The effect of lactose and a prototype Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product on digestibility, nitrogen balance, and intestinal function of weaned pigs

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of lactose (LA) and a prototype Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product (FP) on growth performance, diet digestibility, nitrogen (N) balance, and intestinal function of weaned pigs. Twenty-eight newly weaned pigs [approximately 21 d of age; initial body weight (BW) = 5.20 ± 0.15 kg] were housed in metabolism crates and assigned to one of four treatments (n = seven pigs per treatment) corresponding to a 2 × 2 factorial design: with (LA+; 15% inclusion) or without (LA−) LA and with (FP+) or without (FP−) the prototype FP (1 g of FP per kilogram of diet; Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA). Feed and water were provided ad libitum. At day 5, pigs were orally given lactulose and mannitol to assess small intestinal permeability. Fecal samples were collected on days 5–9 to determine the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), and N. Total urine output and fecal samples were collected on days 10–13 to determine N retention. On day 15, all pigs were euthanized to collect intestinal lumen and tissue samples. Data were analyzed for the main effects of LA and FP and their interaction using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Lactose improved average daily feed intake (ADFI; P = 0.017), the ATTD of DM (P = 0.014), the ATTD of GE (P = 0.028), and N retention (P = 0.043) and tended to increase the butyric acid concentration in the colon (P = 0.062). The FP tended to increase the digestibility of N (P = 0.090). Neither LA nor the FP affected intestinal barrier function or inflammation markers. The interaction between LA and FP affected intestinal morphology: in the jejunum, pigs fed LA+FP− had increased villus height compared with those fed LA+FP+ and LA−FP−, whereas LA+FP+ was intermediate (interaction P = 0.034). At the terminal ileum, pigs fed LA−FP+ and LA+FP− had increased villus height and villus: crypt compared with those fed LA−FP−, whereas LA+FP+ was intermediate (interaction P = 0.007 and P = 0.007, respectively). In conclusion, the addition of LA brings important nutritional attributes to nursery diets by improving feed intake, digestibility of DM and GE, and the N retention of weaned pigs; however, the functional capacity of LA to improve markers of intestinal function is limited. On the other hand, the FP showed only a mild increase in the digestibility of N but a limited capacity to improve markers of intestinal function.