Thomas E. Weber Ph.D., Innovative Solutions, Kent Nutrition Group
Probiotic strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum; formerly Lactobacillus plantarum) have been used as probiotics in human nutrition and are often used for applications such as silage inoculants. While not as widely used as other strains of probiotics such as the spore-forming Bacillus sp. probiotics, L. plantarum has been shown to provide some benefits when supplemented in nursery, grow-finish, and sow diets (Table 1). For example, L. plantarum supplementation in nursery pig diets has been found to improve growth performance and feed efficiency and is associated with improved measures of antioxidant status and immunity.
In addition, reduced fecal levels of E. coli have been found in nursery pigs supplemented with L. plantarum. In addition to benefits reported regarding L. plantarum supplementation in nursery pig diets, published studies in grow-finish pigs have reported improved growth performance, increased nutrient digestibility, and decreased fecal ammonia levels when pigs are fed an L. plantarum probiotic.
From a gut health perspective, fecal markers of protein fermentation have also been found to be decreased with L. plantarum supplementation. In sows, L. plantarum supplementation during gestation and lactation has been associated with reduced piglet pre-weaning mortality and improved piglet growth rates.
