Effects of fermented rice bran extract with multi-microbial species on intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of fermented rice bran extract (FRB) with multi-microbial species on intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs. METHODS: Thirty weaned pigs (initial body weight = 6.8±0.8 kg) were allocated to 3 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design (n = 10 per treatment) and fed for 25 d in 2 phases (7 and 18 d, respectively). Pigs were housed individually in pens equipped with a feeder and a nipple drinker. Pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.5%, or 1.0% FRB. The main feedstuffs of the basal diet were corn, soybean meal, whey permeate, and blood plasma. The FRB was prepared by fermenting rice bran with Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and contained at least 1×107 CFU/g. On d 25, pigs were euthanized to collect intestinal tissues and mucosa for intestinal health. RESULTS: The supplementation of FRB decreased (p<0.05) the abundance of Desulfovibrio piger in the jejunal mucosa. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl in the duodenum linearly decreased (p<0.05) and the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum linearly increased (p<0.05) with increasing FRB supplementation. The apparent ileal digestibility of gross energy and crude protein tended to linearly increase (p = 0.084 and p = 0.098, respectively). Body weight on d 25 and overall average daily gain tended to show quadratic responses (p = 0.084 and p = 0.095, respectively) with increasing FRB supplementation. The gain to feed ratio (G:F) was maximized when the FRB intake was 2.7 g/d (0.48%) during d 7 to 25. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation with FRB with multi-microbial species improved intestinal health based on immune response, oxidative stress, and morphology. The growth performance of nursery pigs showed quadratic responses with increasing FRB supplementation. Specifically, the G:F was maximized with supplementation of FRB at 0.48%.