The influence of inclusion of either an antibiotic or a probiotic in the diet on the development of digestive enzyme activity in the pig

The Effects of Microbial Additive Supplementation on Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites, Fecal Microflora, and Carcass Characteristics of Growing-Finishing Pigs

This study aimed to assess the effects of microbial additives that produce antimicrobial and digestive enzymes on the growth performance, blood metabolites, fecal microflora, and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 180 growing-finishing pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc; mixed sex; 14 weeks of age; 58.0 ± 1.00 kg) were then assigned to one of three groups with three repetitions (20 pigs) per treatment for 60 days of adaptation and 7 days of collection. Dietary treatments included 0, 0.5, and 1.0% microbial additives in the basal diet. For growth performance, no significant differences in the initial and final weights were observed among the dietary microbial additive treatments, except for the average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency. In terms of blood metabolites and fecal microflora, immunoglobulin G (IgG), blood urea nitrogen, blood glucose, and fecal lactic acid bacteria count increased linearly, and fecal E. coli counts decreased linearly with increasing levels of microbial additives but not growth hormones and Salmonella. Carcass quality grade was improved by the microbial additive. In addition, carcass characteristics were not influenced by dietary microbial additives. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 1.0% microbial additive improved average daily gain, feed efficiency, IgG content, and fecal microflora in growing-finishing pigs.

Effects of prebiotics in combination with probiotics on intestinal hydrolase activity, microbial population and immunological biomarkers in SD rats fed an AIN-93G diet

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal microbiota, which comprises hundreds of different types of microbes, biologically plays crucial roles in the host's health. Probiotics (PRO) did not always have a positive benefit on the host, depending on strains of microbes and the physiochemical properties of prebiotics (PRE), indicating that the properties of PRE in combination with PRO might have different effects on the gut ecology. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of insoluble or soluble PRE with PRO on intestinal digestive hydrolase, the fecal microbes, and immunological biomarkers in SD rats fed an AIN-93G diet.

RESULTS

Forty, 8-week-old SD rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups with 10 replicates in each; cellulose (CELL), cellulose + probiotics (CELPRO), oatmeal (OATS), and oatmeal + probiotics (OATPRO) groups. After 4-week feeding trial, rats were treated with saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg) to examine the alleviating effects of PRO and PRE on immunological responses. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in feed intake of rats fed the oatmeal supplemented diet without affecting growth performance. Blood triglyceride was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in rats fed the oatmeal diet, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in rats fed the PRO supplemented diet. Intestinal maltase, sucrose, and lactase activities were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in rats fed PRO compared with rats not fed PRO. Rats fed the oatmeal showed a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the fecal colony forming units (CFU) of Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae compared with those fed cellulose. LPS-treated rats fed PRO showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in blood secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) compared with those not fed PRO. The LPS-treated rats fed PRO resulted in decreased (p < 0.05) blood IL-6 compared with those not fed PRO, indicating that a dietary PRO alleviated inflammatory response in LPS-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary oatmeal increased fecal microbes, and PRO supplement resulted in increased intestinal hydrolase and immune functions of the host, demonstrating that soluble PRE with supplemented with PRO could be a more bioactive combination of synbiotics in SD rats.

Effects of Fermented Tea Residue on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, Digestive Performance, Serum Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Morphology in Fatteners

Simple Summary

Tea residue is the remaining residue of tea after drinking or deep processing. With the annual consumption of tea, a large amount of discarded tea residue is produced. If the tea residue is not effectively utilized, it will cause not only environmental pollution, but also represent a waste of resources. In this study, strains of Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used to produce fermented tea residue (FTR). Different levels of FTR were used instead of corn and soybean meal. The resulting product was used to feed pigs bred for rapid growth, also known as fatteners. We explored its effects on growth performance, digestion performance, meat quality, serum antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology in fatteners. The aim is to provide a scientific basis for the future use of FTR as a feed material.

