Growth performance, organ weight, fecal scores, plasma, and ceca digesta microbial metabolites in growing pigs fed spent biomass of Pichia kudriavzevii.

Growth performance, liver and spleen weight, plasma, and ceca digesta metabolites and incidences of diarrhea were investigated in growing pigs fed spent biomass of Pichia kudriavzevii. Ninety six barrows (~25 kg, 4 pigs/pen) were fed 1 of 4 experimental diets (n = 6) for 7 weeks. The diets were control, corn-, and soybean meal-based diet or control plus 2.5%, 3.75%, or 5.0% P. kudriavzevii. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric and iso nitrogenous. Feed intake and body weight (BW) were recorded weekly for calculation of average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F). Fecal scores were taken 3 d/wk to assess incidence and severity of diarrhea. One pig/pen close to pen average was bled for plasma metabolites on days 7 and 49 and subsequently euthanized for spleen and liver weight, ileal and cecum digesta samples for concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The concentration of crude protein, crude fat, and non-fiber carbohydrates in P. kudriavzevii biomass was 36.4%, 9.6%, and 50.8% DM, respectively. Inclusion of P. kudriavzevii tended (P = 0.06) to linearly reduce ADG from days 8 through 49 resulting in a trend (P = 0.06) for linear reduction in the final BW. The final BW was 79.0, 79.2, 76.8, and 75.5 kg for the 0%, 2.5%, 3.75%, and 5.0% P. kudriavzevii, respectively. Diets had no effect (P > 0.10) on ADFI, G:F, spleen, and liver weight throughout the entire experiment. On day 7, there was cubic (P = 0.03) decrease and quadratic (P = 0.02) increase in plasma concentration of creatinine and urea N, respectively. However, there were no (P > 0.10) diet effects on plasma metabolites on day 49. There was a tendency (P = 0.08) for linear increase in cecum digesta concentration of acetic acid. There were no diet effects (P > 0.10) on fecal score in the first 4 wk of feeding. In conclusion, feeding P. kudriavzevii yeast tended to depress growth and stimulate cecum fermentation at higher dose and had no detrimental effects on organ weights or plasma metabolites in growing pigs.

Growth performance, gastrointestinal and digestibility responses in growing pigs when fed corn-soybean meal-based diets with corn DDGS treated with fiber degrading enzymes with or without liquid fermentation.

Fermenting high fiber ingredients such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) with feed enzymes may improve their feeding value. We investigated the effects of fermenting corn DDGS with a blend of ß-glucanase and xylanases (XB) on growth performance, gut parameters, and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and energy in growing pigs. Dietary treatments were: (1) corn soybean meal-based diet + 30% DDGS (control), (2) control + XB without fermentation (XBNS), and (3) control + DDGS fermented with XB (16% DM) for 3 to 10 d at 40 °C (XBS). Target activities in XB were 1,050 and 5,500 U/g of DDGS for XB, respectively. Diets contained phytase at 750 FTU/kg. Feed samples were taken during fermentation and at feeding for analysis of pH and organic acids. A total of 144 pigs (25 ± 1.0 kg BW) were assigned to pens (three barrows and three gilts) and allocated to the three diets in a two-phase feeding program (3 wk/phase). Diets were fed on ad libitum and were delivered by a computer-controlled liquid feeding system at a feed to water ratio of 1:4, four times per day. Pigs had free access to water. Fecal samples were taken in the final 3 d of phase 2 to determine ATTD using TiO2 marker method and one pig per pen was euthanized for gastrointestinal (GIT) measurements. The pH of diets at feeding time was lower (P < 0.01) for XBS (4.72) compared with control (5.45) and XBNS (5.45). Pigs fed XBNS had higher (P = 0.04) ADG than control in phase 1. In phase 2 and the overall (weeks 0 to 6), ADG and final BW were higher (P = 0.01) for XBNS than XBS but were not different (P > 0.05) from control. There were no diet effects (P > 0.05) on ADFI. Feed to gain (FCR) for XBNS (1.68) and XBS pigs (1.69) was better (P < 0.01) than for control pigs (1.78) in phase 1. There were no diet effects (P > 0.05) on FCR in phase 2 or in the overall. Pigs fed XBNS had lower (P < 0.01) ATTD of CP than control and XBS-fed pigs. Although not different (P > 0.05) from control, pigs fed XBNS had lower (P < 0.05) jejunal crypt depth and ATTD of gross energy than pigs fed XBS. In conclusion, treating corn DDGS with XB with or without liquid fermentation improved feed efficiency in phase 1, suggesting degradation of dietary fibrous components that may limit nutrient utilization in younger pigs. However, these benefits were not observed in phase 2.

