The effects of probiotic Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 in the weaned pigs nutrition

Abstract

Placing a ban on the use of antibiotics as additives for animal feed, had raised the producing risk, because of possibility for occurrence of many diseases in rearing piglets. One of alternative solutions is the use of probiotics as supplements, directly or in piglets feed. Aim of this study was to investigate the effects probiotic Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 on the rearing piglets in the period from weaning to fattening start. This experiment included 500 piglets, divided in 2 groups, 250 piglets in experiment group (5 cycles with 50 piglets each) and 250 piglets (5 cycles with 50 piglets) in control group. Difference between experimental and control groups were in the way of feeding, experiment group had Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 supplement and control was without. Influence of these probiotics was observed on the parameters: feed conversion ratio, daily gain increase and mortality. Piglets in the experiment group with probiotic Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 in the ration showed lower feed conversion, higher daily growth increase and lower percentage of mortality, during this experiment. The difference between control and experimental group, for all parameters values, were established as statisticaly very significant (p<0.01) effect of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 on rearing piglets in the period from weaning to the beginning of fattening.