The objective was to evaluate the effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CAM6 strain as an alternative to antibiotics in weaned pigs on productive parameters, blood biochemical profile, and IgA serum levels. Thirty-six 21-day-old weaned piglets were randomly assigned to three groups with three replicates of four piglets each. Treatments consisted of a basal diet (BD; T0) without probiotics or antibiotics; BD + antibiotics and the same basal diet used in T0 plus oral administration of 5 mL × 109 CFU/mL of L. plantarum CAM-6 (T2). During the study (21 to 49 days of age) T2 obtained a similar live weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio when compared to the T1. Both treatments were better in these variables compared to T0 (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, T2 increased serum IgA levels (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, hematological parameters and acid-base balance remained similar in all groups. However, significant reductions in the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelets, and metabolic hydrogen ions were observed in T1 (p ≤ 0.05). The results of this study suggest that supplementation with L. plantarum CAM6 can be an alternative to antibiotics. Studies to evaluate its efficacy under commercial conditions and water administration require further evaluation.
Keywords: IgA; health status; probiotic; productivity; weaned piglet.