Probiotics and oilseed cakes as feed additives in piglets nutrition

Probiotics and oilseed cakes offer a promising approach to enhancing piglets nutrition and dietary absorption of nutrients. Four cold-pressed OSC - flax, pumpkin, hemp, and camelina - are recognized for their high protein and lipid content, balanced amino acid profiles, and essential fatty acids profile. Despite these advantages, certain antinutritional factors limit their inclusion in pig diets by affecting feed consumption and nutrient absorption. Probiotics, such as Bacillus species and lactic acid bacteria, present a viable solution to improve the OSC nutritional value by mitigating ANFs, with benefits on growth, health, and overall productivity. Using probiotics-oilseed cakes combination in piglets’ feeding systems can enhance nutrient digestibility, zootechnical performance, gut health, and, finally, product quality, contributing to more sustainable and efficient animal production practices. Thus, this review paper aims to provide a comprehensive reference of the current applications of probiotics in piglets nutrition, specifically focusing on their integration into OSC-based diets.