This study investigated the effects of LactoPlanta® (Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum), 2.0 × 109 colony forming units (CFU)/kg) on reduction of noxious gas emission in pig houses as well as improvement of carcass weight and quality in finishing pigs. A total of 850 finishing pigs were assigned to four treatment groups: control (CON, basal diet) (n=190), LP-0.1, 0.1% LactoPlanta® (n=210), LP-0.2, 0.2% LactoPlanta® (n=230), and LP-0.4, 0.4% LactoPlanta® (n=220). Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations were significantly reduced in all treatment groups compared to CON. Mercaptan contents and carcass weights of LP-0.2 and LP-0.4 were significantly decreased compared to CON, whereas there were no significant differences between LP-0.1 and CON. Carcass weight of LP-0.1 was slightly higher than that of CON, but there was no significant difference. However, carcass weights of LP-0.2 and LP-0.4 were significantly higher than that of CON (P<0.05). The prevalence of grade A carcasses in groups administered with L. plantarum (46.7~63.3%) was higher than that in CON (43.3%) and increased in a dose-dependent manner. Based on the results of this study, L. plantarum could be an effective candidate to reduce noxious gas emissions in finishing pig houses as well as improve carcass weight and quality in finishing pigs.

• Chun-Nam Cha(Engineering Research Institute, Department of Industrial Systems Engineering, Gyeongsang National University)
• Eun-Kee Park(Department of Medical Humanities and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Kosin University)
• Chang-Yeul Yoo(Department of Computer Information, Gyeongnam Provincial Namhae College)
• Suk Kim(Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Hu-Jang Lee(Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University) Corresponding author