Abstract

In this study, the effects of dietary supplementation with bamboo vinegar liquid probiotics (BVLP) on finishing pigs were investigated. A total of 105 crossbreed (Landrace × Yorkshire) finishing pigs were allotted to five treatments of three replicate pens (7 pigs/pen) following a completely randomized design. Results elucidated that, there were no significant differences observed in weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency among the dietary supplementation. Carcass weight and carcass yield grade did not differ significantly; however, the back fat thickness tended to be decreased in the 0.2% BVLP group compared to control (P<0.10). In addition to that, fecal Escherichia coli content was significantly suppressed in response to the antibiotic and 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8% BVLP supplementation relative to the control (P>0.05); where no significant differences were found between antibiotics and BVLP supplemented groups. Furthermore, among malodorous gases, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gas was significantly down trended in the antibiotic and 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8% BVLP supplemented groups and no significant differences were observed between antibiotic and BVLP supplemented groups. Significant diminution of the sulfur dioxide was found after antibiotic and 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8% BVLP supplementation compared to control (P<0.05); where antibiotic and 0.4% BVLP also significantly differed. Moreover, the mercaptan gas was substantially decreased in the 0.4% BVLP supplemented group relative to control (P<0.05), while no significant differences were observed between the antibiotic and BVLP groups. Taken together, supplementation of BVLP could be potentially utilized in the diet of finishing pigs for the suppression of the fecal pathogenic Escherichia coli and fecal odorous gas emissions, without negative impact on the growth performance.

Key words: Bamboo vinegar liquid probiotics, gaseous emissions, microbiology, growth performance, finishing pigs.