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This study investigated the effects of a postbiotic from Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation (LAF) on pig gut microbiome during nursery. Piglets (n = 32) at weaning (day 21 ± 2) were randomized based on BW (7.4 ± 1.7 kg) and received basal diets that met NRC nutrient requirements for phase 1 (d 0-14) and phase 2 (d 14-32) post-wean. Treatments included i) NC, negative control; ii) PC, antibiotic positive control, iii) LAFa (Dia-V™ Nursery, Diamond V, IA) supplemented at 1000 ppm in phase 1 and 1500 ppm in phase 2, and iv) LAFb (Dia-V™ Nursery) supplemented at 2000 and 1000 ppm during phase 1 and 2, respectively. Fecal samples were collected on d 0, 7, 14, and 32 postwean and subjected to DNA extraction and long read Nanopore shotgun metagenomics to assess composition, function and progression of gut microbiome and their correlations with BW. On d7, PC and LAF supplemented pigs numerically were closer to microbiome of d 14 and 32 compared to NC pigs. From d 0 to 32, pigs progressed through five compositional clusters (P < 0.05). By d 32, more pigs from PC and LAF groups were exhibiting a compositional cluster that was characterized by dominance of members of Bacteroidetes phylum including several Prevotella species. From d 0 to d 32, four microbiome functional clusters were observed (P < 0.05) with varying abundances of carbohydrate-active-enzymes (CAZy). Pigs in LAF groups compared to other treatments exhibited clusters with greater abundances of CAZy that was correlated with greater BW on d 32 (P = 0.004). The 2000 ppm supplementation of LAF in phase 1 and 1500 ppm in phase 2 numerically increased all measured of diversity compared to 1000 ppm. Overall, while PC and LAF groups promoted more similar microbiome compositional clusters compared to NC, LAF pigs exhibited superior functional clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactating sows (N=140, York x Landrace) were used to evaluate the effects of a liquid prototype (LIQP) and dry (XPC®; Diamond V) Saccharomyces cerevisiae feed additives on sow and litter performance. Sows were fed a common gestation diet (0.55% SID-Lysine) until d112 of pregnancy and then allotted to lactation treatments: 1) Control diet (CON; 1.00% SID-Lysine), 2) CON +15 mL of LIQP from d112 to weaning (LIQ), 3) CON +0.20% of XPC from d112 to weaning (DRY), and 4) DRY +15 mL of LIQP from d112 to d7 post-farrowing (D+L). The LIQP was given once daily using an oral dose gun and XPC was included in the feed. Immunoglobulin concentrations were estimated on colostrum samples using Brix refractometer and piglet d 1 serum immunocrit ratio and plasma IgA and IgG. Daily sow water intake and daily feed intake (DFI) from d112 of gestation to d7 post-farrowing and weekly feed intake (ADFI) were recorded. There were no treatment effects on sow BW, backfat, or loin depth (P >0.05) although sows from LIQ group had numerically smaller BW reductions compared to CON sows (4.9% vs 7.2%, P=0.19). LIQ sows had greater DFI and CON lower DFI during week 1 of lactation (P=0.04) as well as ADFI for weeks 2, 3, and overall lactation period (P< 0.01) with DRY and D+L sows being intermediate. Water intake, immunoglobulins, and litter performance did not differ among treatments (P >0.05) although pigs from LIQ sows, compared to CON, had numerically increased weaning (6.14 vs 5.82kg, P >0.05) and litter weights (63.2 vs 60.1kg, P >0.05). LIQ sows had 0.7 d reduced wean-to-estrus interval (P< 0.001) and tended to have greater conception rates (P=0.07). In conclusion, LIQ supplementation of lactating sows improves feed intake, allowing sows to keep body reserves, and have better subsequent rebreeding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of a liquid prototype (LIQP) and dry (XPC®; Diamond V) Saccharomyces cerevisiae feed additives on blood and uterine cytokine profiles in sows (n = 40). On d 112 of pregnancy sows were allotted to dietary treatments: 1) Control diet (CON), 2) CON +15 mL of LIQP (LIQ), 3) CON +0.20% of XPC (DRY), and 4) DRY +15 mL of LIQP until d 7 post-farrowing (D+L). Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were quantified from serum samples collected on d 112 of gestation, d 2 and 6 post-farrowing, and from uterine fluid collected on d 2, 4, and 6 post-farrowing. Serum C-Reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin concentrations were evaluated. No interactions between treatments and day of collection were observed (P > 0.13). LIQ and D+L sows had the greatest serum IL-10 concentration (P < 0.001) and sows fed CON tended to have lower concentration of IL-8 (P < 0.06) vs. other treatments. Serum CRP concentrations were greatest on d 2 (P < 0.001), serum IL-10 (P < 0.04) and IL-4 (P < 0.07) linearly decreased while serum haptoglobin (P < 0.02) and INF-γ (P < 0.001) linearly increased post-farrowing. In the uterine fluid, LIQ and D+L sows had greater INF-γ (P = 0.04) concentrations and CON tended to have the least concentration of TNF-α (P = 0.08). Uterine fluid IL-1 tended to linearly increase (P < 0.07) and IL-6 linearly decrease (P < 0.01) post-farrowing. No strong correlations were detected between cytokines in the serum and uterine fluid within day. LIQ sows had the greatest daily feed intake and CON the least during the first week of lactation (P = 0.04). Providing LIQP post-farrowing to sows modified immune response increasing both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in serum and uterine fluid in an independent manner, allowing animals a quicker recovery and increased feed intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]