Effects of Low-Protein Diet Supplemented with Fermented Feed on Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Composition, and Gut Microbiota in Growing–Fattening Pigs

Qidong Zhu, Xiaorong Zhou, Dingbiao Long, Laifu Leng, Rong Xiao, Renli Qi, Jing Wang, Xiaoyu Qiu and Qi Wang ()
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Qidong Zhu: Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
Xiaorong Zhou: Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
Dingbiao Long: Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
Laifu Leng: Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
Rong Xiao: Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
Renli Qi: Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
Jing Wang: Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
Xiaoyu Qiu: Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China
Qi Wang: Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-18

Abstract: Fermented feed has considerable potential as a high-quality protein source in animal production. This research aimed to examine the effects of a low-protein (LP) diet, supplemented with fermented feed, on the meat quality and intestinal health of growing–fattening pigs. The pigs were randomly divided into three groups, and a total of 72 growing–fattening pigs were subjected to the experiment. They were fed the control (CON) diet, LP diet, and LP diet supplemented with fermented rapeseed meals and fermented distiller’s grains (FLP), respectively. The results indicated that the FLP diet altered the structure of the intestinal microbiota and regulated the composition of unsaturated fatty acids in the longissimus dorsi . Furthermore, the FLP diet upregulated the expression of genes associated with myosin heavy chain isoforms ( p < 0.05) and modified the content of short-chain fatty acids in the intestines ( p < 0.05). In summary, the addition of fermented distiller’s grains (FDGs) and fermented rapeseed meals (FRMs) to the LP diet enhanced fatty acid metabolism and intestinal barrier function in growing–fattening pigs.

Keywords: fermented feed; meat quality; low-protein diet; gut microbiota (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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