Rice Bran Fermented with Newly Isolated Lactobacillus Plantarm IICF2-1 Influences the Growing Properties and the Intestinal Bacteria in Growing Piglets

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of fermented rice bran with Lactobacillus plantarum Ⅱ CF2-1 to the growth performance and changes of intestinal bacteria of piglets. Methods: Rice bran (RB) fermented with a newly isolated Lactobacillus plantarum ( L. plantarum Ⅱ CF2-1) was prepared, and added to basic feed (5%, w/w), then fed to growing piglets for 40 days. The growing performance and the changes of intestinal bacteria of the piglets were studied. Results: L. plantarum Ⅱ CF2-1 showed rapid growth (generation time ≈ 37 min), short lag phase (=1.5 h), low pH (< 4.5) and high L-lactic acid yield ( ≈ 6.5 g/L). The content of acid soluble protein was 78.3% higher and crude fiber was 32.4% lower in fermented rice bran (FRB) than RB. During the 40 days feeding, average daily gain of the piglets were higher (by 4.1 %), and the ratios of feed to gain were lower (by 3.2 %) in FRB group than the basal diet group. The genera number in the fecal of FRB fed piglets at day 40 (308) was greater than that at day 0 (256). Among the total 331 genera, abundances of 202 were increased and 29 were decreased. The abundances of many beneficial bacterium including Clostridium sensu-stricto 1, Helcococcus and Bifidobacterium were increased, of many pathogenetic genera including Enterobacter , Escherichia-Shigella were decreased. Conclusion: The quality of RB has been improved by fermentation, and the FRB has the potential to improve growing pigs’ health.