# Composite Probiotic Fermented Feed Enhances Growth Performance and Intestinal Health in Weaned Piglets by Modulating the Gut Microbiome and Metabolome

## TL;DR

Fermented feed improves growth and gut health in weaned piglets by changing their gut microbes and metabolism.

## Contribution

This study shows that compound microbial fermented feed improves piglet health through microbiota-mediated mechanisms.

## Key findings

- Fermented feed increased body weight and daily gain while reducing feed-to-gain ratio in piglets.
- The 50% fermented feed group showed better intestinal structure and more beneficial gut bacteria.
- Microbial changes were linked to improved growth and metabolism in piglets.

## Abstract

Weaning imposes significant physiological stress on piglets, often impairing growth and intestinal health. Here, we investigate whether dietary intervention with a compound microbial fermented feed can mitigate these effects. Over a 33-day period, weaned piglets were fed either a standard diet or diets in which 50% or 100% of the feed was replaced with the fermented formulation. Both fermented feed groups exhibited accelerated growth and improved feed efficiency. Notably, the 50% fermented feed group also displayed enhanced intestinal architecture and an increased abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Lachnospiraceae. Multi-omics and correlation analyses directly linked these microbial shifts to the observed improvements in growth performance and health markers. Our findings provide robust evidence that compound microbial fermented feed promotes piglet health and performance through microbiota-mediated mechanisms, offering a scientific basis for the development of effective antibiotic-free nutritional strategies in sustainable livestock production.

This study investigated the effects of compound microbial fermented feed on the growth performance, intestinal architecture, microbiota composition, and metabolic profiles of weaned piglets. Fifty-four weaned piglets were randomly allocated to three dietary treatment groups: a control group (basal diet), a 50% fermented feed group (T1), and a 100% fermented feed group (T2), for a 33-day feeding period. The results indicated that both T1 and T2 diets significantly improved final body weight and average daily gain (ADG), while decreasing the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) compared with the control (p < 0.05). Morphological assessment revealed that the T1 group significantly elevated the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and increased the density of goblet cells in the cecum and colon (p < 0.05). Multi-omics analysis indicated that fermented feed significantly reshaped the gut microbiota structure (p < 0.05), characterized by the enrichment of beneficial taxa, including Oscillospiraceae and Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.05), and the modulation of nucleotide and bile acid metabolism. Furthermore, correlation analysis identified significant linkages between the abundance of jejunal Oscillospiraceae and colonic/cecal Lactobacillus with growth performance, intestinal morphology, and key metabolites. This finding systematically elucidates the mechanisms by which compound microbial fermented feed promotes growth and intestinal health in weaned piglets via microbiota-mediated pathways, offering a robust scientific framework for the development of antibiotic-free nutritional strategies.