Growth performance and carcass characteristics of pigs fed high-fiber diets supplemented with Bacillus spp. expressing multi-enzyme activities

Abstract Text: Increasing the amount of cereal byproducts such as corn distillers-dried grain with solubles; CDDGS, and wheat bran; WB in swine diets decreases pig performance and negatively affects carcass characteristics. The current study evaluated the potential of specifically selected Bacillus spp. direct fed microbial product with multi-enzyme activities (BDFM) to counteract the negative effect in pigs fed diets containing 20% CDDGS and 20% WB. Ninety-six Pietrain X (Landrace X Duroc) pigs (initial BW 31.60 ± 1.30 kg) were used in a 14-wk study. Pigs were blocked by BW and sex and randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments with 3 pigs/pen and 16 replicate pens/treatment. The basal diets were formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of the pigs and contained corn and SBM and cereal byproducts. The NE and digestible Lys in the basal starter, grower and finisher phases diets were; 9.77, 9.85 and 9.71 MJ/kg, and 1.01, 0.93 and 0.85%, respectively, and AA were adjusted on ideal protein basis. The Bacillus product containing 3 × 10⁸ CFU/g was added at 0 (Control) or 500 g/MT of feed in the test diet (BDFM). Pigs were allowed to consume the assigned experimental diet for the entire study period, and ADG, ADFI and G:F determined. Back fat and loin depth were measured at slaughter using a Fat-O-Meater device and carcass lean meat percentage determined. Data were analyzed using the Proc mixed procedure in SAS. Overall, ADFI (1910 vs 1887; SEM = 27.34) and ADWG (762 vs 779 g/d; SEM = 11.20) were not affected (P > 0.05) by BDFM supplementation. However, compared with Control, pigs fed the BDFM supplemented diet had improved (P < 0.05) overall G:F ratio (0.400 vs 0.413; SEM=0.004). Carcass weight and killing-out percentage tended to improve (P<0.10), whereas back fat depth was reduced (16.8 vs 15.1 mm; P=0.01) and lean meat percentage improved (58.9 to 61.5%; P=0.01) with BDFM supplementation compared with control. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of specifically selected Bacillus spp.expressing multi-enzyme activities improved feed efficiency and carcass characteristics in pigs fed high fibre-based diets. 

 

	Control	BDFM	SEM	P value
Growth Performance (d0 to 97)
Overall ADG, g/d	761.8	778.6	11.10	0.29
Overall ADFI, g/d	1910.0	1887.2	27.34	0.56
Gain:Feed	0.400	0.413	0.004	0.04
Carcass Characteristics
Carcass weight, kg	78.8	79.5	0.272	0.08
Kill out percent, %	74.2	74.9	0.255	0.09
Backfat depth, mm	16.8	15.1	0.462	0.01
Lean meat, %	59.8	61.5	0.453	0.01

Keywords: Bacillus spp., dietary fiber, Pigs