Effects of lactobacillus plantarumZJ316 on pig growth and pork quality

Abstract

BackgroundLactobacillus plantarum is a plant-associated bacterial species but it has also been found in human, mouse and porcine gastrointestinal tracts. It can ferment a broad spectrum of plant carbohydrates; it is tolerant of bile salts and low pH, and it has antagonistic potential against intestinal pathogens. However, experiments reporting the use of L. plantarum as a probiotic are limited. In this study, the effects of L. plantarum ZJ316 isolated from infant fecal samples on pig growth and pork quality were investigated.ResultsOne hundred and fifty newly weaned pigs were selected randomly and divided into five groups. Group 1 was fed a diet supplemented with the antibiotic mequindox; Groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed a diet supplemented with L. plantarum and no antibiotic; and Group 5 was fed a mixture of mequindox and L. plantarum. After a 60 days initial treatment, samples were collected for evaluation. The results showed that, the L. plantarum ZJ316 has probiotic effects on pig growth and that these effects are dose dependent. The effects of a dose of 1 × 109 CFU/d were more pronounced than those of a dose of 5 × 109 CFU/d or 1 × 1010 CFU/d. In Group 2 (1 × 109 CFU/d), the diarrhea (p = 0.000) and mortality rates (p = 0.448) were lower than in antibiotic-treated pigs (Group 1), and the daily weight gain (p = 0.001) and food conversion ratios were better (p = 0.005). Improved pork quality was associated with Lactobacillus treatment. pH (45 min, p = 0.020), hardness (p = 0.000), stickiness (p = 0.044), chewiness (p = 0.000), gumminess (p = 0.000) and restoring force (p = 0.004) were all significantly improved in Lactobacillus-treated pigs (Group 2). Although we found that L. plantarum exerted probiotic effects on pig growth and pork quality, the mechanisms underlying its action require further study. Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis results showed that the gut bacterial communities in Lactobacillus- and antibiotic-treated pigs were very similar and the quantity of L. plantarum ZJ316 was below the detection limits of DGGE-band sequencing. The concentration of short-chain fatty acids in Lactobacillus- and antibiotic-treated fecal samples were not significantly different (p = 0.086). However, the villus height of ilea (p = 0.003), jejuna (p = 0.000) and duodena (p = 0.036) were found to be significantly improved by Lactobacillus treatment.ConclusionL. plantarum ZJ316 was found to have probiotic effects, improving pig growth and pork quality. The probiotic mechanism might not involve L. plantarum colonization and alteration of the gut bacterial community. Rather, it might be related to the inhibition of the growth of opportunistic pathogens and promotion of increased villus height.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum Strain ZJ316

“…L. plantarum strain ZJ316, originally isolated from healthy infant fecal samples, has many probiotic properties, such as significant improvement of pig growth and pork quality and antimicrobial activity against various pathogens in vitro , such as Micrococcus luteus , Bacillus subtilis , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Salmonella enterica , Listeria monocytogenes , and others (4). Here, we report the genome sequence of L. plantarum strain ZJ316.…”

Effects of probiotics in swines growth performance: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

“…Intestinal ecosystem management is one of the common strategies used to prevent diarrhea, improve health status, and enhance growth performance in intensive pig farming (Wang et al, 2012;Modesto et al, 2009;Taras et al, 2007). Antimicrobials have been used in feed additives as growth promoters and to preserve health of pigs by reducing the pathogenic bacteria and modifying the microbiota in the gut of animals (Alexopoulos et al, 2004).…”

Isolation and Probiotic Potential of Lactobacillus Salivarius and Pediococcus Pentosaceus in Specific Pathogen Free Chickens

“…Suo et al (2012) reported that Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316 significantly improved pig growth at a dose of 10 9 CFU/d, and ADG and FCR were better. Foo et al (2003) reported that feeding Lactobacillus I-UL4 and the metabolites to weaned rats improved growth.…”

“…These results showed a lot of different indicators of the effects of probiotics on meat quality (Suo et al, 2012). Zhang et al (2015) considered that the shear force of raw drumstick decreased in the whole yeast treatment relative to the controls.…”