Effect of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 on Nursing Piglet Fecal Microflora, Fecal Consistency and Growth Performance

A total of 26 lactating sows (DNA 241, DNA Genetics) and litters were used in a discovery study to evaluate the effects of a direct-fed microbial containing Bacillus subtilis C-3102 (Calsporin^®, Calpis Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) on fecal microflora of nursing pigs. Sows were randomly assigned to treatments based on farrowing date, parity, and initial BW. Treatments provided a daily oral dose of a placebo (n=14 litters) or Calsporin (n=12 litters) to nursing piglets from d 2 after birth until weaning on d 19. Daily Calsporin dosage was 45.0×10⁶ CFU/mL (d 2-10), 77.5×10⁶ CFU/mL (d 10-17), and 108.3×10⁶ CFU/mL (d 17-19) administered via a 1 mL liquid suspension. Fecal scoring was conducted to categorize the consistency of feces using a scale from 1 to 5. Fecal samples were collected from piglets for microbial analysis. Data were recorded on d 2, 10, and 17 for fecal variables, and additionally on d 19 for performance variables. Fecal score and microbial analysis were analyzed as repeated measures. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model (PROC GLIMMIX, SAS^®) with litter as the experimental unit. There was no evidence for differences (P>0.05) on sow performance (BW and ADFI) or litter performance (BW, ADG, mortality, and litter size). Also, there was no evidence for treatment differences (P>0.05) for fecal score on d 2, 10, and 17. Microbial analysis revealed a treatment×day interaction (P<0.001) in total Bacillus sp., with increased levels in Calsporin compared to placebo on d 10 and 17, and increasing levels over time in placebo pigs while remaining constant after d 10 in Calsporin pigs. Total aerobes decreased (P<0.05) in litters treated with Calsporin. There was no evidence for differences (P>0.05) in number of Lactobacillus sp., Enterococcus sp., Clostridium perfringens, Enterobacteriaceae, and total anaerobes between placebo- and Calsporin-treated litters. In conclusion, once per day supplementation of Calsporin to nursing pigs resulted in slight changes in fecal microflora, but there was no influence on nursing pig fecal consistency or performance.

	Placebo			Calsporin
	d 2	d 10	d 17	d 2	d 10	d 17
Piglet BW, kg	1.6±0.04	3.0±0.08	4.9±0.13	1.5±0.04	2.9±0.08	4.7±0.14
Fecal score	2.1±0.20	1.7±0.14	2.1±0.20	2.1±0.22	1.5±0.15	2.4±0.22
Total Bacillus sp.1	2.4±0.13x	3.3±0.10ya	3.7±0.12za	2.7±0.13x	5.5±0.11yb	5.7±0.12yb
Total aerobes2	9.3±0.09	8.6±0.09	8.4±0.09	9.3±0.10	8.4±0.10	8.2±0.10
Values: mean±SEM. 1Treatment×day interaction, x,y,z P<0.05 between days within treatment, a,b P<0.05 between treatments within day. 2 Treatment effect, P<0.05. 1,2Units: log10 CFU/g.