Benefits of Probiotics for Pigs

by Jens Noesgaard Jrgensen, Ph.D. Product Manager, Probiotics Chr. Hansen A/S, Denmark

The Irish Grain & Feed Association. Feed Forum. Dublin, November 11-12th, 2004

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Outline

Probiotics Microflora in the digestive tract of the pig Key Pig Production Parameters Probiotics & Pig Production

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Probiotics

Why talk about Probiotics? Going from National to EU approvals of Feed Additives
Total ban of Antibiotic Growth Promoters on Jan. 1, 2006

The Pig Industry is looking for substitutes

Probiotics are an alternative

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Probiotics

Live microbial feed supplements which beneficially affect the host

Fuller, 1992

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

The Normal Microflora

% 50 40 30 20 10 0 Eubacterium Lactobacillus Streptococcus Bacteroides Clostridium

16s rRNA Cultivation

app. 80% Gram+ app. 400 different types of bacteria

Source: Konstantino, 2004.

High_GC

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Development of the Normal Microflora

Unstable composition of the community

Diverse microbes: coliforms clostridia

bacteroides ruminococci clostridia lactobacilli

Gram + (90%) Gram (10%)

The GIT is sterile before birth

lactobacilli coliforms streptococci

Day 0

Day 1

week 1

week 2

week 3-4

18 weeks

Age
Source: Konstantino. 2004.

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Microflora - Host Relationship

Maturation of the immune system

Energy consumption/supply
source: Gaskins, 2003

Nitrogen cost Comparison Basal Metabolic Rate Amino Acid Absorption

Use app. 6% of the Conventional energy (piglets) (%) Supply app. 16% of Germfree the energy (piglets)
Source: Jensen, 2003.

(%) 80

100 100

>200
Source: Visek, 1978.

Germfree: No microflora in digestive tract

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Influence of pathogens on villi

Normal Villus

Presence of pathogens cause reduction in absorptive surface of the digestive tract

Abnormal Villus (Diarrhoea)

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Consequence of Changed Morphology

700 600 Villi height 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 Piglet Daily Weight Gain (g/day)

AME conversion 19 MJ/kg BWG 18 17 16 15 4,5 5 5,5 6 6,5 7 7,5 8 E. coli in broiler ileum (log cfu/g)
Van der Klis et al., 1999

(cfu = colony forming units)

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Probiotic Activity

Inhibition by metabolites (organic acids) Probiotic Production of vitamins Digestion of nutrients

Competition for nutrients

Competition for space & adhesion sites Epithelium Host mediated effects:
- epithelial cell functioning - peristalsis - immune modulation

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Important Economical Factors

Key Parameters Affected by Nutrition

Sows No. weaned piglets
(weight)

Piglets Growth rate Feed Conversion Ratio Grower/Finisher Growth rate Feed Conversion Ratio

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Litter size in Denmark

13 No. of piglets No. of piglets/litter 12 11 10 9 1999 2000 2001 Year Live born weaned 2002 2003

14 13,5 13 12,5 12 11,5 11 Mortality, %

Source: Jultved, 2003

Mortality

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Probiotics & Suckling Piglets

Control No. litters No. born alive/litter Diarrhoea Score1 Creep Feed Intake/litter, kg Weaning weight, kg Pre-weaning Mortality, % No. weaned/litter * : P<0.05; 1: 0=normal, 3=acute. 55 10.2 0.24 5.9 8.0 12.1 9.0

Probiotic to sows 54 10.4 0.08* 6.4* 8.4* 7.0* 9.7*

Diff., % 2 -67 8 5 -42 8

Source: Alexopoulos et al., 2003

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Probiotics & Suckling Piglets

Probiotic supplied to the lactating sow

% of litters
12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 >6 Days With Diarrhoea Control (652 litters)
25% diarrhoea
Mortality rate

8,2%

Probiotic (519 litters)

14% diarrhoea

8,1%

8,1% 8,0% 7,9% 7,8% 7,7% 7,6% 7,5% 7,4% 7,3%

Control (652 litters) Probiotic (519 litters)

7,6%

Probiotics Reduce Severeness of Diarrhoea

Source: Maruta et al., 1996

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Probiotics & Suckling Piglets

Summary of 4 trials supplementing probiotics to lactating sows involving more than 4000 suckling piglets
Pre-weaning mortality
15
10

Relative piglet weaning weight

Control
Probiotic Control mean Probiotic mean 115 110 105 % 100 95 90 85 A B Trial C D Control Probiotic Probiotic mean

%
5 0 A B Trial C D

Pre-weaning mortality reduced by 5% units Weaning weight increased by 7%

Source: Jrgensen & Krti., 2003

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Probiotics & Suckling Piglets

Summary of 4 trials supplementing probiotics to lactating sows involving more than 4000 suckling piglets
Pre-weaning mortality
16 14 12 10 %8 6 4 2 0 8,7 9,2 9,7 10,2 Control Probiotic

TAKE HOME MESSAGE Reduced pre-weaning mortality

Especially mortality related to nutrition

Improved weaning weight

10,7

Litter size at weaning

Source: Jrgensen & Krti., 2003

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Effect of Weaning on Piglets

Proportion of MEm 2 1,8 1,6 1,4 1,2 1 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Days after w eaning Feed Intake

log CFU/g digesta 10

Lactobacilli

8 Coliform bacteria 7

6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Days after w eaning

Source: Jensen, 1998

Source: Bruininx, 2002

42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20

pH

Dry matter

pH 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Days after w eaning

Feed intake down Time to pass through the digestive tract up Coliform overgrowth Villus height down Diarrhoea up Productivity down

Source: Jensen, 1998

Dry Matter, %

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Probiotic & Piglets

Summary of 32 Piglet Trials

Relative Efficacy of Probiotics used in Piglet Trials Avg. improvement: DWG 10% & FCR 5%
40

Daily Weight Gain

30 20
10%

10 0 -10 -20 -30

-5%

Feed Conversion Ratio

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Mean

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Probiotics & Grower/Finisher

Probiotic supplemented to piglets & growers
Probiotic group compared to control

54 pigs/group Basal feed

maize, barley & soyabean meal
Piglet, Grower & Finisher 95%

Feed Conversion Ratio Average Daily Gain

104%

Probiotic supplementation
Piglets & growers day 27 (weaning) day 110.
Piglet & Grower 91% 107%

Day 159 slaughter

91% Piglet 108%

Significant improvements in ADG & FCR to slaughter

88%

92%

96%

100%

104%

108%

112%

Percent of Control

Source: Alexopoulos, C. et al., 2004.

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Benefits of Probiotics

Suckling Piglets
Improve
no. of weaned piglets / litter weight of weaned piglets Creep Feed Intake

Piglets
Improve
Growth rate & Feed Conversion Ratio

Grower/Finisher
Improve
Growth rate & Feed Conversion Ratio

IG&FA, Feed Forum 2004

Any Questions?