Microencapsulation of Probiotic Strains by Lyophilization Is Efficient in Maintaining the Viability of Microorganisms and Modulation of Fecal Microbiota in Cats

Table 1

Diet composition.

Ingredient	% of feed
Corn grain	30.40
Poultry meal	29.00
Soybean meal 45%	11.00
Brewers’ rice	7.00
Fish meal 61%	5.00
Wheat bran	7.00
Poultry oil	4.50
Liquid palatant	2.00
Beet pulp	1.00
Yeast extract	0.80
Sodium chloride	0.56
Flaxseed	0.40
Vitamin-mineral premix^1	0.40
Calcium propionate^2	0.15
Sodium hexametaphosphate^3	0.10
DL-Methionine	0.10
Odor adsorbent (Yucca schidigera extract)	0.08
Mycotoxin adsorbent	0.05
Chelated zinc	0.04
Urinary acidifier^4	0.40
Synthetic antioxidant^5	0.02
Metabolizable energy	3500 kcal·kg^−1

Guaranteed levels: moisture, 12% (max.); crude protein, 30% (min.); ethereal extract, 10% (min.); fibrous matter, 3.5% (max.); mineral matter, 8.5% (max.); calcium, 0.9% (min.); calcium, 1.8% (max.); phosphorus: 0.9% (min.); linolenic acid: 2,500 mg/kg (min.); linoleic acid 25 g/kg (max.); saponin, 4 mg/kg (min.). ¹The following was provided per kilogram in the diet: vitamin A, 10,000 IU; vitamin D, 720 IU; vitamin E, 48 IU; vitamin K, 0.80 mg; vitamin B₁, 5.6 mg; vitamin B₂, 6 mg; vitamin B₆, 4.8 mg; vitamin B₁₂, 22 mg; pantothenic acid, 6 mg; folic acid, 0.80 mg; copper, 5 mg; iron, 80 mg; manganese, 8 mg; iodine, 0.60 mg; zinc, 80 mg; selenium, 0.10 mg; biotin, 0.08 mg; niacin, 64 mg; taurine, 1,000 mg; choline, 2,400 mg. ²Antifungal agent. ³For tartar control. ⁴Propionic acid. ⁵Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).