Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIV, Issue 2
Written by Mihaela DUMITRU, Mihaela HĂBEANU, Nicoleta LEFTER
Direct-fed microbial (DFM) supplementation in piglet’s nutrition may offer high benefits to the young animals by diminishing the bacteria pathogens from the gastrointestinal tract and environment. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051a (BS, 1.6 x 109 CFU/mL) on the piglet’s microbiota in the weaning crisis. A total of 60 piglets, 30 days ± 3 days of age, were allotted in 3 homogeneous groups (C, E1 and E2, 10 piglets/6 pens, 2 replicates/group) supplemented with BS 1% (E1), respectively 3% (E2)/kg feed. At the end of the trial (46 ± 3 d-old), 6 piglets were slaughtered (2 piglets/group) and intestinal content (ileum and cecum) were collected for evaluating the microbiota and intestinal pH values. The piglet’s faces were collected for microbial analysis on 1-d, 8d, and 16 d. The numbers of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Coliforms bacteria, Enterococcus spp., Clostridium spp. and Bacillus spp. from intestinal content were modified at the addition of BS, whereas, from faeces samples, the microbiota was insignificant (P ≥ 0.05). The addition of BS 1% and 3% decreased the numbers of Escherichia coli biotype β-hemolytic from piglet’s intestinal content (P ≤ 0.05) and faces vs. C group. Salmonella spp. was not present. The intestinal pH from the ileum and cecum segment was observed to be lower in E1 + BS 1%, while in E2 + BS 3% the pH was higher vs. C group. In conclusion, 1% supplementation of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051a in piglets feed had a positive effect during the postweaning period on endogenous microbiota, fecal microbial count and intestinal pH evolution.
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