Abstract

This study investigated the dietary supplementation of tea residue fermented by Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to explore its effects on growth performance, digestion performance, meat quality, serum antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology in pigs bred for rapid growth, also known as fatteners. One hundred and ninety-two healthy “Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire” ternary hybrid pigs (body weight 70 ± 1.0 kg) were randomly divided into four groups according to the feeding test requirements, with four replicates in each group, and 12 fatteners per replicate. The control group (CG) was fed the basal diet. Treatments 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 3 (T3), comprising ratios of 10%, 15%, and 20% of tea residue were added to the basal diet. The test period was 60 days. The results showed that supplementation of FTR in fatteners’ diets increased final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the T1 and T2 groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the other groups, the lightness (L*) and pH were significantly affected in the T2 group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CG, dietary supplementation of FTR significantly increased the nutrient digestibility of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P), improved the lipase and trypsin activities, and reduced drip loss and the shear force of fatteners (p < 0.05). Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were significantly increased in the T2 and T3 groups compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). Supplementation of FTR in the jejunum significantly increased the villi height of the T2 group and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth of the FTR groups. Compared with the other two groups, the T2 and T3 groups significantly reduced the ratio of the villous height to crypt depth in the duodenum (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the tea residue after fermentation was shown to have beneficial effects on the fattening performance, digestion performance, meat quality, serum antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology of fatteners.

Effect of fosfomycin, Cynara scolymus extract, deoxynivalenol and their combinations on intestinal health of weaned piglets

Weaning is a challenging stage of pig farming. Animals undergo environmental, social and dietary changes leading to weaning stress syndrome. In order to compensate for the detrimental effects of weaning stress, antibiotics and natural extracts are used as feed additives, sometimes without fully understanding the interactions between them or even with low concentrations of mycotoxins that are frequently present in feed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fosfomycin (FOS), Cynara scolymus extract (CSE), deoxynivalenol (DON) and their combined administration on intestinal health of weaned piglets. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 3 factors (FOS, CSE and DON treatments), 2 levels each (presence and absence) and 3 repeats. Weaned piglets (n = 24) were randomly divided in groups to receive the different treatments, namely DON administered in diet (50 μg/kg BW), FOS administered into the drinking water (30 mg/kg BW), CSE administered in diet (15 mg/kg BW) and all their combinations. After 15 d, the animals were euthanized and gastrointestinal tract samples were immediately taken to evaluate gastrointestinal pH, Enterobacteriaceae to lactic acid bacteria (E:L) ratio, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, disaccharidase (lactase, sucrase and maltase) activity, histology (intestinal absorptive area [IAA] and goblet cells count) and mucus ability to adhere pathogenic Escherichia coli. From our results, FOS and CSE treatments, individually or combined, produced a lower E:L ratio, an enhanced production of butyrate, increased disaccharidase activity (particularly maltase), and a greater IAA and goblet cells count along with an increase in pathogenic bacteria adherence to intestinal mucus. Deoxynivalenol did not show interactions with the other factors and its administration produced decreases on VFA, disaccharidase activity and goblet cells count. In conclusion, weaning piglets receiving diets containing FOS, CSE or both exhibited evident beneficial intestinal effects compared to animals receiving diets free from these compounds. On the contrary, the presence of DON at sub-toxic concentrations produced detrimental effects on intestinal health. The knowledge of the physiological and pathological gut changes produced by these compounds contributes to understand their potential productive consequences.

Ameliorative effects of oral ginger and/or thyme aqueous extracts on productive and reproductive performance of V-line male rabbits

