A team of international researchers explored the use of a multi-bacteriophage blend in nursing sow and creep feed diets. The group published its results in the journal Livestock Science.
“The present study investigated the protective effect of the bacteriophage cocktail as a potent antibacterial agent against pathogens such as coliforms and Clostridium spp. in suckling piglets and sows,” said group members.
The group found that the additive bacteriophages reduced Clostridium populations and coliforms shedding and increased fecal levels of lactobacillus, they said. And there was a boost to weaning weight and average daily gain in piglets.
“The development of a bacteriophages product, comprising a mix of different phages selected for their anti-pathogenic effects, seems a promising approach to fulfill both the objectives for anti-pathogenic effects and enhanced piglet performance,” they said. “Dietary bacteriophages modified sows intestinal microbiota; however, there was no positive effect on litter size.”
Why bacteriophages?
Diarrhea is a common health challenge in piglets often stemming from pathogenic Escherichia coli, said the researchers. Young pigs are more at risk for diarrhea and E.Coli infection, and special attention has to be shown during suckling and at weaning.
Neonatal pigs also are susceptible to infections caused by pathogens like coliforms and Clostridum spp., they said. But past treatments using in-feed antibiotics are increasingly restricted.
However, bacteriophages have been gaining in popularity as a supplement option, they said. They are believed to act by limiting pathogenic microorganism and promoting beneficial bacteria growth in the intestinal tract when used in creep feeds.
“Bacteriophages are live enteric viruses that are used as dietary supplements to kill bacteria and adjust intestinal microbiota,” said the researchers. “They kill only susceptible bacteria by absorbing to the receptors on the cell wall of bacteria and inject their nucleic acid into the cell.”
Creep feed may be a good method to introduce anti-pathogenic agents into young pigs, they said. But, more research is needed to establish the correct bacteriophages to reduce shedding of clostridium spp. and coliforms.
“The intestinal microbiota of suckling piglets is under the direct influence of their environment during the development of the gastrointestinal tract, since their sucking habit cause receiving 20g feces per day,” said the researchers. “Hopman et al. (2011) showed that Clostridium difficile transfers easily from sows to suckling piglets through feces.”
It is possible that amending the sow diets could reduce the amount of pathogens found in their fecal matter and improve the piglet’s intestinal microbiota, they said.
Study details
In the trial, 28 sows were split into one of four groups, said the researchers. Sows in two of the groups were given supplemental bacteriophages at 1g/kg and piglets in two groups were given the commercial additive in their creep feed.
Sow backfat was measured at day 107 of gestation, after farrowing and at weaning, day 21 of lactation, they said. Feed intake and weaning-to-estrus interval were documented and average daily gain (ADG) of piglets was calculated.
Creep feed was offered to the piglets from day 7-21 of lactation, they said. And fecal matter was analyzed.
Results
Adding bacteriophages did not alter backfat thickness, feed intake or change the weaning to estrus time frame for sows, the researchers said. But it did increase the number of weaned piglets, boost bodyweight at weaning and improve piglet ADG.
“The improve ADG from current study agreed with our previous finding that the growth performance of growing pigs was increased by feeding bacteriophages and probiotics,” they said. "In line with the current study, dietary inclusion of bacteriophages improves the performance of growing pigs and broilers.”
The boosted ADG, number of piglets weaned was attributed to the drop in pathogenic microflora population from supplement use, they said. “It is widely recognized that good health in the gastrointestinal tract attributes to positive production,” they added.
The bacteriophage supplement did not influence feed conversion ratio or growth for the young pigs, said the researchers.
“This inconsistency might be attributed to age of the pigs, level and type of bacteriophages, health status within herds and farm hygiene,” they said. “However, the results of bacteriophages supplementation are inconsistent, they seem more effective in young animals that are more sensitive to pathogenic challenges regarding to unstable gut microbiota.”
Sows getting supplement had less fecal Clostriduum spp. at day 14 of lactation, and reduced amounts of coliforms at the end of the study, they said. “Bacteriophages tended to decrease fecal Clostridium spp. at d 21 and increase total anaerobic bacteria at d 14, but the population of fecal Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. were not affected in all sampling periods,” they added.
“There were reductions in population of Clostridium spp., and coliforms shedding in the feces of suckling piglets,” said researchers of the piglets getting the supplement in the creep feed. “Bacteriophages in piglet's diet increased fecal Lactobacillus spp. at d 14 and tended to increase at d 21.”
But, the overall amount of anaerobic bacteria and Bifidobacterium spp. were not changed when bacteriophages were added to either the sow feed or creep feed, they said.
Source: Livestock Science
Title: Bacteriophages as a promising anti-pathogenic option in creep-feed for suckling piglets: Targeted to control Clostridium spp. and coliforms fecal shedding
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2016.08.003
Authors: S. Lee, A. Hosseindoust, J. Kim, Y.H. Choi, J. Lee, I. Kwon, B. Chae,