Longitudinal analysis of the faecal microbiome in pigs fed Cyberlindnera jadinii yeast as a protein source during the weanling period followed by a rapeseed- and faba bean-based grower-finisher diet.

The porcine gut microbiome is central to animal health and growth as well as it can be structurally or functionally reshaped by dietary interventions. The gut microbiota composition in relation to Cyberlindnera jadinii yeast as a protein source in a weanling diet was studied previously. Also, there is a mounting body of knowledge regarding the porcine gut microbiome composition in response to the use of rapeseed (Brassica napus subsp. napus) meal, and faba beans (Vicia faba) as protein sources during the growing/finishing period. However, there is limited data on how the porcine gut microbiome respond to a combination of C. jadinii yeast in the weanling phase and rapeseed meal and faba beans in the growing/finishing phase. This work investigated how the porcine faecal microbiome was changing in response to a novel yeast diet with a high inclusion of yeast proteins (40% of crude protein) in a weanling diet followed by a diet based on rapeseed meal and faba beans during the growing/finishing period. The faecal microbiomes of the weanling pigs fed yeast were more diverse with higher relative abundance of Firmicutes over Bacteroidetes compared with those of soybean meal-based diet fed weanlings. Reduced numbers of Prevotella in the yeast fed faecal microbiomes remained a microbiome characteristic up until two weeks after the yeast diet was changed to the rapeseed/faba bean growing finishing diet. A number of differentially abundant bacterial phylotypes along with distinct co-occurrence patterns observed during the growing/finishing period indicated the presence of a "carry-over" effect of the yeast weanling diet onto the faecal microbiomes of the grower/finisher pigs.

Effects of butter naturally enriched with conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid on blood lipids and LDL particle size in growing pigs.

BACKGROUND: Cow milk is a natural source of the cis 9, trans 11 isomer of conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-CLA) and trans vaccenic acid (VA). These fatty acids may be considered as functional foods, and the concentration in milk can be increased by e.g. sunflower oil supplementation to the dairy cow feed. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of regular butter with a special butter naturally enriched in c9,t11-CLA and VA on plasma lipids in female growing pigs. The experimental period lasted for three weeks and the two diets provided daily either 5.0 g c9,t11-CLA plus 15.1 g VA or 1.3 g c9,t11-CLA plus 3.6 g VA. RESULTS: The serum concentrations of c9,t11-CLA, VA and alpha-linolenic acid were increased and myristic (14:0) and palmitic acid (16:0) were reduced in the pigs fed the CLA+VA-rich butter-diet compared to regular butter, but no differences in plasma concentrations of triacylglycerol, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, LDL particle size distribution or total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol were observed among the two dietary treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Growing pigs fed diets containing butter naturally enriched in about 20 g c9,t11-CLA plus VA daily for three weeks, had increased serum concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid and decreased myristic and palmitic acid compared to pigs fed regular butter, implying a potential benefit of the CLA+VA butter on serum fatty acid composition. Butter enriched in CLA+VA does not appear to have significant effect on the plasma lipoprotein profile in pigs.