Studies on the influence of the probiotic enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 and the trace element zinc on performance and digestive physiological parameters in the small intestine of piglets

Mehr zum Buch

The first study of the PhD thesis focuses on the probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 (E. faecium) in suckling and weaned piglets, chosen for its common use as a feed additive. This strain is known to reduce the occurrence of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) and influence immunological parameters post-weaning. Probiotics may also provide benefits such as competitive exclusion of pathogens and stimulation of beneficial gut microbes, particularly lactobacilli. However, the impact of probiotics on digestive physiological parameters, including enzyme expression and activity, remains underexplored. Recent studies using gnotobiotic or mono-associated piglets suggest that specific microorganisms can influence these parameters in varying ways. The second part of the thesis examines the use of high dietary levels of zinc oxide to improve growth performance and decrease PWD incidence in weanling piglets. Despite numerous studies, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Given zinc's role as a co-factor for digestive enzymes and its importance in various biological processes, it is hypothesized that high zinc levels may affect digestive enzyme expression and activity. The thesis aims to evaluate these two feed additives through three animal feeding trials, assessing performance, health parameters, nutrient digestibility, and their effects on physiological processes such as gene expression and enzyme activities in young