Effect of Fermented Chlorella Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Characteristics, Fecal Microbial and Fecal Noxious Gas Content in Growing Pigs

A total of 96 growing pigs ((Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc; BW = 26.58±1.41 kg) were used in a 6-wk feeding trail to evaluate the effects of fermented chlorella (FC) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, fecal microbial and fecal noxious gas content in growing pigs. Pigs were randomly allotted into 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 6 replicate pens (2 barrows and 2 gilts) per treatment. Dietary treatments were: i) negative control (NC), basal diet (without antibiotics); ii) positive control (PC), NC+0.05% tylosin; iii) (fermented chlorella 01) FC01, NC+0.1% FC, and iv) fermented chlorella 02 (FC02), NC+0.2% FC. In this study, feeding pigs PC or FC01 diets led to a higher average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter (DM) digestibility than those fed NC diet (p<0.05), whereas the inclusion of FC02 diet did not affect the ADG and DM compared with the NC group. No difference (p>0.05) was observed on the body weight, average daily feed intake (ADFI), gain:feed (G:F) ratio, the apparent total tract digestibility of N and energy throughout the experiment. The inclusion of PC or FC did not affect the blood characteristics (p>0.05). Moreover, dietary FC treatment led to a higher (p<0.05) lactobacillus concentration and lower E. coli concentration than the NC treatment, whereas the antibiotic supplementation only decreased the E. coli concentration. Pigs fed FC or PC diet had reduced (p<0.05) fecal NH3 and H2S content compared with those fed NC diet. In conclusion, our results indicated that the inclusion of FC01 treatment could improve the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial shedding (lower E. coli and higher lactobacillus), and decrease the fecal noxious gas emission in growing pigs when compared with the group fed the basal diet. In conclusion, dietary FC could be considered as a good source of supplementation in growing pigs because of its growth promoting effect.