Effects of Diet Protein Levels and Feed Additive Bacillus Subtilis on Digestive Organs of Early-weaned Piglets

Three hundred and sixty piglets at weaning age of 21 days were assigned four experimental treatments to study the effects of diet protein levels and feed additive Bacillus Subtilis on digestive organs of early-weaned piglets. The diet protein level of group 1 and 2 piglets was 20%, and that of group 3 and 4 was 18%. The feed additive Bacillus Subtilis was used in the diets of group 2 and 4. The results showed that group 2 piglets fed Bacillus Subtilis had higher average daily gain than those of group 1 and 3 during 14 days of this experiment (P0.05). The duodenum and jejunum mucosal weights of group 4 were the highest among all groups, but those of group 1 were the lowest. For the index of liver weight, group 4 was higher than group 1, group 2 and 3 were no difference (P0.05). These findings proved that the Bacillus Subtilis additive could enhance the development of digestive organs, which improved the feed efficiency and growth performance of early-weaned piglets.