Impact of Valorized Milk Protein Production By-Products on the Growth and Health of Neonatal Piglets

Newborn animals are exposed to a variety of microorganisms, including opportunistic pathogens, shortly after birth. This study evaluated the effects of valorized milk protein production by-products (VMP) supplemented with Pediococcus pentosaceus (VMPPp) and P. acidilactici (VMPPa) on growth, plasma parameters, fecal microbiota, metataxonomic profiles, and other characteristics of feces, including volatile compounds (VC), in neonatal piglets. Thirty-six newborn piglets were assigned to three groups: (A) control, (B) VMPPp group, and (C) VMPPa group. Groups B and C received twenty-five ml of VMP daily, in addition to a traditional commercial diet. After 25 days of the trial, VMPPa piglets showed the highest body weight gain. Also VMPPp piglets had the highest immunoglobulin IgM concentration in blood plasma. Both groups B and C showed higher lactic acid bacteria counts in their feces. Despite the increased numbers of lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteria in the feces, correlation between these microorganisms numbers with the piglets' growth performance were not established. The feces of VMPPa piglets showed a broader variety of VC, including higher domination of butyric acid and indole. The latter VC may be associated with differences in their metataxonomic composition. The VMPPp group displayed a greater diversity of bacterial species compared to both the A and VMPPa groups. At the end of the experiment, the VMPPa group contained the highest numbers of Terrisporobacter sp., Holdemanella sp., Lachnospiraceae sp., and Parabacteroides sp. In conclusion, VMPPa enhanced piglets body weight gain and promoted the proliferation of certain bacterial species in piglets feces, along with a unique VC profile in their feces. These findings suggest the need for further research into the underlying metabolic pathways.