Fermented liquid feed for pigs： an ancient technique for the future

Fermented liquid feed is feed that has been mixed with water at a ratio ranging from 1：1.5 to 1：4. By mixing with water lactic acid bacteria and yeasts naturally occurring in the feed proliferate and produce lactic acid, acetic acid and ethano which reduces the pH of the mixture. This reduction in pH inhibits pathogenic organisms from developing in the feed. In addition, when this low pH mixture is fed, it reduces the pH in the stomach of pigs and prevents the proliferation of pathogens such as coliforms and Salmonella in the gastrointestinal tract. For piglets, the use of fermented liquid feed offers the possibility of simultaneously providing feed and water, which may facilitate an easier transition from sow＇s milk to solid feed. Secondly, offering properly produced fermented liquid feed may strengthen the role of the stomach as the first line of defense against possible pathogenic infections by lowering the pH in the gastrointestinal tract thereby helping to exclude enteropathogens. Finally, feeding fermented liquid feed to pigs has been shown to improve the performance of suckling pigs, weaner pigs and growing-finishing pigs. In this review, current knowledge about the use of fermented liquid feed in pig diets will be discussed. This will include a discussion of the desirable properties of fermented liquid feed and factors affecting fermentation. In addition, advantages and disadvantages of fermented liquid feed will be discussed including its effects on gastrointestinal health, intestinal pH and the types of bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract as well as the effects of fermented liquid feeds on pig performance.

Pyrosequencing investigation into the influence of Cu^(2+),Zn^(2+),Fe^(2+)and I^- mixtures on fungal diversity and toxigenic fungal growth in a fermented liquid feed

A L_9(3~4) orthogonal experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of 9 mixtures which consisted of Cu^(2+), Zn^(2+), Fe^(2+) and I^- ions at different ion concentrations on fungal diversity and toxigenic fungal growth in a Bacillus subtilis-fermented liquid feed(FLF) using pyrosequencing. The maximal Chao estimator and Shannon index were achieved in the FLF with a mixture of Cu^(2+)(200 mg/kg), Zn^(2+)(160 mg/kg),Fe^(2+)(150 mg/kg) and I^-(2.4 mg/kg). The minimal relative abundance of Aspergillus was achieved when a mixture of Cu^(2+)(200 mg/kg),Zn^(2+), Fe^(2+) and I^-was added to the FLF. Compared with Zn^(2+), Fe^(2+) and I^-,Cu^(2+) was the most important ion in inhibitingAspergillus growth. Adding Zn^(2+)(160 mg/kg), Cu^(2+), Fe^(2+) and I^- to the FLF minimized the relative abundance ofFusarium. It was Zn^(2+) instead of Cu^(2+) played a critical role in suppressing the growth of Fusarium. The proper use of the mixture of Cu^(2+), Zn^(2+), Fe^(2+) and I^-in FLF contributes to inhibit the growth of mycotoxin-producing fungi during storage. The new findings of this study help farmers properly use the mixture of Cu^(2+),Zn^(2+), Fe^(2+) and I^- to inhibit the growth of mycotoxinproducing fungi in the production of high quality FLF and alleviate mycotoxins damages to animals and humans.