A Lactobacillus postbiotic product alleviates Escherichia coli–induced diarrhea in post-weaning piglets

Antibiotics and zinc oxide have long been used to prevent or cure post-weaning diarrhea. Now many countries are reducing use or completely banning these substances due to antimicrobial resistance and environmental concerns. Without antimicrobials producers have increased demand for natural solutions. Lactobacilli postbiotics are known to have a strong effect in reducing diarrhea in children. Research suggests this postbiotic prevents pathogen adherence and shifts the gut microbiome toward beneficial flora. Our objective was to evaluate the postbiotic Lactobacillus LB on newly weaned piglet health and performance outcomes compared with Control and Zinc oxide (Zn) in a 42-d E. coli challenge study. Three hundred male pigs 18 to 22 d of age and 2.75 to 7.60 kg BW from a commercial farm were divided into 4 groups each having 15 pens of 5 piglets. The LB treatment was Control feed with 2 kg LB/MT. The Zn treatment was Control with 3000 ppm Zn fed for 21 d and then removed. The 4th treatment was LB+Zn: Control diet with LB and added Zn for the 1st 21 d then Zn was removed. On d 10, all pigs were gavaged with 5 mL of 1.3 × 10e9 cfu E. coli/mL. Response variables were clinical and fecal scores, ADG, and FCR, with data collected on specific study days. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS and a Tukey-Kramer test. Fecal score results showed a strong reduction in diarrhea in the LB group. No watery stool was present in any pen in the LB group, yet it was as high as 89% in Control and 7% in the Zn group. Duration was 5 d post-challenge in LB as opposed to 11 and 7 d for Control and Zn groups, respectively. LB+Zn reduced diarrhea to 5 d as well. The E. coli challenge was severe. Mortality ~40% in the Control group was and 25% in the LB group. At 42 d postweaning, LB piglets had better growth performance. FCR was 13% lower (1.00 vs 1.15; P < 0.01) and ADG was 50% higher (0.21 kg/d vs 0.14 kg/d; P < 0.01) compared with Control. ADG was not different between LB and Zn groups. In summary, the postbiotic Lactobacillus LB significantly reduced postweaning diarrhea and was a good alternative to zinc oxide in piglet production.

Key Words: piglet, postweaning diarrhea, postbiotic.

Presented at the 9th Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals, St. Louis, USA, 2021. For information on the next edition, click here.