Evaluation of Oral Administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CAM6 Strain as an Alternative to Antibiotics in Weaned Pigs

摘要

Currently, due to intensive production, pigs are weaned early, which generates stress due to separation from the sow, metabolic disorders, and decreased productive performance. Thus, sub-therapeutic antibiotics have been used to alleviate these detrimental effects; however, it has been shown that these practices create microbial resistance and cross-resistance to other microorganisms. Although the European Union banned antibiotic growth promoters (AGP), many countries in the world still use them widely. In the present study, oral administration of CAM6 in weaned pigs improved productive performance from the second experimental week and increased total serum levels of IgA without causing adverse effects on health indicators and acid-base balance. These results suggest this probiotic bacterium can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in weaned pigs.