The Effects of the probiotic containing Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis spores on the health and productivity of growing pigs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a probiotic on pig health, growth intensity, feed consumption and carcass quality. The study was conducted at the LVA Institute of Animal Science with two groups of German x Norwegian Landrace crossbreed pigs. The pigs in the probiotic groups were fed diets containing 0.04% probiotic (Bacillus licheniformis - 1,6×109 CFU/g, Bacillus subtilis - 1,6×109 CFU/g) additive from 42 to 120 days of age. From day 121 to the end of fattening, the probiotic was excluded from the diet of this group of pigs. The study indicated that 0.04%probiotic supplementation of the diet resulted in higher health indicators of pigs, i.e. the number of diarrhea cases was by 18%lower, and the average treatment length was 35.3 and even 44.6% (P=0.053) shorter at, respectively, older and younger ages. The study also indicated that there no statistically significant differences between the groups during the whole growing period. As regards pig growth rate younger age (42-91Days), there was a tendency towards higher growth intensity in the probiotic groups. The study also indicated that pig feeding with the probiotic had no significant influence on the carcass quality.