One strain – different effects: Kluyveromyces marxianus probiotic and postbiotic forms’ effect on growth and metabolism of piglets during postweaning and rearing periods
Abstract
The postweaning period is one of the most critical stages in piglet rearing, characteri z ed by metabolic instability, impaired intestinal function and an increased diarrhea risk. Under these conditions, the efficacy of feed additives is determined not only by their origin but also by their functional form. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of probiotic and postbiotic forms of yeast supplements, derived from a single strain of Kluyveromyces marxianus , on the performance, feed conversion efficiency , and piglets’ physiological condition between 5 and 80 days of age. The piglets were divided into three groups: a control group, an experimental group receiving a probiotic supplement, and an experimental group receiving a postbiotic su p plement, which were fed age-appropriate doses as part of pre-starter and starter compound feed. It was found that the nature of the animals’ physiological response depended significantly on the form of the supplement. The probiotic form produced a rapid effect in the early postweaning period, as evidenced by increased live weight gain, higher feed intake , and a reduction in the diarrhea incidence. At the same time, the postbiotic form was characteri z ed by a more stable and prolonged effect, accomp a nied by improved parameters of protein metabolism, increased albumin and globulin blood levels, and reduced transaminase activity, indicating better metabolic adaptation of the organism. It is f undamentally important that the same biological basis ( the yeast strain Kluyveromyces marxianus ) gives rise to different types of physiological response depending on its form: a short-term adaptive response in the case of a probiotic and a longer-lasting systemic response in the case of a postbiotic. The results obtained indicate that the functional form of yeast supplements is a key factor in their efficacy, and that the use of a postbiotic form may provide more consistent support for the piglet s ’ hea lth and performance in the post weaning period. F uture research should be focus ed on t he effects of the probiotic culture and the postbiotic hydrolysate of Kluyveromyces marxianus on redox homeostasis, particularly by assessing markers of oxidative stress and the antioxidant system in piglets at different ages.References
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