SUPPLEMENTATION OF PROBIOTIC IN WEANED PIG DIETS

Abstract

Use of probiotic Composed of B. toyoi 1 x 10⁹ spore per gram in weaned-pig diets were evaluated. Forty early weaned piglets (Large White & Landrace) aged 4 weeks were divided into 5 groups of 8 animals each containing an equal number of males and females. Each group of the animal was randomly fed one of the experimental diets as following, 20 percent diet, 18 percent diet, 18 percent diets protein supplemented with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 percent of probiotic. The animals were kept individually where feed and water were provided ad libitum. Average daily gain of the piglet above diets were, 0.531, 0.534, 0.502, 0.535 and 0.562 kg respectively. Although the different were not statistically significant, the piglets fed 18% protein supplement with 0.2% probiotic tended to have the highest growth rate. Feed conversion ratios of the piglets were 1.80, 1.95, 1.95, 1.93 and 1.84 respectively. The piglets fed 18 percent protein diet supplemented with 0.2% of probiotic tended to have feed conversion ratio comparable to those 20% protein diet. Scouring was reduced in pigs fed all levels of probiotic in the piglets fed 18% protein supplement.

The cost of production of piglets which were fed 18 percent protein diet supplemented with 0.2% probiotic product was lower than any other but higher than the piglets which were fed 20 percent protein diet in this study.