Effects of Chlorella vulgaris and Probiotic Dietary Supplementation on Performance, Apparent Digestibility, and Gut Morphology of Post-weaning Piglets

Abstract

Weaning is stressful for piglets and is often associated with decreased growth and digestive imbalances. Dietary incorporation of high-value ingredients and/or additives like microalgae and probiotics may be beneficial. To assess the combined impact of Chlorella vulgaris and probiotic, two 5-week growth trials were conducted, each with 60 weaning piglets, and effects on performance, digestibility, viscera morphometrics (dimensions, histology, pH, viscosity), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles were evaluated. Five diets were provided ad libitum (n = 8): Control (cereal/soybean meal-based), 2.5 or 5% C. vulgaris inclusion, with or without commercial probiotic Enterococcus lactis SF68. Overall, dietary C. vulgaris reduced the digestibility of nutrients and energy by 1–9%, while viscera morphometrics, VFA profile, and piglet performance were largely unaffected. Probiotic supplementation kept C. vulgaris unaffected, suggesting no synergies at the levels used. Further studies of metabolic and gut health are needed to fully unveil the potential of C. vulgaris in weaning piglet diets.