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of ginger and/or thyme aqueous extracts administration on the growth rate, caecum activity, reproductive performance and semen quality of rabbits. A total of 24 V-line male rabbits at the age of 12 weeks were divided randomly into four equal groups (6/each) until 24 weeks of age. Treatments were as follows: drinking fresh water and served as control (G1); drinking water supplemented with 100 mg/kg b. wt. of ginger aqueous extract (G2); drinking water supplemented with 50 mg/kg b. wt. of thyme aqueous extract (G3); drinking water supplemented with 100 mg/kg b. wt. of ginger aqueous extract plus 50 mg/kg b. wt. of thyme aqueous extract (G4). Administration of aqueous thyme extract with 50 mg/kg b. wt. improved (p < 0.001) feed intake and growth performance compared to control. The highest average daily gain (p < 0.001) was found for G3 rabbits followed by G4, G2 and G1 respectively. While the most efficient feed conversion ratio was found in G4. Group 3 and group 4 had significant (p < 0.05) positive effect on caecum pH, ammonia and TVFAs concentration. Data indicated that treated groups had hastened the age with heavier body weight, larger testicular size and higher testosterone level. Also, most semen characteristics (volume, progressive motility, sperm concentration and normal spermatozoa) were higher in treated groups compared with the control group. Furthermore, gathering of the spermatozoa in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, expanded epithelial cells stature of the epididymis with stuffed lumens with sperms in treated groups. In conclusion, aqueous extracts of ginger and/or thyme can be used as a growth promoter for improving reproductive performance of V-line male rabbits.

In vitro characterisation of two Lactobacillus strains and evaluation of their suitability as probiotics for growing-finishing pigs

In this study, we evaluated the probiotic properties of two strains Lactobacillus reuteri ZLR003 and Lactobacillus salivarius ZLS006. The two strains displayed tolerance of acid and heat, and demonstrated antimicrobial ability in vitro. Furthermore, their potential functions in vivo were also tested. A total of 120 crossbred (Landrace × Large White) growing pigs were divided into three groups: a control diet, the same diet supplemented with L. reuteri ZLR003 (2.0 × 109 cfu/kg of diet) or L. salivarius ZLS006 (3.50 × 109 cfu/kg of diet). The results showed that the average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved in L. reuteri ZLR003- (1–5 weeks and 1–9 weeks) (P &lt; 0.05) and L. salivarius ZLS006-treated pigs (1–5 weeks, 6–9 weeks and 1–9 weeks) (P &lt; 0.05) compared with the control group. Dietary supplementation with L. salivarius ZLS006 increased the apparent digestibility of nitrogen at Week 9 (P &lt; 0.05). The faecal Lactobacillus populations increased at the end of experiment, and the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in faeces decreased in the two Lactobacillus treatments compared with the control at Week 5 (P &lt; 0.05) and Week 9 (P &lt; 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, the total cholesterol, alanine transferase, aspartate transferase, blood urea nitrogen and haptoglobin levels in serum were significantly decreased following L. reuteri ZLR003 and L. salivarius ZLS006 treatments (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, these data suggest that the two Lactobacillus strains may be promising candidates for probiotic products in growing-finishing pigs.

The influence of three antibiotics on the growth, intestinal enzyme activities, and immune response of the juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus selenka

The global abuse and misuse of antibiotics in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections has resulted in the ubiquitous existence of these drugs in aquatic environments, which causes frequent antimicrobial resistance and pollution in ecosystems. However, the chronic effects of antimicrobial agents on aquatic animal growth and health have not been fully evaluated. In the present study, three typical antibiotics (tetracycline, erythromycin, and norfloxacin) were administered orally to juvenile sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus for 45 days, to mimic the long-term use of antibiotics. As a result, tetracycline and erythromycin promoted the growth and digestive activity of lipase, pepsin, and trypsin, but norfloxacin did not show significant prompting effect on digestive activity and even retarded the weight gain of the sea cucumbers. The mortality was higher in antibiotic treated groups between the 2nd and 4th days after challenge with Vibrio splendidus. At the same time, lower immune-related parameters were found in antibiotic feeding juveniles, suggesting that the use of antibiotics might weaken the immune defense system of sea cucumbers. This study revealed that antibiotic administration could facilitate the growth of sea cucumbers to varying degrees yet coupled with high risks of impaired immune function and compromised disease resistance.

