Weaning is one of the most critical transition stages of the swine production cycle, as the piglet gut physiology and microbiome need to rapidly adapt to changes in diet and environmental conditions. Based on their potential for producing a vast array of bioactive molecules, peptide formulations represent a largely untapped source of compounds that could be developed into feed additives to benefit animal health and nutrition. In this context, a commercial-scale nursery trial was performed to evaluate the impact of low inclusion of a peptide-based feed additive (Peptiva, Vitech Bio-Chem Corporation) on the performance and fecal microbiome of weaned pigs. While no significant differences in body weight, daily gain, daily feed intake nor gain:feed were observed between control and treatment animals (P > 0.05), an effect of Peptiva on the fecal bacterial composition of weaned pigs was observed. The first main observation was that the fecal bacterial profiles from pigs fed Control-Phase II and Control Phase III diets were found to be very distinct, suggesting that a transition or succession stage had occurred between the two phases. Lactobacilli, represented by four main OTUs (Ssd-00002, Ssd-00019, Ssd-00025, and Ssd-00053), were more abundant at the end of Phase II (P < 0.05), while Streptococci, mostly represented by OTUs Ssd-00039 and Ssd-00048, were in higher abundance at the end of Phase III (P < 0.05). Secondly, the fecal bacterial composition from pigs fed Peptiva Phase II diets showed similarities to both Control-Phase II and Control Phase III samples, while there was no difference in fecal bacterial composition between Control-Phase III and Peptiva Phase III samples. For instance, OTUs Ssd-00019,and Ssd-00053 were in lower abundance in Peptiva Phase II samples compared to Control Phase II (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed in the abundance of these two OTUs when comparing Peptiva Phase II to Control Phase III (P > 0.05). Together, these results suggest that Peptiva can modulate the composition of the swine microbiome during a specific window of the nursery stage, potentially by accelerating its maturation.

中文翻译：

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膳食中包含肽类饲料添加剂Peptiva可以促进断奶猪粪便细菌微生物组的成熟

断奶是猪生产周期最关键的过渡阶段之一，因为仔猪的肠道生理和微生物组需要快速适应饮食和环境条件的变化。基于其产生大量生物活性分子的潜力，肽制剂代表了尚未开发的化合物来源，可以将其开发为饲料添加剂，从而有益于动物健康和营养。在这种情况下，进行了商业规模的苗圃试验，以评估低含量的基于肽的饲料添加剂（Peptiva，Vitech Bio-Chem Corporation）对断奶猪的生产性能和粪便微生物组的影响。对照组和治疗组之间的体重，日增重，日采食量或日增食无显着差异（P> 0.05），观察到Peptiva对断奶猪粪便细菌组成的影响。最初的主要观察结果是，发现喂食对照阶段II和对照阶段III日粮的猪的粪便细菌谱非常不同，表明这两个阶段之间已发生过渡或演替阶段。在第二阶段结束时，以四个主要OTU（Ssd-00002，Ssd-00019，Ssd-00025和Ssd-00053）为代表的乳酸杆菌更为丰富（P <0.05），而链球菌则主要以OTU Ssd-为代表。在第三阶段结束时，00039和Ssd-00048的丰度更高（P <0.05）。其次，饲喂Peptiva II期日粮的猪的粪便细菌成分与Control-Phase II和Control III期的样品相似，对照阶段III和Peptiva Phase III样品之间的粪便细菌组成没有差异。例如，Peptiva II期样品的Os Ssd-00019和Ssd-00053的丰度低于对照II期（P <0.05），但是当比较Peptiva II期时，这两个OTU的丰度没有显着差异。控制第三阶段（P> 0.05）。总之，这些结果表明，Peptiva可以在育苗期的特定时段内调节猪微生物组的组成，可能是通过加速其成熟来实现的。但在比较Peptiva II期和对照III期时，这两个OTU的丰度没有显着差异（P> 0.05）。总之，这些结果表明，Peptiva可以在育苗期的特定时段内调节猪微生物组的组成，可能是通过加速其成熟来实现的。但在比较Peptiva II期和对照III期时，这两个OTU的丰度没有显着差异（P> 0.05）。总之，这些结果表明，Peptiva可以在育苗期的特定时段内调节猪微生物组的组成，可能是通过加速其成熟来实现的。