Epidermal growth factor containing culture supernatant enhances intestine development of early-weaned pigs in vivo: potential mechanisms involved.

We have previously generated epidermal factor expressing Lactococcus lactis (EGF-LL) using a bioengineering approach, and shown that EGF-LL fermentation supernatant enhanced newly weaned pigs growth. The objective of the current study was to further understand the mechanisms behind this improved performance. Sixty-four piglets were weaned at 3 weeks of age and then fed ad libitum according to a 2-phase feeding program. Four pens with 8 pigs per pen were assigned to each of two treatments for 3 weeks: (1) EGF containing supernatant from EGF-LL culture (SuperEGF) or (2) blank M17GE media (Control). Consistent with previous findings, SuperEGF pigs had an increased average daily gain during week 3 post-weaning (433.4 ± 10.86 vs 388.7 ± 7.76 g; P<0.05) and overall gain:feed ratio (0.757 ± 0.03 vs 0.677 ± 0.01 kg/kg, P < 0.05). Moreover, jejunal structure development was enhanced, and inflammation index was minimized in SuperEGF pigs as indicated by increased villi height (P<0.05), decreased lamina propria width (P<0.05), and higher expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-13 (P<0.05). Further, goblet cell numbers and Muc2 levels were increased in SuperEGF pigs. Interestingly, the weaning-induced decrease of glucose cotransporter sodium-glucose linked transporter 1 (SGLT1) and glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP2) levels was reversed by SuperEGF supplementation. Our findings add to our understanding of the mechanisms behind enhancing piglet performance by EGF containing fermentation product.

Growth performance of early-weaned pigs is enhanced by feeding epidermal growth factor-expressing Lactococcus lactis fermentation product.

We have previously generated epidermal growth factor expressing Lactococcus lactis (EGF-LL) using bioengineering approach, and shown that feeding newly-weaned piglets EGF-LL improves digestive function. To address concerns over the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO), the objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of feeding the EGF-LL fermentation product, after removal of the genetically modified EGF-LL, on growth performance and intestine development of newly-weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty newly-weaned piglets were fed ad libitum according to a 2-phase feeding program. Four pens were assigned to each of three treatments: (1) complete EGF-LL fermentation product (Ferm), (2) supernatant of EGF-LL fermentation product, after removal of EGF-LL (Supern), or (3) blank M17GE media (Control). EGF-LL or its fermented supernatant was administrated to piglets in the first 3 weeks post-weaning; their growth performance was monitored throughout treatment, and for the following week. Daily body weight gain (254.8g vs. 200.5g) and Gain:Feed (0.541kg/kg vs. 0.454kg/kg) of pigs on the Supern group were significantly improved compared to that of Control, although no difference was observed between the Ferm and Control pigs. Intestinal sucrase activity was increased in Supern- compared to Control group (166.3±62.1 vs. 81.4±56.5nmol glucose released/mg protein; P<0.05). The lack of growth response with Ferm pigs may be attributed to an overload of bacteria (daily dose included 4.56×10(10)CFU/kg BW/day EGF-LL). These results suggest that GMO-free EGF-LL fermentation product is effective in increasing growth performance of early-weaned piglets.