The effect of Lactococcus lactis-produced Epidermal Growth Factor on the Growth and Intestine Development of Early-Weaned Pigs (original) (raw)

The effect of Lactococcus lactis-produced Epidermal Growth Factor on the Growth and Intestine Development of Early-Weaned Pigs Andrea Bedford Advisor: University of Guelph, 2014 Dr. Julang Li The transition of weaning is one of the most crucial periods for the development of piglets. Diets offered to piglets at weaning can have a significant effect on the ease of this transition, as well as growth performance in the weeks following. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a peptide found in the sows’ milk that plays a major role in the development of pigs. In this thesis, research is reported investigating the effects of incorporating EGF producing Lactococcus lactis (EGF-LL) and its fermentation products into weaned piglet diets on their growth performance and intestinal development. When EGF-LL culture was incorporated into diets with and without blood plasma, EGF-LL only increased growth of piglets not receiving blood plasma, but their growth performance equaled that of piglets receivin...