The Probiotic Properties Of Enterococcus Faeciumand Its Effects On Reproductive Performance Of Sow And Production Performance Of Piglets

The diseases of sow occurred frequently at current time, which has become the limiting factor to the healthy development of the pig industry. The excessive and extended use of antibiotics by some farms(or farmers) to prevent and treat diseases of sow,which leads to increasingly serious problem of antibiotic residues and drug resistance, has become a terrible threat to food safety. Therefore, it is urgent to develop the substitute for safe without side effects of antibiotics. Enterococcus faecium has effect of inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms and enhancing the efficacy of immune. Early studies found that Enterococcus faecium can improve immune function, reduce diarrhea rates and increase daily gain of piglets. But the research of Enterococcus faecium in sows was rarely reported.We studied the effects of Enterococcus faecium on reproductive performance, health status of sows based on the assessement of the probiotic properties of the Enterococcus faecium product.Further to provide technical support for use Enterococcus faecium scientifically and rationally.1.Evaluation of the probiotic properties in vitroFirst of all, the research investigated the properties of Enterococcus faecium, which contained acid-resistant、cholate-resistant、trypsin-resistant and heat-resistant. After4h of culture under conditions of pH=3, the number of colonies proliferated from1×106cfu/ml to4.55×1010cfu/ml; after12h of culture under2%pig bile salts, the number of colonies proliferated to3.25×1010cfu/ml; After16h of culture in1.2%trypsin, the number of colonies proliferated to5.25×1010cfu/ml; after0.5h of culture under the temperature of60℃, the number of colonies proliferated to1.33×1011cfu/ml. These results indicate that Enterococcus faecium would grow well under the conditions of low pH, high temperature or high concentration of bile salts or trypsin, and it is an ideal feed additive.2.Effects of Enterococcus faecium on reproductive performance and health of sowsTwenty-two sows (Landrace×Large, delivery time within5days) were used to study the effect of Enterococcus faecium on the reproductive performance and health. These sows were randomly allocated into2groups(the control group and Enterococcus faecium group) with11sows per group and housed in individual wire cages. During pregnancy of93days to weaning period, the control group was fed a basal diet only, Enterococcus faecium group was fed the basal diet+1×109cfu/kg Enterococcus faecium. The result show as follows:the supplementation of1×109cfu/kg Enterococcus faecium tended to reduce incidence of mastitis, constipation. Diarrhea rates of breastfeeding and weaning. The addition of1×109cfu/kg Enterococcus faecium significantly reduced the weightlessness of lactating sows(P<0.05), significantly increased the weaning litter weight、weaning weight of piglets and survival rate of piglets (P<0.05); the total lipid content in blood and total fat, protein and solid content in milk were much higher in Mid-lactation(10-11days after deliver)(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, weaning weight,6-weeks weight, average daily gain and gain/feed had significantly increased (P<0.05). These results showed that Enterococcus faecium can improve structure of intestinal flora, maintain intestinal heath, reduce the incidence of mastitis and constipation of sows; and promote intestinal absorption of nutrients, reduce weightlessness during lactation, increase the content of total lipid and protein in milk, promote the growth of suckling and weaning piglets, and reduce the incidence of diarrhea in piglets.It is concluded that Enterococcus faecium will be an ideal feed additive to improve the reproductive performance of sow and production performance of piglets. But the optimal supplement dose of Enterococcus faecium needs further study.