The effect of Aspergillus oryzae fermented soybean meal on growth performance, digestibility of dietary components and activities of intestinal enzymes in weaned piglets

Sixty crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) piglets were used to study the effects of Aspergillus oryzae fermented soybean meal (FSBM) and unfermented soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance, digestibility and activities of intestinal enzymes. All piglets were weaned at 35 days and randomly allotted to two treatments and fed diets containing SBM and FSBM, respectively. Faeces of piglets were collected during a period of 3 consecutive days between 48 and 50 days of age for digestibility measurements. At the end of the experiment, six piglets of each treatment were slaughtered humanely to collect the intestinal contents. The experimental results showed that piglets fed FSBM had an increase (P<0.05) in average daily gain (ADG) and a reduction in feed gain ratio (FGR) (P<0.05) compared with the control. There were significant effects of FSBM on coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of dry matter, crude protein and energy were observed (P<0.05) in piglets compared with SBM. The results showed that activities of total protease and trypsin at the duodenum and jejunum of piglets fed with FSBM increased (P<0.05) compared with the control. In conclusion, FSBM is beneficial to growth performance, digestibility of dietary components and activities of intestinal enzymes in piglets.