Using probiotics to improve swine gut health and nutrient utilization

To maintain a healthy gut is definitely key for a pig to digest and absorb dietary nutrients efficiently. A balanced microbiota (i.e., a healthy micro-ecosystem) is an indispensable constituent of a healthy gut. Probiotics, the live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer good health benefits onto the host, are a category of feed additives that can be used to replenish the gut microbial population while recuperating the host immune system. Besides their antitoxin and diarrhea reduction effects, dietary supplementation of probiotics can improve gut health, nutrient digestibilities and, therefore, benefit nutrient utilization and growth performance of pigs. Current knowledge in the literature pertinent to the beneficial effects of utilizing various probiotics for swine production has been comprehensively reviewed, and the safety and the risk issues related to probiotic usage have also been discussed in this paper. Considering that the foremost cost in a swine operation is feed cost, feed efficiency holds a very special, if not the paramount, significance in commercial swine production. Globally, the swine industry along with other animal industries is moving towards restricting and eventually a total ban on the usage of antibiotic growth promoters. Therefore, selection of an ideal alternative to the in-feed antibiotics to compensate for the lost benefits due to the ban on the antibiotic usage is urgently needed to support the industry for profitable and sustainable swine production. As is understood, a decision on this selection is not easy to make. Thus, this review paper aims to provide some much needed up-to-date knowledge and comprehensive references for swine nutritionists and producers to refer to before making prudent decisions and for scientists and researchers to develop better commercial products.

Effects of probiotic supplement (Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus) on feed efficiency, growth performance, and microbial population of weaning rabbits

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of single or/and double strains of probiotic supplement on feed efficiency, growth performance, and microbial population in distal gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of weaning rabbits.

METHODS

Sixty-four weaning (28 days old) New Zealand White rabbits were randomly distributed into four groups with treatments including: basal diet without probiotic supplement (control) or supplemented as follows: 1×10⁶ cfu/g B. subtilis (BS group), 1×10⁷ cfu/g L. acidophilus (LA group), or 0.5×10⁶ cfu/g B. subtilis plus 0.5×10⁷ cfu/g L. acidophilus (BL group). During the research, the male and female rabbits were fed separately. Body weight of the rabbits was recorded at 28, 42, and 70 d of age.

RESULTS

There was an increase (p<0.05) in body weight gain for the LA group at 42 d. Rabbits fed BL responsed with a greater growth (p<0.05) and better feed conversion ratio (p<0.05) than those fed with no probiotic. Digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and gross energy were higher (p<0.05) in LA and BL groups than those in the control group. Male rabbits had higher (p<0.05) Bacilli spp. and Coliformis spp. in the ileum than female rabbits. Rabbits supplemented with BS had greater (p<0.05) numbers of bacilli in all intestinal segments than those receiving no probiotic, whereas intestinal Lactobacilli populations were greater (p<0.001) in the LA and BL diets compared to control. Average intestinal coliform populations were lowest (p<0.05) in the rabbits supplemented with LA as compared to those fed the control and BS.

CONCLUSION

Supplementation of L. acidophilus alone or in combination with B. subtilis at a half of dose could enhance number of gut beneficial bacteria populations, nutrient digestibility, cecal fermentation, feed efficiency, and growth performance, but rabbits receiving only B. subtilis alone were not different from the controls without probiotic.

Effects of protease, phytase and a Bacillus sp. direct-fed microbial on nutrient and energy digestibility, ileal brush border digestive enzyme activity and cecal short-chain fatty acid concentration in broiler chickens

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of protease and phytase (PP) and a Bacillus sp. direct-fed microbial (DFM) on dietary energy and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens. In the first experiment, Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed diets supplemented with PP and DFM in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. The 4 diets (control (CON), CON + PP, CON + DFM, and CON + PP + DFM) were fed from 15–21 days of age. In Experiment 1, significant interaction (P≤0.01) between PP and DFM on the apparent ileal digestibility coefficient for starch, crude protein, and amino acid indicated that both additives increased the digestibility. Both additives increased the nitrogen retention coefficient with a significant interaction (P≤0.01). Although no interaction was observed, significant main effects (P≤0.01) for nitrogen-corrected apparent ME (AMEn) for PP or DFM indicated an additive response. In a follow-up experiment, Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed the same experimental diets from 1–21 days of age. Activities of ileal brush border maltase, sucrase, and L-alanine aminopeptidase were increased (P≤0.01) by PP addition, while a trend (P = 0.07) for increased sucrase activity was observed in chickens fed DFM, in Experiment 2. The proportion of cecal butyrate was increased (P≤0.01) by DFM addition. Increased nutrient utilization and nitrogen retention appear to involve separate but complementary mechanisms for PP and DFM, however AMEn responses appear to have separate and additive mechanisms.

