Effect of a synbiotic supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient utilization and production economics of grower-finisher landlly pigs

Manobhavan, M., Verma, A.K., Sahoo, N.R., Agarwal, Neeta and Singh, Putan. 2020. Effect of a synbiotic supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient utilization and production economics of grower-finisher Landlly pigs. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 20: 491–499.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of a probiotic (Pediococcus acidilactici strain FT28) and a prebiotic (fructooligosaccharides, FOS) alone and in combination as a synbiotic on the performance and nutrient utilization of weaned Landlly (Landrace x Local) piglets. Twenty-four piglets (40±2 d-old) were divided into four groups namely, CON, PRO, PRE and SYN following a completely randomized design. The CON (control) group animals were fed the basal diet without any additives; additionally, PRO, PRE and SYN groups were supplemented, respectively, with a probiotic (Pediococcus acidilactici FT28; 1x10⁹ cfu/g), prebiotic (FOS, 2 g/kg diet) and both probiotic and prebiotic for a period of 180 d. The ADG, feed intake and FCR did not vary (P>0.05) among the four groups in grower, finisher and overall phases of the experiment. In the finisher phase, significantly (P<0.05) higher crude fibre digestibility was observed in the synbiotic group (SYN) whereas higher nitrogen-free extract digestibility was noticed in the CON group. Significantly (P<0.05) higher GE digestibility was noticed in the SYN group compared to the CON group. Feed cost per kg gain was least in PRO and SYN during the grower and finisher phase, respectively. Based on the results, it can be concluded that dietary inclusion of the tested feed additives in the diet of pigs has positive effects on performance, nutrient digestibility and cost economics.