Effect of soluble and insoluble fiber on energy digestibility, nitrogen retention, and fiber digestibility of diets fed to gestating sows

Effect of different feeding strategies and dietary fiber levels on energy and protein retention in gestating sows

The aim of the study was to investigate whether increased inclusion of sugar beet pulp (SBP) alters retention of fat, protein, and energy when backfat (BF) is restored in early- and mid-gestation. In total, 46 sows were fed one of four dietary treatments with increasing inclusion of SBP providing dietary fiber (DF) levels of 119, 152, 185, and 217 g/kg; sows were assigned to one of three feeding strategies (FS; high, medium, and low) depending on BF thickness at mating and again at day 30 for the following month. On days 0, 30, 60, and 108, body weight (BW) and BF thickness were measured and body pools of protein and fat were estimated using the deuterium oxide technique. On days 30 and 60, urine, feces, and blood samples were collected to quantify metabolites, energy, and nitrogen (N) balances. On days 15 and 45, heart rate was recorded to estimate heat energy. At farrowing, total born and weight of the litter were recorded. In early gestation, BW gain (P < 0.01) and body protein retention increased (P < 0.05) with increasing fiber inclusion, while body fat retention increased numerically by 59%. The increase in BF was greatest for sows fed the high FS, intermediate when fed the medium strategy, and negligible for sows fed the lowest FS (P < 0.001). Nitrogen intake, N loss in feces, and N balance increased linearly, whereas N loss in urine tended to decrease with increasing inclusion of fibers in early gestation. Concomitantly, fecal energy output and energy lost as methane increased linearly (P < 0.001), while energy output in urine declined linearly. Total metabolizable energy (ME) intake therefore increased from 36.5 MJ ME/d in the low fiber group to 38.5 MJ ME/d in the high fiber group (P < 0.01). Changing the ME towards more ketogenic energy was expected to favor fat retention rather than protein retention. However, due to increased intake of ME and increased N efficiency with increasing fiber inclusion, the sows gained more weight and protein with increasing fiber inclusion. In conclusion, increased feed intake improved both fat and protein retention, whereas increased DF intake increased protein retention.

The Role of Dietary Fiber in Improving Pig Welfare

This review aims to discuss the effects of dietary fiber sources with various levels on stereotypic behaviors in sows. There are a variety of dietary fiber sources that are supplemented to feeds for sows. However, dietary fiber sources have different physio-chemical properties, leading to controversial results in feed motivation, nutrient digestibility, and behaviors in sows fed fiber-rich diets. Findings from previous studies indicated that soluble fiber delays nutrient absorption and decreases physical activity after feeding. In addition to this, it increases volatile fatty acid production, provides energy, and prolongs the feeling of satiety. It also prevents certain stereotypies and thus is paramount to sow welfare.

Influence of fiber type and carbohydrase supplementation on nutrient digestibility, energy and nitrogen balance, and physiology of sows at mid and late gestation

Carbohydrase supplementation in grow-finish pig diets improves energy, nutrient digestibility, and gastrointestinal function, but their efficacy in gestation diets is understudied. The experimental objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a multicarbohydrase to improve digestion, energetics, and various physiological functions in gestating sows fed soluble and insoluble fiber diets. On day 28 of gestation, 36 sows (186 ± 4.6 kg body weight), blocked by parity, were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments (n = 9). Factors included fiber type of insoluble (IF; 20% dried distiller grains with solubles) or soluble fiber (SF; 20% sugar beet pulp) and with (+) or without (-) enzyme (0.05%, Rovabio Advance P10; Adisseo, Antony, France). Diets were fed from days 28 to 109 of gestation at a feeding level of 2.1 kg (SID-Lys 11 g/d and 4.5 net energy-Mcal/d). Two separate 9-d metabolism periods were conducted on days 50 to 59 (mid) and 99 to 108 (late) of gestation. During each period, days 1 to 3 served as an adaptation period, days 4 to 7 total urine and feces were collected (96-h) and followed by a 48-h lactulose-mannitol study. Serum and plasma were collected on days 50 and 99. Data were analyzed as repeated records using a linear mixed model with block as a random effect and fiber type, enzyme, and period and their interactions as fixed effects. Sows fed SF+ had increased serum IL-1ra (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.035), and IL-2 (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.042). In the presence of IF, multicarbohydrases increased serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, but not when supplemented with SF (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.028). Circulating IL-8 and TNF-α were decreased in sows fed multicarbohydrases (P < 0.05). Multicarbohydrase supplementation increased the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy (GE), dry matter, and neutral detergent fiber by 2.8%, 3.4%, and 8.3%, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared to IF-, the ATTD of hemicellulose was 5.3% greater in sows fed IF+ but did not differ from SF- and SF+ (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.037). Sows fed IF+ had the greatest ATTD of insoluble dietary fiber (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.011). Sows fed multicarbohydrases excreted less energy in their urine (519 vs. 469 GE kcal/d; Enzyme P = 0.033) and in their feces (985 vs. 900 GE kcal/d; Enzyme P = 0.003). This resulted in an improvement in both digestible energy (Enzyme P < 0.01) and metabolizable energy (Enzyme P = 0.041), irrespective of fiber type. In conclusion, multicarbohydrase supplementation increased the digestibility and energetic contribution of fiber, irrespective of adaptation time or fiber type, but modulation of inflammatory responses was unique to dietary fiber type.

