Isolation, Identification, and Function of TZR and Its Effects on the Growth and Health of Weaned Piglets.

A red yeast isolated from orange and grape soil and identified by the 26S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that it was and named TZR. Its biomass and carotenoid production reached a maximum when using the fermentation medium with pH 6.0, containing 5% glucose, 1% peptone, and 1.5% yeast powder. TZR was resistant to 55°C for 15 min, 0.2% pig bile salts for 4 h, and artificial gastric and intestinal fluids. A total of thirty 28-day weaned pigs were divided into three groups, and the piglets were fed a basal diet (CON), a basal diet and orally administered 1 ml 1.0 × 10 CFU/ml DSM 2361 three times (), or a basal diet and orally administered 1 ml 1.0 × 10 CFU/mL TZR three times daily () for 4 weeks. Compared with the piglets in the CON group, those in the or group reported an increased average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake ( < 0.05) and a decreased feed/gain ( < 0.05). The diarrhea rate of piglets in the group was lower than that in the CON and groups ( < 0.05). Compared with that in the CON and groups, the group reported an increased ileum villus height ( < 0.05), serum concentration of total antioxidant content, total superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase and pepsin and lipase activities in the intestinal content, while it reported a decreased serum concentration of malondialdehyde and pH of the intestinal tract ( < 0.05). The relative abundances of and of caecum in the group were lower than those in the CON and group ( < 0.05). The relative abundances of , and of caecum in the group were higher than those in the CON and group ( < 0.05). TZR can produce carotenoids and adapts to the animal's gastrointestinal environment. Oral TZR improved growth performance, enhanced antioxidant capacity, strengthened gastrointestinal digestion, and maintained the intestinal microbiological balance of piglets.