Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Apple pomace, a major by-product of juice production, represents both an environmental burden and an underutilized resource. This study aimed to enhance the nutritional value of apple pomace via solid-state fermentation (SSF) to develop a functional feed ingredient and systematically evaluate its effects on growth, metabolism, and intestinal health in weaned piglets. METHODS: Apple pomace was fermented using a multi-species consortium (Geotrichum candidum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhizopus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, and Trichoderma viride). A total of 180 weaned piglets were fed iso-nitrogenous diets containing 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10% fermented apple pomace for 35 days. Growth performance, serum biochemical and immuno-antioxidant indices, diarrhea incidence, jejunal morphology, and fecal microbiota were analyzed. RESULTS: Dietary fermented apple pomace supplementation showed dose-dependent effects. The 8% fermented apple pomace group exhibited optimal growth performance, with increased average daily gain and feed intake and reduced feed-to-gain ratio (p < 0.05). Serum analysis indicated enhanced protein synthesis, antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px), and immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgG, IgM), along with reduced urea nitrogen and oxidative stress marker MDA. This group also had the lowest diarrhea rate, associated with improved jejunal villus morphology. Microbiota analysis revealed that 8% fermented apple pomace effectively increased α-diversity, promoted beneficial bacteria (e.g., lactic acid bacteria and butyrate-producing Clostridium sensu stricto_1), and suppressed pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus). CONCLUSIONS: Multi-species SSF successively enhanced the nutritional profile of apple pomace. Inclusion at 8% showed the most favorable response in terms of growth performance, metabolic profile, and immune-antioxidant status in weaned piglets, mediated through improved intestinal morphology and targeted modulation of the gut microbiota toward a more diverse and beneficial ecosystem. These findings support the high-value, functional utilization of apple pomace as a feed additive in swine nutrition.