Effects of fermented whole-crop wheat and barley with or without supplementing inoculant (probiotics) on palatability, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota and blood constituents in finishing pigs

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of fermented whole crop cereal on palatability and performance in finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, a total of 20 finishing pigs ((Landrace ´ Yorkshier) Duroc) were allotted to 4 dietary treatments to check the palatability of the dietary feed. Diet treatments were included a basal diet; FW = basal diets + 1% fermented wheat without inoculum, FWI = basal diets + 1% fermented wheat with inoculum, FB = basal diets + 1% fermented barley without inoculum, FBI = basal diets + 1% fermented barley with inoculum. Throughout the experimental period, pigs fed FWI and FBI diets had significantly higher feed palatability compared with FW, FB diets. In Exp. 2, a total of 20 finishing pigs were allotted to 4 dietary treatments (1 pigs/pen, 5 pigs/treatment). Dietary treatments were same as Exp. 1. In nutrient digestibility, pigs fed FWI had higher dry matter digestibility. The number of Lactobacillus in feces was significantly higher in FWI treatments inoculated with feed microorganisms. Our results indicated that dietary supplementation with fermented wheat and barley with supplementing inoculant had a beneficial effect in finishing pigs.