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Abstract

Two experiments were developed with the objective of studying the possible probiotic effect of the protein biomass, obtained by the mixed cultivation of yeasts and lactic acid bacterial ( Lactobacillus acidophilus ) in "B" molasses.

In the first experiment, 159 piglets were used, distributed in 5 treatments and in the second experiment 18 sows were used in the last week of gestation and their 180 piglets distributed in two treatments: A, subjected to the normal system of the swine unit; and B, given 5 ml of the probiotic product to the treated pigs and 20 ml for to the treated sows. The design was totally randomized in both experiments. In the first experiment a significant decrease was obtained in the incidence of diarrhea, 14 pigs affected in the group control and 2 to 3 in the experimental treatment. There were 11 deaths in the control treatment and none in the probiotic treatment. The gain of weight was higher in the probiotic treatment than in the control. Similar results were obtained in the second experiment, where there was a decrease (p < 0.01) of the incidence of diarrhea in piglets receiving the probiotic. A total of 31 pigs was affected in the treatment control and only 5 in the treatment with probiotic. There was no mortality in the probiotic treatment but there were 24 deaths in the control. The gain in weight was superior (p < 0.05) for the probiotic treatment (4.7 kg versus 3.6 kg in the control.

Both experiments confirmed the beneficial effects of the probiotic treatment.

Keywords: Biomass protein, Lactobacillus acidophilus, mixed cultures, piglets, probiotic