Effects of Multi-strain Probiotics with Variable Energy Density Diets on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Characteristics, Faecal Microflora, and Noxious Gas Emission in Finishing Pigs

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of multi-strain probiotics with variable energy density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, faecal microflora and noxious gas emission in finishing pigs. Eighty [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] pigs with initial BW of 79.95±2.49 kg were used in this 6-wk feeding trial. Pigs were allotted to one of 4 dietary treatments in a 2×2 factorial design with two levels of energy density (low or high) and probiotics (0 or 0.02% of diet). There were four replications and five pigs per pen. The pigs fed high energy density diet had better gain: feed ratio (P<0.001) and dry matter digestibility (P<0.01). Probiotics supplementation with both the density diet increased the faecal lactobacilli population (P<0.01) and decreased the E. coli counts (P<0.001). The noxious gas emission (NH₃ and H₂S) was reduced by inclusion of probiotics (P<0.001). There was no interactive effects between probiotics and energy density of the diet (P>0.05). In conclusion, administration of 0.02% multi-strain probiotics exerted beneficial effects on faecal microbial shedding and noxious gas emission irrespective of energy density of the diets.