Using combined probiotic to improve growth performance of weaned piglets on extensive farm conditions

Pig production in Albania is extensive and hygiene conditions in pig stalls are often poor. Under these conditions a significant impact of probiotics could be expected. A combined probiotic preparation of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 4336 (5 x 10(9) CFU/kg), Lactobacillus fermentum DSM 20016 (5 x 10(9) CFU/kg) and Enterococcus faecium ATCC 19434 (5 x 10(10) CFU/kg) was supplemented to a basal ration with 1, 1.5 and 2 g/kg feed. The effect on growth performance was studied on twenty four weaned piglets in each of two experiments. The first experiment lasted for eight weeks and the second experiment lasted for six weeks. The results showed that the combined probiotic supplements increased significantly, final body weight (FBW) and daily weight gain (DWG) (P<0.05), only in the first experiment. The present study implies that the dose 1.0 g/kg combined probiotic preparation is the most ideal concentration in improving of growth performance of weaned piglets. With graded levels of the probiotic preparation from 1 to 2 g/kg feed, the growth performances were decreased. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.