Effects of dietary soybean hulls and Lactobacillus reuteri on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and noxious gas mission from feces and slurry in finishing pigs

A 6-week experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation of diets with soybean hulls (NSP) and Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) on growth performance, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) and fecal and slurry noxious gas emission in finishing pigs. A total of 96 pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 80.70 ± 2.29 kg were assigned on the basis of weight to four treatment groups (6 replicates per treatment and 4 pigs per pen). In this study, dietary L. reuteri led to a higher ATTD of N than the negative groups (P<0.05). Pigs fed with soybean hull supplemental diet decreased (P<0.05) the fecal NH3, H2S and acetic acid emission compared with those without supplementation. The inclusion of L. reuteri significantly decreased (P<0.05) NH3 emission from slurry as compared with those without supplementation. Moreover, a synergistic effect (P<0.05) between dietary soybean hulls and L. reuteri was observed on the emission of H2S and R. SH emission from slurry in the current study. Taken together, both the supplementation of soybean hull or L. reuteri could decrease the noxious gas emission without any effect on the animals. Moreover, a synergistic effect between dietary soybean hulls and L. reuteri was observed on the H2S and R. SH emission in finishing pigs.