Gastrointestinal health and function in weaned pigs: a review of feeding strategies to control post-weaning diarrhoea without using in-feed antimicrobial compounds

For the last several decades, antimicrobial compounds have been used to promote piglet growth at weaning through the prevention of subclinical and clinical disease. There are, however, increasing concerns in relation to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains and the potential of these and associated resistance genes to impact on human health. As a consequence, European Union (EU) banned the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in swine and livestock production on 1 January 2006. Furthermore, minerals such as zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are not feasible alternatives/replacements to antibiotics because their excretion is a possible threat to the environment. Consequently, there is a need to develop feeding programs to serve as a means for controlling problems associated with the weaning transition without using antimicrobial compounds. This review, therefore, is focused on some of nutritional strategies that are known to improve structure and function of gastrointestinal tract and (or) promote post-weaning growth with special emphasis on probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, trace minerals and dietary protein source and level.

Assessing the effect of administering probiotics in water or as a feed supplement on broiler performance and immune response

1. Two routes of probiotic administration in broiler farms, in water and in feed, were compared using 360 one-day-old male broiler chickens. Controls received no probiotics or antimicrobials. The water group received a probiotic preparation at a rate of 0.5 g/l, and the feed group received it at an inclusion rate of 1 g/kg. 2. Performance of broilers in terms body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved when probiotic was provided via drinking water, compared to the control and feed groups. Probiotic administration reduced plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. 3. Spleen (28 and 42 d) and bursa (42 d) relative weights were influenced by method of probiotic administration, which also improved T-cell dependent skin thickness response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection. The effect of challenge by dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) depended on the method of probiotic administration. 4. The method of probiotic administration can influence the performance and immune competence of birds, and administration via drinking water appears to be superior to the more conventional in-feed supplementation method.

Influence of probiotics in different energy and nutrient density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and blood characteristics in growing-finishing pigs

The study was conducted to determine the effects of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis endospore and Clostridium butyricum endospore complex) supplementation and different energy and nutrient densities on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and meat quality in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 96 pigs with initial BW of 47.50 ± 1.14 kg were used in a 10-wk experiment. Pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 levels of energy and nutrient density (low and high energy, CP, and Lys) and 0.2% probiotics according to their sex and BW (6 pens, with 2 gilts and 2 barrows/pen). From 0 to 5 wk, ADG and G:F, as well as the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of N and energy, were improved (P < 0.05) in the probiotic groups and in the high-energy and high-nutrient-density groups. From 6 to 10 wk, ADG and G:F, as well as the ATTD of DM, N, and energy, were increased (P < 0.01) when pigs were fed the high-energy and high-nutrient-density diets. Pigs fed the probiotic supplement or the high-energy and high-nutrient-density diets had increased (P < 0.01) ADG and G:F overall. Moreover, pigs fed the high-energy and high-nutrient-density diets had increased (P < 0.05) meat color scores, marbling scores, drip loss values, pH, and LM area (P < 0.05) compared with those fed the low-energy and low-nutrient-density diets, whereas the probiotic treatment groups had increased (P < 0.01) meat color scores, marbling scores, and redness values. The lightness and yellowness values in the low-energy and low-nutrient-density dietary treatments were greater (P < 0.05) than those in the high-energy and high-nutrient-density dietary treatments. Interactive effects of dietary energy and nutrient density and probiotics were also observed (P < 0.05) on the digestibility of N at wk 10 and energy at wk 5, as well as on meat firmness at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of probiotics increased growth performance throughout the experiment and exerted beneficial effects on ATTD. Meat quality was improved when pigs were fed high-energy and high-nutrient-density diets.

The role of probiotics in the poultry industry

The increase of productivity in the poultry industry has been accompanied by various impacts, including emergence of a large variety of pathogens and bacterial resistance. These impacts are in part due to the indiscriminate use of chemotherapeutic agents as a result of management practices in rearing cycles. This review provides a summary of the use of probiotics for prevention of bacterial diseases in poultry, as well as demonstrating the potential role of probiotics in the growth performance and immune response of poultry, safety and wholesomeness of dressed poultry meat evidencing consumer's protection, with a critical evaluation of results obtained to date.

