EFFECT OF FERMENTED LIQUID FEED ON THE PERFORMANCE AND GUT HEALTH OF GROWER-FINISHER LARGE WHITE YORKSHIRE PIGS
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Date
2019-07
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College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati
Abstract
A 180-days feeding trial was conducted on 24 weaned Large White Yorkshire pigs
(11.45±2.42 to 11.46±2.37 kg body weight, 42-days of age) to investigate the effect of
feeding fermented liquid feed on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut health and
immunity, carcass characteristics, blood haemato-biochmical parameters and economics
under intensive management. Basal rations (NRC, 2012) were assigned as dry feed (DF),
non-fermented liquid feed (NFLF), fermented liquid feed prepared with Lactobacillus
acidophilus (FLF-LA) and fermented liquid feed prepared with Enterococcus faecium
(FLF-EF) to 4 homogenous groups of pigs (3 males and 3 females in each group). NFLF
was prepared by mixing basal ration with drinking water at 1:2 (w/w) immediately before
feeding. For preparation of FLF-LA, from stock culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus, a loop
full of culture was transferred aseptically to 100 ml of De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS)
broth and was incubated for 24 hours at 37oC in an automatic incubator shaker. Ground
yellow maize mixed with water (1:1, w/w) was fermented with 24 hr. old culture of
Lactobacillus acidophilus at 37oC for 24 hr. The fermented maize was then mixed with
basal ration mixed with water at1:2 (w/w) and fermented for 48 hrs. to prepare FLF-LA (1-2
109 cfu/g). 50% of the fermented feed was utilized for feeding and rest was used for backslopping
for another 7 days after which the process was started from the beginning. The
same procedure of preparation was followed for FLF-EF, except Brain Heart Infusion broth
was used instead of MRS. The feeding trial was conducted for 180 days. Two digestibility
trials were conducted 1st at the end of 17th week of age (growing phase) and 2nd at the end of
29th week (finishing phase). Faeces and blood samples were collected from three randomly
selected pigs from each treatment on day 0, 60, 120 and 180 for estimation for faecal
metabolites and faecal microbial counts, and evaluation of haemato-biochemical
parameters. For carcass characteristics study, three pigs from each treatment were
slaughtered at the end of the feeding trial. The cell-mediated immune response was assessed
through in vivo sub-cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction against
phytohaemagglutin-p and humoral immune response by micro-hemagglutination assay.
Study revealed improvement in feed consumption in the growing phase and significantly in
(P<0.05) higher feed consumption in the finishing phase in pigs fed FLF than pigs fed
NFLF than DF. Apparent digestibility co-efficient (ADC) of all the nutrients was
comparatively higher in FLF fed-groups than DF and NFLF in growing phase. ADC of CP
was significantly (P<0.05) higher in FLF-LA and FLF-EF with improved digestibility of
other nutrients than DF and NFLF in the finishing phase. The average daily body weight
gain (ADG) was significantly higher in FLF fed-groups and resulted significantly (P<0.05)
higher total gain and final body weights than pigs fed DF and NFLF. Diarrhoea score and
incidence was significantly reduced on feeding of FLF. Higher faecal lactic acid bacteria
count with low faecal counts of E. coli and Salmonella; and high faecal pH, less faecal
lactic acid and NH3-N level were recorded in FLF fed-pigs compared to DF and NFLF.
ii
Significantly higher villi height, crypt depth and apparent villi surface area were found in
FLF fed-groups than DF and NFLF. More numbers of mononuclear and glandular epithelial
cells and presence of lymphoid follicles were observed in the duodenal and jejunal sections
of small intestine of FLF fed-groups. No such infiltration and lymphoid follicles were
observed in duodenal and jejunal sections of DF and NFLF groups. Pigs of FLF-LA & FLFEF
showed more skin indurations and high antibody titre post-inoculation to
phytohaemagglutinin-p and 20% sheep RBC, respectively as the measure of cell-mediated
and humoral immune response. No significant difference was observed for carcass traits,
physico-chemical and nutritional properties of meat and sensory attributes on feeding of
FLF compared to DF and NFLF. All blood haemato-biochemical parameters were within
the normal range in all the treatment groups. No pathological lesions were found in the liver
and spleen on feeding of FLF. The FCR at the end of feeding trial was calculated as
3.82±0.07, 3.64±0.05, 3.36±0.04 and 3.46±0.07, respectively for DF, NFLF, FLF-LA and
FLF-EF indicating significantly better FCR in FLF fed-groups. The feed cost/kg gain in
body weight (Rs./kg) was calculated as 128.36±2.82, 120.43±1.67, 112.87±2.26 and
115.51±1.96, respectively for DF, NFLF, FLF-LA and FLF-EF, respectively, which
indicated significantly reduced feeding cost/kg body weight gain in FLF fed-pigs compared
to DF and NFLF. Findings of the study revealed that feeding of FLF-LA and FLF-EF
significantly improved growth performance, digestibility of nutrients, gut health and
immunity and gain: feed ratio of the grower-finisher LWY pigs than the DF and NFLF.
Thus, feeding of FLF prepared with either Lactobacillus acidophilus or Enterococcus
faecium may be recommended to LWY grower-finisher pigs for remunerative and
sustainable profit.
Key words: Liquid feed, fermented liquid feed, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus
faecium, grower-finisher LYW pigs, growth, gut health, economics.