Feeding dietary fermentable fiber improved fecal microbial composition and increased acetic acid production in a nursery pig model

The objective of this study was to determine the fermentable fiber (FF) content of several common fibrous ingredients fed to nursery pigs, and then evaluate the effect of dietary FF level on growth performance and fecal microbial composition. In experiment 1, 54 nursery pigs were randomly allotted to be fed nine diets with six replicate pigs per diet. Dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal basal diet and eight test diets based on a mixture of the corn-soybean meal diet and corn distillers dried grains with solubles, sunflower meal, oat bran, wheat bran, corn bran, sugar beet pulp (SBP), apple pomace (AP) or soybean hulls (SH). In experiment 2, 180 nursery pigs were housed in 30 pens (six pigs per pen) and randomly allotted to be fed five diets with different FF to total dietary fiber (TDF) ratios, which were 0.52, 0.55, 0.58, 0.61, and 0.64, respectively. Results showed that the FF content in SBP, AP, and SH was greater (P < 0.01) than that in other ingredients. Water binding capacity of fibrous ingredients was positively correlated (P < 0.05) to the digestibility of TDF, acid detergent fiber, and non-starch polysaccharides in test ingredients. Pigs fed the SBP, AP and SH diets had greater (P < 0.05) fecal acetic acid and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations compared with pigs fed other diets. Fecal acetic acid and total SCFAs concentrations were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with FF content in experimental diets. Average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake of pigs quadratically increased (P < 0.01) as the ratios of FF to TDF increased. Pigs in FF64% group showed higher (P < 0.05) ACE index and fecal acetic acid concentration compared with pigs fed the dietary FF/TDF ratio of 0.52 to 0.61. Compared with the classification system of soluble dietary fiber and insoluble dietary fiber, FF could better describe the mechanism by which dietary fiber has beneficial effects on pig gut health.

Evaluation of multienzyme supplementation and fiber levels on nutrient and energy digestibility of diets fed to gestating sows and growing pigs

The objective was to investigate the effect of a multienzyme blend (MEblend) and inclusion level on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and nutrients, as well as ileal digestibility of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in gestation diets with low (LF) or high-dietary fiber (HF) fed to gestation sows. For comparison, growing pigs were fed the same HF diets to directly compare ATTD values with the gestating sows. In experiment 1, 45 gestating sows (parity 0 to 5; 187 ± 28 kg bodyweight; BW) were blocked by parity in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement and fed 2.2 kg/d of the HF (17.5% neutral detergent fiber; NDF) or LF (13% NDF) diet and one of three levels of MEblend (0.0%, 0.08%, and 0.1%) to determine impacts of MEblend on ATTD. Twenty-seven growing pigs (initial 35.7 ± 3.32 kg BW) were fed the same HF diet (5% of BW) and one of three MEblend inclusions. The MEblend at both 0.08% and 0.1% increased ATTD of energy, NDF, and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P < 0.05) in gestating sows but ATTD of total non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and its residues were not affected. Sows fed HF, regardless of MEblend, had greater ATTD of NDF, xylose, and total NSP (P < 0.05) in comparison to grower pigs. In experiment 2, ileal cannulas were placed in 12 gestating sows (parity 0 to 2; BW 159 ± 12 kg) to determine apparent and standardized ileal digestibility (AID and SID) of AA and NSP. In a crossover design, sows were fed the same six diets, as in experiment 1, and a nitrogen-free diet during five periods of seven days each to achieve eight replicates per diet. There was no interaction between diet fiber level and MEblend inclusion. Supplementation of MEblend to gestating sow diets did not impact SID of CP and AA regardless of dietary fiber level. The SID of His, Ile, Lys, Phe, Thr, Trp, and Val were 3% to 6% lower (P < 0.09) in HF than LF independent of MEblend. Supplementation of MEblend did not impact AID of NSP components, but sows fed HF had higher AID of arabinose (LF: 26.5% vs. HF: 40.6%), xylose (LF: 3.5% vs. HF: 40.9%), and total NSP (LF: 25.9% vs. HF: 40.0%) compared to sows fed LF (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of MEblend increased ATTD of nutrients, NSP, and energy in diets fed to gestating sows regardless of inclusion level, with MEblend having a greater incremental increase in diets with lower NDF levels. Inclusion of MEblend impacted neither SID of AA nor AID of NSP in low- or high-fiber gestation diets, but high-fiber diet, negatively affected SID of AA.

