The effect of Muco-defen on weak piglets

Introduction

During the period of weaning transition, piglets are under a stressful condition that combined with nutritional, environmental, and immunological problems. Though antibiotics can apply to solve the poor situation of post-weaning, the concern about antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics enhances to find suitable alternatives to antibiotics. Probiotics are incorporated at the stage to maintaining intestinal ecosystem, enhancement mucosal barrier functions, and improving livestock performance.

Muco-defen (Life Rainbow Biotech Co., Ltd. Taiwan) is the product composed of selected Bacillus strains via patent solid-state fermentation process to ensure the 2nd metabolites production, and formulated with essential oil, that can prevent colonization of pathogens by competition exclusion and a specified 2nd metabolites were identified and proof showing the bactericidal activity on intestinal pathogens. The purpose of this feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of weak piglets with probiotics diet on growth performance and intestinal flora.

Material and Methods

The trial was carried in the farm of south area in Taiwan. Total 28-day-old weaning piglets (crossbreds of Yorkshire and Danish Landrace, LYD) were divided into two dietary treatment groups: one group received standard diet (control group); the other received standard diet supplemented with 4 kg/ton of Muco-defen. The trial was run for 4-weeks after weaning. At the end of experiment, growth performance was observed by ADG, and feed intake. All feces were also collected from piglets to determine the fecal microbiota.

Results

Data of weight gain and feed intake were subjected to analysis to compare two treatments. Total weight gain was 17.6% higher in Muco-defen group at the end of the trial. Increased feed intake also improved at around 17.0% in the group fed with Muco-defen.

The collected fecal microorganisms from two groups were analyzed according to the Taiwan regulation, “Methods of Test for Food Microorganisms” during the period of feeding. E.coli and Samonella spp. from feces were found with higher counts in control diet than Muco-defen-treatment group, while the counted number of Lactobacillus spp was lower with control diet.

Moreover, the recorded appearance (figure 1) showed that health condition and color brightness were improved with Muco-defen-administrated diet.

The positive tendency of animal performance and beneficial microbiota in intestine indicated that feeding diet with Muco-defen may help to improve intestinal environment.

Figure 1. Control group was fed with basal diet, while Muco-defen group was received standard diet with the probiotic product, Muco-defen.

Conclusions

Applying probiotics in the diet of piglets after weaning may be effective in health condition of GI track. In general, administrated Muco-defen in diet will help to against weaning stress and to improve the growth performance and intestinal flora in weak piglets. Information of Muco-defen is available as following.