Preliminary study of the effects of commercial lactobacilli preparations on digestive metabolism of juvenile sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Two forms of the same commercial product (SORBIAL, Allonnes, France), one with live bacteria (PSA) and the other with heat-inactivated bacteria (PSI), containing a mixture of 2 strains of lactobacilli and their growth medium were tested as a diet complement for juvenile sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) during a 103-day experiment. In addition to zootechnical parameters (survival, growth, conformation), some effects on digestive metabolism were studied, including enzymatic, ultrastructural and microbial aspects. Microbial preparations improved survival rate. The ventral, dorsal and operculum malformations which usually occur in juveniles did not appear in those receiving PSA and PSI. Furthermore, they stimulated, but not constantly, trypsin and acid phosphatase activities. Intestinal ultrastructure showed an increase in the number of endocytosis vesicles at the apical pole of enterocytes in fishes receiving enrichments. Bacterial flora was not modified in terms of quantity, especially the lactic acid bacteria counts, which were not changed in fishes receiving live lactobacilli (PSA). The mode of action of these multiple beneficial effects appears complex and could be caused by different molecules inside the bacterial cell or excreted into their medium.

Microbial manipulation of the rat dam changes bacterial colonization and alters properties of the gut in her offspring

The impact of an altered bacterial colonization on gut development has not been thoroughly studied, despite the increased risk of certain diseases with a disturbed microbiota after birth. This study was conducted to determine the effect of microbial manipulation, i.e., antibiotic treatment or Escherichia coli exposure, of the dam on bacterial colonization and gut development in the offspring. Pregnant rats were administered either broad-spectrum antibiotics 3 days before parturition or live nonpathogenic E. coli Culture Collection of University of Göteborg, Sweden type strain (CCUG 29300(T)) 1 wk before parturition and up to 14 days of lactation in the drinking water. Cecal bacterial levels, gut growth, intestinal permeability, digestive enzyme levels, and intestinal inflammation were studied in 2-wk-old rats. Pups from dams that were antibiotic-treated had higher densities of Enterobacteriaceae, which correlated with a decreased stomach growth and function, lower pancreatic protein levels, higher intestinal permeability, and increased plasma levels of the acute phase protein, haptoglobin, compared with pups from untreated mothers. Exposure of pregnant/lactating mothers to E. coli CCUG 29300(T), also resulting in increased Enterobacteriaceae levels, gave in the offspring similar results on the stomach and an increased small intestinal growth compared with the control pups. Furthermore, E. coli pups showed increased mucosal disaccharidase activities, increased liver, spleen, and adrenal weights, as well as increased plasma concentrations of haptoglobin. These findings indicate that disturbing the normal bacterial colonization after birth, by increasing the densities of cecal Enterobacteriaceae, appears to have lasting effects on the postnatal microflora, which affects gut growth and function.

Efficacy of supplementation of α-amylase-producing bacterial culture on the performance, nutrient use, and gut morphology of broiler chickens fed a corn-based diet

A trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an Escherichia coli strain producing alpha-amylase of Bacillus stearothermophilus on growth performance, nutrient use, and the morphology of the small intestine of broilers fed a corn-based diet. One hundred thirty-five 1-d-old chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly divided into 3 groups and treated as follows: (i) basal diet (control); (ii) basal diet and water supplemented with an E. coli strain that produced amylase, and (iii) basal diet and water supplemented with an E. coli strain that produced amylase plus bacterial hemoglobin. At 21 d of age, supplementation of E. coli improved daily gain (P < 0.05) and feed conversion (P < 0.01). At the end of the trial, birds supplemented with water containing bacteria consumed more and grew faster (P < 0.05) and had better feed conversion (P < 0.10) than broilers given no bacteria. Also, the presence of bacteria improved apparent digestibility of organic matter (P < 0.01). However, no effects were detected for CP or fat digestibility. Supplementation with E. coli reduced relative pancreas weight (P = 0.06) but did not affect the weight of the liver (P > 0.05) and length of duedonum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum (P > 0.05). Length of the villi and crypts were significantly increased with bacterial supplementation. Presence of the bacterial hemoglobin gene did not cause a significant difference in changes observed. The data indicated that supplementation of an E. coli strain capable of producing alpha-amylase improved digestibility of nutrients and performance of broilers fed a corn-based diet.

