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Effects of silage or probiotics on performance and gut microbial composition of organic growing-finishing pigs

Nagel, MSc Philipp; Domig, PhD Konrad J.; Hagmüller, PhD Werner; Pfalz, MSc Silvia; Kronsteiner, MSc Sophie; Ortner, Birgit; Sundrum, PhD Albert and Zollitsch, PhD Werner (2008) Effects of silage or probiotics on performance and gut microbial composition of organic growing-finishing pigs. Poster at: Cultivating the Future Based on Science: 2nd Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research ISOFAR, Modena, Italy, June 18-20, 2008.

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Summary

This paper will deal with the effects of the oral application of a probiotic preparation (Bifidobacterium animalis) and of the provision of forage (maize and grass silage) to growing-finishing pigs on the composition of the intestinal microbial population and faecal microflora as an important determining factor for pork safety. 76 pigs were reared in 4 different dietary treatments. Clinical health and immune status plus faeces samples and samples of the gut content from the duodenum, ileum, caecum and colon were collected from each animal. Since the second round of the feeding experiment was only finished in March, the datasets are still incomplete because analyses are ongoing, but preliminary results are already available. Microbial analysis showed that CFU (per g DM of faeces) of bifidobacteria ranged from 2.6*10^8 (maize silage treatment) to 8.7*10^8 (probiotic treatment). CFU counts of E.coli showed a significantly lower amount for the control treatment (4.4*10^5) compared with the grass silage- group (3.0*10^6). Blood analysis did not show significant differences between treatments. Both the high level of animal performance (ADG between 902 and 929 g/d) and the negative clinical findings confirm the good health status of the animals. Statistical analysis with the complete data set will soon show whether the trends from these preliminary results will be confirmed for the overall experiment.


EPrint Type:Conference paper, poster, etc.
Type of presentation:Poster
Keywords:organic, growing-finishing pigs, nutrition, performance, microbiota
Subjects: Food systems > Food security, food quality and human health
Animal husbandry > Health and welfare
Animal husbandry > Feeding and growth
Research affiliation: International Conferences > 2008: IFOAM OWC: Research Track / ISOFAR > 3.4 Animal health and nutrition – non ruminants
European Union > QualityLowInputFood > Subproject 4: Livestock production systems
Austria > Univ. BOKU Wien > Sustainable Agr. Systems - NUWI
Deposited By: Nagel, MSc Philipp
ID Code:11787
Deposited On:07 Oct 2008
Last Modified:12 Apr 2010 07:35
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted
Additional Publishing Information:This paper is published in the conference proceedings:
Neuhoff, Daniel; Halberg, Niels; Alföldi, Thomas; Lockeretz, William; Thommen, Andreas; Rasmussen, Ilse A.; Hermansen, John; Vaarst, Mette; Lueck, Lorna; Carporali, Fabio; Jensen, Henning Hogh; Migliorini, Paola and Willer, Helga, Eds. (2008). Cultivating the Future Based on Science. Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), held at the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress in Cooperation with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Consorzio ModenaBio, 18 - 20 June 2008 in Modena, Italy. International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), c/o IOL, DE-Bonn, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, CH-Frick. http://orgprints.org/13672 and http://orgprints.org/13674

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