Improving feed efficiency in pigs through microbial modulation: faecal microbiota transplantation in sows and/or dietary supplementation of offspring with inulin

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), using faecal extracts from highly feed efficient pigs, was performed in pregnant sowsSubsequent offspring were weaned at ~28 d and allocated, within sow treatment, to either control or dietary inulin supplementation for six weeks. Our hypothesis was that promoting the proliferation and persistence of an optimum microbial profile for improved FE early in life would improve lifetime FE in pigs. Our objective was to determine the effect of FMT, using faecal extracts from highly feed efficient pigs, to pregnant sows and dietary supplementation of inulin to offspring during the post-weaning period, would improve FE in offspring, and test if supplementation with inulin would promote/maintain the beneficial bacteria established due to FMT.