Background. To evaluate the biological response of the sows and their offspring with oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CAM6 in breeding sows, a total of 20 Pietrain breeding sows with three farrowings and their descendants were used, randomly divided into two groups of 10 sows each. Treatments included a basal diet (T0) and basal diet +10 mL biological agent containing 10⁹ CFU/mL L. plantarum CAM6 (T1). No antibiotics were used throughout the entire experimental process of this study. Results. The L. Plantarum CAM6 supplementation in sows’ feeding did not affect (P > 0.05) the reproductive performance of the sows; however, the number of deaths for their offspring before weaning (P ≤ 0.05) decreased. In addition, the oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CAM6 in sows increased (P ≤ 0.05) the content of lactose, nonfat solids, mineral salts, and the density of sows’ milk, with a decrease in milk fat. Moreover, the probiotic feed orally to the sows improved the body weight (P ≤ 0.05) and reduced the diarrhea incidence of their offspring (P ≤ 0.05). Also, the probiotic administration of sows changed (P ≤ 0.05) the serum concentration of Na⁺, pCO₂, and D‐β‐hydroxybutyrate and increased (P ≤ 0.05) the leukocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets in their piglets. Conclusion. Oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CAM6 in breeding sows improved body weight, physiological status, and the health of their offspring. And preparing the neonatal piglets physiologically is of great importance to the pig farming industry which could decrease the operational cost and medication (especially antibiotics) consumption of the pig producers.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CAM6 strain as an alternative to antibiotics in weaned pigs on productive parameters, blood biochemical profile, and IgA serum levels. Thirty-six 21-day-old weaned piglets were randomly assigned to three groups with three replicates of four piglets each. Treatments consisted of a basal diet (BD; T0) without probiotics or antibiotics; BD + antibiotics and the same basal diet used in T0 plus oral administration of 5 mL × 10⁹ CFU/mL of L. plantarum CAM-6 (T2). During the study (21 to 49 days of age) T2 obtained a similar live weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio when compared to the T1. Both treatments were better in these variables compared to T0 (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, T2 increased serum IgA levels (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, hematological parameters and acid-base balance remained similar in all groups. However, significant reductions in the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelets, and metabolic hydrogen ions were observed in T1 (p ≤ 0.05). The results of this study suggest that supplementation with L. plantarum CAM6 can be an alternative to antibiotics. Studies to evaluate its efficacy under commercial conditions and water administration require further evaluation.

The objective of the present study was to characterize the probiotic potential of nine strains of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of Creole hens through in vitro and in vivo tests. The following parameters were evaluated in vitro: (1) growth at four pH levels, (2) resistance to four bile salt concentrations, (3) tolerance to four NaCl concentrations, (4) growth capacity in the culture medium, and (5) the antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, and Staphylococcus aureus. The candidate LP-40 had significantly (p < 0.05) increased resistance to pH 3 and 0.3% bile salts and elevated antimicrobial activity in vitro compared to the other strains evaluated. This strain was identified as Lactobacillus salivarius by 16S rRNA sequencing. An in vivo experiment was conducted to assess the effect of LP-40 supplementation in the drinking water on 42-day performance parameters in broiler chickens as compared to a non-treated control or dietary treatment with enrofloxacin. The administration of LP-40 in the drinking water significantly (p < 0.05) improved body weight, feed conversion compared to the antibiotic-treated control. Thus, the in vitro and in vivo results suggest that Lactobacillus salivarius LP-40 demonstrates probiotic potential and, perhaps, could be utilized as an alternative to antibiotic treatment.

Se evaluaron las características probióticas de cepas nativas aisladas de ganado cebú y se realizó identificación molecular de una de estas cepas, para considerar su posterior aplicación como aditivos microbianos en la alimentación bovina. Se usaron muestras de estiércol de terneros de levante, se aislaron bacterias y levaduras, determinándose la capacidad probiótica de estas cepas mediante pruebas como; resistencia a sales biliares (0.05, 0.1, 0.15 y 0.3 %), resistencia a pH ácido (pH 3, 4, 5.6, 7), tolerancia a NaCl (2, 4, 6, 8,10 %), actividad antagónica (Salmonella spp., y Escherichia coli), producción de gas a partir de la glucosa, y crecimiento a diferentes temperaturas (37 y 40 °C). La identificación preliminar de las cepas se realizó mediante: tinción de Gram, tinción de endosporas (método de Wirtz), prueba de la catalasa, prueba de oxidasa. Se seleccionó una de las cepas que superó las pruebas probióticas para su identificación mediante métodos moleculares y se realizó el análisis filogenético de la misma utilizando la base de datos NCBI Reference Sequence (RefSeq). Los ensayos se organizaron en un diseño completamente al azar, los resultados obtenidos por triplicado se sistematizaron en el software Statgraphics Centurion XVI y el efecto de los diferentes tratamientos se analizó estadísticamente mediante análisis de varianza. Se aislaron 10 cepas nativas, identificándose molecularmente a Bacillus toyonensis. Esta investigación representa el primer reporte molecular de B. toyonensis en estiércol de terneros de levante cebú en el Departamento de Sucre, el cual ha sido ampliamente utilizado como probiótico en la nutrición animal.

Biopreparations with Lactobacillus salivarius and Bacillus subtilis are used as probiotics in poultry farming due to their beneficial effects on the intestinal ecosystem. Objective. To evaluate the probiotic activity of the biopreparations PROBIOLACTIL®, SUBTILPROBIO® and their mixture on microbiological, productive and health indicators in broilers. Materials and methods. An experiment with a completely randomized design was carried out for 42 days with four treatments: T1. Control diet (control group), T2. PROBIOLACTIL® (bioprepared with Lactobacillus salivarius C-65) + diet, T3. SUBTILPROBIO® (Bioprepared with Bacillus subtilis E-44) + diet and T4. Mixture of both biopreparations + diet. Results. The treatments where the probiotics were applied presented an increase in total lactobacilli and anaerobes (p≤0.05) and a reduction in total coliforms. Live weight was higher in birds treated with the mixture, and weight gain, average daily gain, feed conversion and carcass yield were improved. The application of additives reduced mortality and increased viability in birds. Conclusions. The synergistic activity of Lactobacillus salivarius and Bacillus subtilis increases probiotic activity and favors the productive performance and viability of broilers.

The ensilability and chemical composition of silages made with different proportions (100:0; 90:10; 80:20; 70:30; 60:40 and 50:50%) of foliage (fresh and pre-wilted) and noni fruit (fresh) was evaluated. Some fermentative patterns of the original forages and the chemical content of the silages were determined. Correlations between the parameters of quality, chemical composition and the fruit levels in the mixture were made and adjusted the same one to polynomial equations. A higher inclusion of fruits with both fresh and pre-wilted foliage of noni decreases the pH and NH3-N Nt-1 in the silage. In addition, the increase in the level of fruit increased the concentration of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and the ratio of WSC/PC. Moreover, the pre-wilted foliage increased the dry matter (DM) content and its combination with fruit levels between 30 to 40% decreased the fibrous compounds and crude protein (CP) concentration in the silage. According to a cubic model used, the pre-wilted foliage and fruit proportions showed a higher R2 for DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent-lignin (ADL) and cellulose, while CP and hemicelluloses were higher in the fresh plant material. The results showed that the pre-withered process (foliage) and inclusion levels of 30 and 40% of fruits in the mixture improved the quality of the silage intended for animals.