Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Probiotics on Growth Performance, Nutrients Digestibility and Faecal Microbiology in Weaned Piglets

In order to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of two different probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus acidophilus) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and faecal microbial count in weaned piglets (28d of age), 36 crossbred (Landrace x Local) piglets were allocated into three treatments on the basis of the BW in a completely randomized design. Each treatment was comprised of four replicates with three piglets in each. Dietary treatments were basal diet without any probiotic (Control), or with 10% of the basal diet replaced by feed fermented with either S. cerevisiae NCDC-49 (SC; 3-5x10(6) cfu/g) or L. acidophilus NCDC-15 (LA; 2-3x10(9) cfu/g). Supplementation of SC or LA to piglets improved (P<0.05) BW gain and ADG. Digestibility of nutrients, however remained similar (P>0.05) among the groups. However, piglets in SC and LA groups showed better (P<0.05) FCR compared to Control. Yeast count and lactobacillus counts were higher (P<0.01) in both SC and LA groups as compared to Control accompanying a concomitant reduction (P<0.01) in coliform count. The results indicated that dietary supplementation of S. cervisiae or L. acidophilus has a positive effect on the performance of weaned piglets.