The present study was carried out with the aim of
investigating whether adding a starter culture or a formic
acid containing-product to fermented liquid feed of
suboptimal microbial quality (high pH, low concentration
of lactic acid, and high number of Enterobacteriacea)
could improve the characteristics of the feed and
the gastrointestinal health and growth performance of
piglets. The results indicated that addition of a
starter culture or a formic acid containing-product to
fermented liquid feed of suboptimal microbial quality
are strategies that can improve growth performance of
piglets. However, these treatments did not result in
substantial effects on the ecology of the gastrointestinal
tract of the animals. Further studies are needed to confirm
these observations and to elucidate the mechanisms
behind the reported results.