Effects of a saccharomyces yeast postbiotic on growth performance and carcass traits of pigs fed diets with divergent protein content

Lay Summary Pork producers aim to improve pig growth performances and carcass traits through employing effective and economical dietary programs, including feed additives use. Saccharomyces yeast postbiotics (SYP) have potential to improve production pig efficiency and enhance gastrointestinal health. Over two experiments, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental dietary SYP on pig performance and carcass characteristics when feeding elevated- and commercial-protein growing and finishing diets. Experiment one demonstrated pigs fed elevated-protein diets with added SYP had improved feed efficiency and favorable carcass characteristics, such as leaner meat and greater dressing percentage. Experiment two tested SYP benefits when fed to pigs consuming a traditional protein-content diet; however, pigs became affected with an unexpected gastrointestinal disease outbreak. In the phase immediately following the outbreak, pigs fed SYP had better growth performance, suggesting SYP may have had a protective effect on affected pigs’ gastrointestinal tracts. These findings indicated including SYP in elevated protein-containing diets can minimally improve efficiency and may offer protection against intestinal diseases.