Scope and Method of Study. The purpose was to investigate the effects of different cultures of lactobacilli on performance along with blood chemistry and immune response in nursery pigs. A total of sixty crossbred nursery pigs were divided into two studies with a control group and four treatment groups per experiment. This resulted in a total of eight different cultures being tested. Growth and performance was measured for each pigs as well as various blood chemistry analytes and serum immunoglobulins. Also, the subsequent effects of the cultures following a lipopolysaccharide challenge were tested where immunoglobulins, rectal temperatures, and blood chemistry were monitored.

Findings and Conclusions. The results for each study were highly variable. Cultures L. reuteri DS-33 and DS-36 and L. acidophilus L-23 tended to cause a more efficient feed conversion. Culture L-23 caused a higher total serum protein level than observed in the control group. Pigs fed culture DS-33 had a higher AST level than did the control group. The serum levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM were increased during the feeding period by the cultures WB-74, L-23, and WB-72, respectively. Pigs fed DS-37 had lower levels of serum triglyceride, VLDL, and total bilirubin at hour 12 post challenge as well as a lower temperature at hour 3.0 post challenge than did the control pigs. Albumin:globulin ratio was lower in the control pigs when compared to pigs fed cultures DS-36 and WB-76 at hour 3.0 post challenge.