance (Pluske et al., 1997).

• Aim of the trial was, to investigate the effect of a combination of a defined probiotic and a yeast-based prebiotic on intestinal health (fecal score) and zootechnical performance in early weaned piglets.

Material and Methods• Early weaned piglets (DanBred x Piètrain, ♂ + ♀), weaned at

21 days of age and 5.66 ± 0.12 kg body weight• 2 groups (n=4, 45 piglets per repetition)• Control: without any pro-/prebiotic• Treatment with a combination of a bacillus-based probiotic

(Bacillus subtilis + B. licheniformis) and yeast-based prebiotic (Triple P® 1000, Biochem Zusatzstoffe GmbH, Lohne)

• Day 1 -20 post weaning: 2 g/kg Triple P® (d1-5 blended 50:50 with creep feed)

• Day 21 -42 post weaning: 1 g/kg Triple P®• In case of diarrhea diagnosis: individual treatment with

antibiotic (Enro-Sleecol® 50mg (Enrofloxacin), Albrecht, Germany)

• fecal score (1 - liquid diarrhea, 2 - pasty, 3 - formed feces, 4 - well-formed feces, 5 - hard and dry feces), medical treatments, mortality, body weight, feed intake

Results→ Triple P® improved fecal consistency in critical period (day 1-14) after weaning (Fig. 1). → Piglets from Triple P®-group recovered much earlier from slightly reduced fecal scores (<4) after weaning.

→ At day 7 after weaning Triple P®-fed piglets showed normal fecal scores of 4, whereby fecal scores from control piglets were reduced until day 15.

→ No statistical difference was observed in zootechnical performance (Fig. 2), however piglets from Triple P®-group had an increased daily weight gain by +4.7% and an enhanced daily feed intake by +4.3% (Fig. 2).

→ Piglets from control group weighed 8.37 ± 0.67 kg at day 20 and 23.43 ± 1.72 kg at day 42. Triple P®-group weighed 8.68 ± 0.62 kg at day 20 and 24.33 ± 1.60 kg at day 42.

Keimer, B.1, Schulte, A.1

1 R&D Department, Biochem Zusatzstoffe Handels- und Produktionsges. mbH, 49393 Lohne

ConclusionThe symbiotic Triple P® has been shown to improve fecal scores and to reduce antibiotic treatments in early weaned piglets. Therefore, Triple P® has a high potential to be part of alternative concepts in times of increasing demands for antibiotic- and ZnO-free strategies. It should be considered, that pro- and prebiotics are more potent to prevent intestinal disturbances. Triple P® before and after weaning may allow even better effects.

Figure 1: Effect of dietary supplementation of Triple P® on fecal consistency, *P < 0.1; **P < 0.05.

Feed Safety for Food Safety®

Figure 2: Effect of dietary supplementation of Triple P® on individual antibiotic treatment from d 1-14 after weaning and mortality rate.

Figure 3: Effects of dietary supplementation of Triple P® on average daily weight gain (ADWG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) during total period (d 1 -42) of the experiment.

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An�b

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An�bio�c treatment Mortality

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ADWG d 1-42 ADFI d 1-42

414 433 562 586

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+4.3%

Control Triple P®

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Control Triple P®

Day a�er weaning1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8-14 15-42

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