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During late gestation and lactation, sows undergo stress from environmental and physical changes, including restricted feeding, housing changes and infections. Recent studies have indicated that the health and productivity of sows are improved when Bacillus subtilis is added to their feed during gestation and lactation. Moreover, B. subtilis PB6 has been reported to produce antimicrobial substances and promote the growth of Lactobacillus. Based on these effects, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of B. subtilis PB6 supplementation during late gestation and lactation on the sows’ reproductive performance, antioxidation indices and intestinal microbial composition. For that purpose, a total of 32 healthy Landrace × Yorkshire sows on d 90 of gestation were randomly assigned to 2 groups, with 16 replicates per group, receiving basal diet (CON) or the basal diet + 0.2% B. subtilis PB6, containing 4.0×108 CFU/kg of feed (BS).
As a result, the litter size and the number of piglets born alive were larger in the BS group, whereas the weights of piglets born alive and the piglet birth intervals were lower in the BS group. Although litter weight and piglet BW (after cross-fostering) were lower after BS treatment, the litter size, litter weight, lactation survival rate, and litter weight gains at weaning were higher in the BS group. The concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the sow sera at parturition were lower in the BS group. The serum total antioxidant capacity at parturition and the serum catalase concentrations on d 21 of lactation were higher in the BS group. Dietary supplementation with B. subtilis PB6 reduced the serum endotoxin concentrations in the sows. Concerning gut microbiota, the α-diversity indices were higher in the CON group. At the phylum level, B. subtilis PB6 supplementation reduced the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. At the genus level, B. subtilis PB6 supplementation increased the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae and reduced that of Streptococcus.
It can be concluded that supplementing sows with B. subtilis PB6 during late gestation and lactation could shorten piglet birth intervals, enhance the growth performance of suckling piglets, and improve the gut health of sows during late gestation.
Zhang Q, Li J, Cao M, Li Y, Zhuo Y, Fang Z, Che L, Xu S, Feng B, Lin Y, Jiang X, Zhao X, Wu D. Dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis PB6 improves sow reproductive performance and reduces piglet birth intervals. Animal Nutrition. 2020; 6(3): 278-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2020.04.002