LAUSR

A total of 496 weaned pigs (19 ± 1 d of age) were used in a 3-phase feeding program to evaluate effects of Levucell SB 10 Titan Advantage, a live yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii (LEV; Elanco) and a non-viable yeast product (YANG; Elanco) on performance, complete blood count (CBC), and fecal VFA of nursery pigs. Pigs were blocked by weaning BW and gender and allotted to 44 pens (11–12 pigs/pen) which was assigned to one of 4 dietary treatments (11 pens/treatment). The study was designed as 2 x 2 factorial with LEV and YANG. Pigs were fed to meet or exceed nutrient requirements (NRC, 2012). Blood (d 10 and 22) and fecal samples (d 22) were collected from one pig per pen for CBC and VFA analyses. During d 0–7, feeding LEV or YANG alone improved (P < 0.05) G:F by 20% and 12%, respectively. There was a tendency of LEV*YANG interaction (P < 0.10) where feeding LEV increased (P < 0.05) BW and ADG compared to the control (CON). During d 0–14, feeding YANG with LEV reduced (P < 0.05) BW, ADG, and G:F compared to feeding YANG or LEV alone. Pigs fed LEV had an improved G:F compared to pigs fed CON or YANG with LEV (P < 0.05). During d 21–42, there was a tendency (P < 0.10) for a LEV*YANG effect where pigs fed CON had a lower G:F compared to other treatments. Overall, feeding LEV alone increased (P < 0.01) G:F (2.4%) and numerically increased final BW (0.60 kg) compared to CON. LEV tended to increase blood lymphocytes (P = 0.11) and increased platelets and platelet hematocrit (P < 0.05) compared to CON. There were no differences in fecal VFA measures. The results of this study indicate that feeding LEV increased G:F of nursery pigs.