Effects of a direct-fed yeast culture on enteric microbial populations, fermentation acids, and performance of weanling pigs

• Published in: Journal of animal science 1998-08, Vol.76 (8), p.2138-2145
• Main Authors: Mathew, A.G, Chattin, S.E, Robbins, C.M, Golden, D.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacterial Adhesion; Biological and medical sciences; Colony Count, Microbial - veterinary; Diet - veterinary; digesta; Digestive system; Digestive System - metabolism; Digestive System - microbiology; digestive tract; early weaning; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Fatty Acids, Volatile - analysis; feed conversion; Female; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hogs; ileum; Ileum - microbiology; intestinal microorganisms; Intestine. Mesentery; lactic acid; Male; malic acid; Microorganisms; pelleted feeds; piglet feeding; piglets; plate count; Random Allocation; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - growth & development; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - physiology; Swine - physiology; Vertebrates: digestive system; volatile fatty acids; Yeast; yeasts
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163; 0021-8812
• DOI: 10.2527/1998.7682138x

In three replicate trials, a total of 36 pigs that had been cannulated at the terminal ileum were used to determine the effects of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture in a phase feeding program (phase I was d 0 to 7 and phase II was d 8 to 21) on performance, ileal microflora, and short-chain fatty acids in weanling pigs, pigs were cannulated at approximately 12 d of age, weaned at 17 d of age, and randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) a pelleted phase feeding program, 2) a similar program with the inclusion of a live S. cerevisiae culture (1 g/kg), and 3) a nonpelleted feeding program otherwise similar to program 2. Ileal samples were collected at 17, 20, 24, 27, 31, 34, and 38 d of age, and samples were analyzed for total E. coli, streptococci, lactobacilli, yeast, short-chain fatty acids, pH, and dry matter. Performance data were also collected. At 41 d of age, pigs were killed and digesta were collected from various regions of the gastrointestinal tract. Total intake was less for pigs fed the control diet than for pigs fed the yeast diets, and overall gains tended to be greater for pigs fed diets including yeast. Treatment differences were not observed for ileal microflora or short-chain fatty acids in samples obtained from cannulas or from the various sites of the gastrointestinal tract. Inclusion of a live yeast culture in weanling pig diets affected intake and performance but did not alter tested intestinal microflora or net concentrations of fermentation products.