PROBIOTIC BIOPLUS 2B EFFECT ON SOWS PRODUCTIVITY AND PIGLETS WEIGHT

Degola Lilija, Bula Sanita

Abstract
Sustainable, environmentally friendly manufacturing strategy, which guarantees a secure, safe food production, is very important worldwide, so the increasing popularity of bio-derived and integrated farming methods is growing. That was the reason of antibiotics prohibition as growth promoters, which were long time used as a feed additive. Antibiotic prohibition in Latvia came into validity on 1st of January 2006. Scientists in both Europe and the world intensely focused on new livestock production strategies up to resolve issues that require antibiotics instead. Nowadays biotechnology generated a lot of new feed additives, which can ensure good health and productivity of sows. They can be divided into five groups: organic acids or acidifiers, enzymes, probiotics (beneficial microorganisms), prebiotics (nutrients for desired flora), immune system stabilizing agents and plants extracts, vegetable oils. The aim of the research was to evaluate the influence of probiotic BioPlus 2B on the weight loss of sows during lactation, piglet's weight and insemination frequency of sows. A total of 126 sows from two weeks before farrowing to weaning from commercial pig farm SIA "Korkalns", Rudbarži region, were used for the research. The sows were split into two groups: the trial group was given probiotic BioPlus 2B supplemented feed, and the control group was given non-supplemented feed. The trial was performed in three replications. The results showed that the live weight loss of sows was 42.1 ± 1.78 kg (16%) in the control group, but in the trial (probiotic) group 21.3 ± 1.42 kg (7.8%). The difference of live weight loss of sows was significant (p<0.05). The higher feed intake (6.6 kg per day) of the sows in the probiotic group resulted in smaller live weight loss. The feed intake of the control group sows was 5.6 kg per day. Although insemination of sows in the control and experimental groups followed on the 4th - 5th day after weaning piglets, comparatively more sows needed re-insemination in the control group - 22 sows or 36% of the total number of sows, but of the trial group, 13 or 20.0% were re-inseminated. Number of weaned piglets increased by 7.5% and weaned piglets litter live weight was significantly higher in trial group (p<0.05).

Key words: probiotic, sows, live weight, weaned piglets