Influence of Bacillus licheniformis B4 fermentation on soybean meal nutritional value and early weaned pig growth...

This study aimed to examine B4's fermentation efficiency and the growth performance of newly weaned pigs fed B4 fermented soybean meal (B4-FSBM).

Soybean meal (SBM) was inoculated with B4 and fermented at room temperature for 48 hours. Following fermentation, analysis was performed to examine anti-nutritional factor degradation efficiency. Fermentation broke down large molecular weight proteins, consistent with sizes of glycinin and β-conglycinin into smaller proteins. Crude protein significantly increased from 51.5% to 56.5%. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was reduced by 26.9% (P < 0.05), while the phytate phosphorus content was reduced by 59.16% (P < 0.05) in B4-FSBM. In the animal trial, 90 newly weaned piglets were divided into three groups, receiving either the negative control (NC; 25.4% SBM), positive control (PC; 25.4% SBM supplemented with 3000 mg/kg zinc oxide), or B4 (B4; 19% FSBM, 6.4% SBM). There was a temporary setback in growth performance for pigs fed B4-FSBM during the early weeks. However, their growth performance improved, and by the fourth week, their gain-to-feed ratio was significantly improved when compared to the control groups. Additionally, pigs fed B4-FSBM had increased (P < 0.05) crude protein digestibility compared to the NC for weeks 3 and 4.

Fermentation of SBM with B4 improves feed efficiency and protein digestibility in weaned pigs.