Effect of lactobacillus supplementation on growth and nutrient utilization in mongrel pups

Effect of lactobacillus supplementation was studied in eight Mongrel pups of about 10 weeks of age with a mean body weight of 5.2 kg divided into two equal groups, control (group C) and a probiotic supplemented group (group L). Both groups received the same feed (biscuit) which was for group L supplemented with 2 x 10(7) cfu of a Lactobacillus acidophilus strain. The feeding trial lasted 13 weeks and included a digestibility trial of six day during which feed and faeces were collected to assess intake and digestibility of nutrients. Growth was recorded as weekly live weight change and the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of stool were examined periodically to assess the effect of lactobacillus on intestinal health. The biscuits contained 89% DM, 32.6% CP, 5.8% ash and 12.7% EE with TDN, GE and ME content of 890 g, 19.6 MJ and 14.6 MJ per kg DM, respectively. The DM, OM, CP and GE digestibilities were between 76% to 79% and the EE digestibility was 93%. The CF digestibility was negligible (22%). There were no significant differences between the two groups. There was an appetite stimulation and a relatively higher DM intake (10 to 15%) which induced higher daily gain, 102 g in group L vs. 92 g in group C up to 19 weeks of age, the difference declined thereafter. The average daily gain during the whole period was 74.5 +/- 8.0 g and 81.6 +/- 6.0 g in group C and L, respectively, and the difference was statistically non-significant (P > 0.05). The stools showed similar physical properties and composition with acidic pH in both groups. Lactobacillus supplementation caused a competitive establishment in the gastrointestinal tract of pups. It can be concluded that lactobacillus supplementation shows a positive effect during active growth phase (up to 4.5 months of age), which became insignificant in the later period of life.

The effects of feeding the direct-fed microbial, primalac, on growth parameters and egg production in single comb white leghorn hens

Two commercial strains of Single Comb White Leghorn hens, HyLine W-36 and DeKalb XL, were reared separately as pullet flocks in an enclosed, environmentally controlled brood-grow house with three banks of quad-deck cages (310 cm2 per bird). There were 1,800 hens of each strain, which were divided into two groups, control feed and a direct-fed microbial (DFM) feed treatment. During the pullet-rearing phase to 18 wk of age, the DeKalb birds had greater parameters of growth and overall feed cost than the HyLine birds. The overall feed cost of the DFM treatment was $0.02 per bird greater than controls. However, the DFM-treated feed improved the livability of the DeKalb birds by 2.68%. At 18 wk of age, 3,528 hens were transferred to an enclosed, mechanically ventilated layer house. The two strains were placed in two differently sized quad-deck layer cages with seven birds per cage; the cage sizes were 35.56 cm x 60.96 cm (2,267.73 cm2 or 310 cm2 per bird) and 14 cm x 32 cm (2,890.32 cm2 or 413 cm2 per bird). There were a total of 144 replications with each strain and DFM treatment combination made up of 36 replications equally divided between the high and low density cages. At 70 wk of age, hens receiving the DFM treatment exhibited greater mean egg weights (61.72 g) and percentages of extra large eggs (XLE, 52.06%) compared to that of controls (61.12 g and 48.98%, respectively). The treatment of 310 cm2/hen DFM produced the least (P < or = 0.05) large eggs; however, this treatment group produced the most (P < or = 0.05) XLE. The use of DFM resulted in a shift from smaller to larger eggs. Regardless of density, the DFM hens had lower (P < or = 0.05) feed cost (FC) compared to FC of the controls (a savings of $0.46/bird between the DFM and control in the 310 cm2 /hen treatment and a $0.83 savings/bird between the DFM and control in the 413 cm2/hen treatment). It was concluded that PrimaLac can improve egg size and lower feed costs, regardless of the bird density used in the present study.

