Olika administreringsmetoder av probiotika till smågrisar och dess effekt på tillväxt, hälsa och mikrobiota

Abstract: Piglets are born without a developed immune system and different types of bacteria colonize the piglets’ gastrointestinal tract directly at birth. Maintaining a healthy microbiota in the intestinal tract is important for the piglet to be resistant to pathogenic bacteria and thus reduce the incidence of diarrhea as well as promoting growth. This study investigated whether probiotic bacterial strains of the species Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus reuteri could have a positive effect on growth performance, health and microbiota in piglets. Different methods of administration were compared to evaluate which gave the best effect on the above parameters. The study involved 599 pigs which were divided into six different groups. The methods of administration compared were oral supplementation to the piglets, oral supplementation to the sow, spray on the sow's udder and supplementation in piglets’ peat. The piglets were supplemented with probiotics during the suckling period, the pigs that received probiotics in peat also obtained it for two weeks after weaning. In addition to these administration groups, there were two control groups: one group that received no supplement at all and a control group that only received probiotics after weaning (in the peat). The weight of the piglets was documented at 15, 36, 43 and 49 days of age and a health form was filled out for each piglet at each time of observation. At 49 days of age, fresh faecal samples were taken from 35 of the pigs to analyze if there was any difference in the number of Lactobacillus and Enterobacteriaceae between different administration groups. The results showed no clear pattern between the administration groups regarding growth performance or microbiota. At 49 days of age, the group that received probiotics by spray on the sow's udder during the suckling period had significantly higher mean weights than the group that received probiotics only after weaning. The pigs who received probiotics i n the peat after weaning had a significantly lower daily growth compared to the pigs who did not receive supplementation in the peat after weaning. There was no significant difference in the number of Lactobacillus and Enterobacteriaceae between administration groups. In conclusion, no visible effect could be seen in piglets’ growth performance or microbiota receiving probiotic supplement. At present, there are no studies comparing different methods of administration of probiotics to piglets during the suckling period. More research on the effect of probiotics on piglet’s health and how probiotics can be most efficiently administrated is needed.