title: Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial and noxious gas emission in weaning pigs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antibiotics used as growth promoters in livestock have been banned in the European Union since 2006. Antibiotics alternatives have focused on probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. The concentration of L. acidophilus is considered crucial for obtaining the desired effects. However, limited studies have been conducted to test the dose-dependent effects of L. acidophilus. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the dose-dependent effects of L. acidophilus on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial flora and fecal noxious gas emission in weaning pigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain, average daily feed intake, apparent nutrient digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy, and Lactobacillus counts compared to the basal diet treatment, and a linear effect (P < 0.05) was observed on those criteria. Escherichia coli counts and NH3emission were decreased (P < 0.05) by L. acidophilus supplementation, and a linear effect (P < 0.05) was observed on E. coli counts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that L. acidophilus could be used as an antibiotic alternative by improving growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut balance (i.e. increased Lactobacillus counts and decreased E. coli counts), and decreasing NH3 emission, of weaning pigs. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Resource & Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, Choongnam 330-714, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ruixia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Resource & Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, Choongnam 330-714, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jinmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Resource & Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, Choongnam 330-714, South Korea.
authors.forename: Inho
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004063:Digestion; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D000641:Ammonia; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Lactobacillus acidophilus; fecal microflora; fecal noxious gas emission; growth performance; nutrient digestibility; weaning pig