Except for the cell numbers of enterococci, no bacterial
group in the faeces of the sows was systematically influenced
by the dietary inclusion of inulin (Table 1). Enterococci
were higher in the inulin group compared to
the control group at all measuring times (P = 0.014). A
time effect was observed for the cell numbers of eubacteria,
lactobacilli, L. reuteri, L. amylovorus, L. johnsonii,
L. mucosae, C. leptum, and C. coccoides, which were the
lowest on day 1 post partum (p.p.) compared to the days
4 ante partum (a.p.) and 5 p.p. (P ≤ 0.05).