Abstract #M204

# M204
Effect of medium chain fatty acids and probiotic (Enterococcus faecium) supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, fecal microflora, and fecal noxious gas emission in weanling pigs.
P. Y. Zhao*1, B. Balasubramanian1, M. Begum1, M. Mohammadi1, I. H. Kim1, 1Department of Animal Resource & Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, Chungnam, South Korea.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) and probiotic (Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134) supplementation in weanling pigs. A total of 140 weanling pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] were allotted to 4 treatments, 7 replicates/treatment and 5 pigs/replicate. Diets include: CON, basal diet; TRT 1, CON + MCFA 0.2%; TRT 2, CON + probiotic 0.01%; TRT 3, CON + MCFA 0.2% + probiotic 0.01%. Titanium oxide was added to the feed at 0.2% dosage (2 kg/t of feed) and for a duration of 5 d as an indigestible marker for digestibility determination. Fresh fecal grab samples collected from 2 pigs per pen were mixed and pooled, and a representa­tive sample was stored in a freezer at –20°C until analysis. Data were analyzed as 2 × 2 factorial arrangement by using the GLM Procedure of SAS. During wk 0–2, probiotics supplementation increased (P < 0.05) ADG (393 vs. 352) and G:F (0.831 vs. 0.741). During the overall period (wk 0–6), increased (P < 0.05) ADG (454 vs. 424) and G:F (0.709 vs. 0.660) were detected in probiotic treatments. The ATTD of DM, N, and energy were increased (P < 0.05) by probiotic (80.07% vs. 77.67%; 80.06% vs. 77.09%; 80.28% vs. 78.10%), MCFA (80.22% vs. 77.52%; 79.86% vs. 77.29%; 80.46% vs. 77.92%) and their combination (80.96% vs. 75.86%; 81.17% vs. 75.63%; 81.12% vs. 76.40%). There was no significant difference in fecal score, microflora (Lactobacillus and E. coli) and noxious gas emission (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, total mercaptans, and acetic acid) in all the treatments. In conclusion, dietary probiotic supplementation have beneficial effect on growth performance, additionally, MCFA, probiotic and their combination can improve nutrient digestibility in weanling pigs.

Key Words: medium-chain fatty acids, weanling pig, growth performance