Digestive and bacterial enzyme activities in broilers fed diets supplemented with Lactobacillus cultures

A study was carried out to investigate the effects of adherent Lactobacillus cultures on 1) amylolytic, lipolytic, and proteolytic enzyme activities in the contents of the small intestine (from the distal end of the duodenum to the ileocecal junction) and 2) bacterial beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase activities in the intestinal contents and feces of broiler chickens. Three dietary treatments were randomly assigned to three groups of chicks, i.e., basal diet only (control group), basal diet + 0.1% dried culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus, and basal diet + 0.1% dried culture of a mixture of 12 Lactobacillus strains. The results showed that supplementation of the adherent Lactobacillus cultures to chickens, either as a single strain of L. acidophilus or as a mixture of 12 Lactobacillus strains, increased significantly (P < 0.05) the levels of amylase in the small intestine. However, the proteolytic and lipolytic activities in the small intestine were not affected by addition of either of the adherent Lactobacillus cultures. Addition of either L. acidophilus or a mixture of 12 Lactobacillus strains was also found to reduce significantly (P < 0.05) the intestinal and fecal beta-glucuronidase and fecal beta-glucosidase but not the intestinal beta-glucosidase at 40 d of feeding.

Comparison of the supplemental effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and antibiotics in low-protein and high-fibre diets fed to broiler chickens

Two experiments were completed to compare the supplemental effects of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and sub-therapeutic antibiotics in high-fibre and low-protein diets for broiler chicks. In experiment 1, yeast was added at 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 g kg-1 while penicillin, tylosin or neoterramycin were added at 150 mg kg-1 into different batches of a high-fibre diet containing 250 g kg-1 palm kernel meal. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and antibiotics increased BW, BWG, FCR, feed intake, carcass and breast weights above the control. Small intestine weight was reduced by antibiotics, while yeast caused a lower deposition of abdominal fat. Liver weights of different treated broilers were similar. The performance indices were superior on penicillin and 3.0 g kg-1 yeast compared to other supplements evaluated. In the second experiment, 1.5 and 3.0 g kg-1 of yeast, and 0.75 mg kg-1 of procaine penicillin, zinc bacitracin and tylosin were separately added to a 180 g kg-1 crude protein diet. Performance of the chicks with additives was compared with unsupplemented negative and positive controls containing 180 and 210 g kg-1 crude protein respectively. Broilers fed with supplements had superior BW, BWG, FCR and feed intake compared to the negative control, but carcass data were similar. Dietary penicillin increased BW, BWG, feed intake more than other supplements, but yeast stimulated higher FCR. Data from both studies indicated that Saccharomyces cerevisiae comparatively increased growth and carcass weight and reduce abdominal fat, therefore, it can serve as a natural substitute for antibiotics in broiler diet.

Gastrointestinal responses to oats consumption in young adult and elderly rats: digestion, large bowel fermentation and crypt cell proliferation rates

The present experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that ageing modifies the gastrointestinal responses to a change in diet composition. Rats of the Wag/Rij strain, either young adult (4 months of age) or elderly (27 months of age), were given a basal semi-purified diet or a diet of similar major nutrient composition containing 500 g oatmeal/kg for 17-18 d. Elderly rats digested the dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) of both diets less well than did their young adult counterparts, with more of this digestion occurring in the distal intestine. The greater flow of OM to the caecum of oats-fed animals was accompanied by significant reductions in caecal pH and increases in caecal total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration which appeared to be independent of age. However, young adults responded to feeding on oats by showing a much larger increase in the molar proportion of butyrate (332%) than did elderly animals (79%). Elderly rats had longer duodenal villi than did young adults but effects of age or diet were not detectable at other sites. With both age-groups oats consumption was associated with significant stimulation of crypt cell proliferation rate (CCPR) in the small intestine and caecum, but for the colon there was a significant reduction in CCPR with oats feeding. A reduced ability of the aged large bowel (LB) to produce butyrate may contribute to the prevalence of LB disorders in the elderly.