Influence of Feeding Probiotic, Prebiotic, and Synbiotic feed on Piglet Growth Performance and Bacteria Colonization of the Gut

Post weaning diarrhea (PWD) is a disease that occurs in piglets. It is associated with impaired growth rates, intestinal inflammation and can result in death. Main causes of PWD are stress and pathogenic bacteria in the gut. Current treatment for PWD is sub-therapeutic antibiotics in feed, however, due to studies showing that the use of antibiotics in feed is a contributing factor to antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria. Research is being done to find alternatives to sub-therapeutic antibiotics use. Probiotics and prebiotics have been shown to promote intestinal health and aid in the prevention and treatment of diarrhea. Furthermore, studies have shown that a mother's feed can affect the health of their offspring. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of supplementing a sow's feed with probiotics (yeast culture), prebiotics (Oat), or synbiotic (yeast culture + Oat) during the last 30 days of gestation and/or lactation on intestinal bacterial colonization and growth performances of their piglets. Results from trial 1 showed that supplementation of sow's feed during just lactation did not positively affect piglet growth performance or bacterial colonization. In contrast, in trial 2 piglets born of sows fed YC, oat, and YC + Oat supplemented feed during gestation and lactation had greater weight gains as compared to control. Overall E.coli counts were lower in trial 2 (where supplements were given during gestation and lactation) compared to trial 1 (where supplements were given during gestation). These finding suggest that supplementing a sow's feed during gestation and lactation with either oat and yeast culture may have a positive effect on intestinal health and growth performance in their piglets.