Effect of Bioconversion Natural Complex on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Characteristics, and Fecal Microbiota in Weanling Pigs

Abstract Text: Bioconversion technology is a unique processing technology, by which immune activity is dramatically increased. A total of 140 weanling pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an average BW of 6.37 ± 1.14 kg were used in a 42-d trial to investigate the effect of bioconversion natural complex (BNC) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, fecal moisture and pH and fecal microbiota in weanling pigs. Pigs were randomly allotted to 4 experimental diets according to their initial BW and sex (7 replications/trt., 5 pigs/pen). Dietary treatment included PC: basal diet + antibiotics (39 ppm Tiamulin); NC: basal diet; STR1: basal diet + 0.1% Dr. Immune1 (bioconversion product of naturally-sourced low-activity, rice bran and cultured mycelia of medicinal mushrooms) + Antibacterial peptide (fermentation products derived from Bacillus sp. TWNS); STR2: basal diet + 0.1% Dr. Immune2 (bioconversion product of naturally-sourced high-activity, rice bran and cultured mycelia of medicinal mushrooms). On 1-7d, pigs fed STR1 and STR2 treatments had higher ADG than NC treatments (257 and 258 vs. 222 g; P<0.05) and the G/F in STR2 treatment was higher than NC treatment (0.806 vs. 0.675 g; P<0.05). Pigs fed NC treatment had lower ADG than PC, STR1 and STR2 treatments from 22d-42d (578 vs. 624 and 618 and 610 g; P<0.05) and the G/F in PC treatment was significantly higher than NC treatment (0.886 vs. 0.811 g; P<0.05). During the overall period, pigs fed PC, STR1 and STR2 treatments had higher ADG than NC treatment (494 and 492 and 495 vs. 458 g; P<0.05) and the G/F in PC and STR2 treatment was higher than NC treatment (0.800 and 0.823 vs. 0.739 g; P<0.05). However, the dry matter in STR1 treatment was higher than NC treatment on wk6 (82.05 vs. 80.98 %; P<0.05). Pigs fed STR2 treatment had higher Lactobacillus population than PC and NC treatments (6.70 vs. 6.30 log10cfu/g; P<0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of BNC may be helpful to improve the growth performance and increase Lactobacillus concentrations of weanling pigs.

Keywords: growth performance, bioconversion natural complex, weanling pig