Dietary Complex Probiotic Supplementation Changed the Composition of Intestinal Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Improved the Average Daily Gain of Growing Pigs

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In this research, we studied the effects of complex probiotic (Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, fecal microbiota, fecal short-chain fatty acids, fecal score and fecal gas emissions in growing pigs. Dietary complex probiotic supplementation changed the composition of intestinal short-chain fatty acids, improved growth performance and reduced harmful gas emissions in growing pigs. This study provides basic data for the use of compound probiotic. ABSTRACT: At present, probiotics are being extensively evaluated for their efficacy as an alternative to antibiotics, and their safety in livestock production. In this study, 128 (Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace) pigs with an average initial body weight of 28.38 ± 0.25 kg were allocated to four dietary treatments in a randomized complete-block design. There were eight pens per treatment, with four pigs per pen (two barrows and two gilts). Dietary treatments included: (1) control diet; (2) control diet + 0.05% complex probiotic; (3) control diet + 0.1% complex probiotic; (4) control diet + 0.2% complex probiotic. During the 28-day experimental period, the feeding of 0.1% complex probiotic in the diet increased body weight and average daily gain (p < 0.05). The addition of complex probiotics decreased total cholesterol and glucose concentrations in the blood (p < 0.01). Acetate concentrations in the blood increased from 0.1% complex probiotic in the diet (p < 0.05), while NH(3) and H(2)S emissions in the feces decreased (p < 0.05) from 0.1% or 0.2% complex probiotic in the diet. In conclusion, dietary complex probiotic supplementation changed the composition of intestinal short-chain fatty acids and improved growth performance for growing pigs.