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Incorporating probiotic live yeast into pig diets can reduce finishing time and improve feed conversion ratio, suggests a trial. The year-long trial was carried... How pigs finish faster on a live yeast diet

Incorporating probiotic live yeast into pig diets can reduce finishing time and improve feed conversion ratio, suggests a trial.

The year-long trial was carried out across a total of 27,000 pigs in 66 batches. Some 32 batches were supplemented with the probiotic live yeast Levucell SB, says Hannah Elliott, monogastric technical manager at Lallemand Animal Nutrition.

Incorporating Levucell SB into pig diet resulted in better fibre digestion as the live yeast increased the amount of bacterial fibre degradation and the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA).

“This resulted in more energy for the pig,” says Ms Elliott. “By replacing some of the raw material energy contribution cost with Levucell SB, results can be gained at no extra cost.”

Pigs to reach fattening weight three days quicker in a trial which assessed diets including Levucell SB with an energy valorisation of 1.3%. Pigs also benefited from a better feed conversion ratio and higher average daily weight gain.

More efficient

Feed conversion ratio was reduced by an average of 2% in the experimental group and daily weight gain rates increased by 2.6%. Pigs were more efficient at turning feed into body mass with the probiotic yeast, explains Ms Elliott.

Alongside these results, an improvement in carcass quality was also reported, with pigs supplemented with Levucell SB having better lean meat composition compared to the control group.

Ms Elliott says Levucell SB was selected due to its ability to survive in more acidic environments with a thicker cell wall than S. cerevisiae strains, making it more suitable for use in monogastric diets.

The live yeast’s superior ability to scavenge oxygen within the gut stimulates beneficial bacteria, says Ms Elliott. It encourages the production of metabolites such as acetate and anti-toxin molecules – helping to reinforce digestive efficiency.