Changes in chemical composition, structural and functional microbiome during alfalfa (Medicago sativa) ensilage with Lactobacillus plantarum PS-8

Improving silage production by adding exogenous microorganisms not only maximizes nutrient preservation, but also extends product shelf life. Herein, changes in the quality and quantity of Lactobacillus plantarum PS-8 (PS-8) -inoculated alfalfa (Medicago sativa) during silage fermentation were monitored at d 0, 7, 14, and 28 (inoculum dose of PS-8 was 1 × 105 colony forming units [cfu]/g fresh weight; 50 kg per bag; 10 bags for each time point) by reconstructing metagenomic-assembled genomes (MAG) and Growth Rate InDex (GRiD). Our results showed that the exogenous starter bacterium, PS-8 inoculation, became the most dominating strain by d 7, and possibly played a highly active role throughout the fermentation process. The pH value of the silage decreased greatly, accompanied by the growth of acid-producing microorganisms namely PS-8, which inhibited the growth of harmful microorganisms like molds (4.18 vs. 1.42 log cfu/g) and coliforms (4.95 vs. 0.66 log most probable number [MPN]/g). The content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) decreased significantly (41.6% vs. 37.6%; dry matter basis). In addition, the abundance and diversity of genes coding microbial carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) increased significantly and desirably throughout the fermentation, particularly the genes responsible for degrading starch, arabino-xylan, and cellulose. Overall, our results showed that PS-8 was replicating rapidly and consistently during early- and mid-fermentation phases, promoting the growth of beneficial lactic acid bacteria and inhibiting undesirable microbes, ultimately improving the quality of silage.

Increased feed supply and dietary fiber from sugar beet pulp improved energy retention in gestating sows

The aim of the study was to investigate whether increased inclusion of sugar beet pulp (SBP) alters retention of fat, protein, and energy when backfat (BF) is restored in early- and mid-gestation. In total, 46 sows were fed one of four treatments with increasing inclusion of SBP with dietary fiber (DF) levels of 119, 152, 185, and 217 g/kg; sows were assigned to one of three feeding strategies (FS; high, medium, and low) depending on BF thickness at mating and again at day 30 for the following month. On days 0, 30, 60, and 108, body weight (BW) and BF thickness were measured, and body pools of protein and fat were estimated using the deuterium technique. On days 30 and 60, urine, feces, and blood samples were collected to quantify metabolites, energy, and N balances. On days 15 and 45, heart rates were recorded to estimate the heat production. At farrowing, total born and weight of the litter were recorded. In early gestation, BW gain (P < 0.01) and body protein retention increased (P < 0.05) with increasing fiber inclusion, while body fat retention increased numerically by 59%. Increase in BF was the greatest for sows fed the high FS, intermediate when fed the medium strategy, and negligible for sows fed the lowest FS. N intake, N loss in feces, and N balance increased linearly, whereas N loss in urine tended to decrease with increasing inclusion of fibers in early gestation. Concomitantly, fecal energy output and energy lost as methane increased linearly (P < 0.001), while energy output in urine declined linearly, and total metabolizable energy intake, therefore, increased from 40.5 MJ ME/d in the low-fiber group to 43.5 mega joule (MJ) metabolizable energy (ME)/d in the high-fiber group (P < 0.001). Changing the metabolizable energy toward more ketogenic energy was expected to favor fat retention rather than protein retention. However, due to increased intake of metabolizable energy and increased N efficiency with increasing fiber inclusion, the sows gained more weight and protein with increasing fiber inclusion. In conclusion, increased feed intake improved both fat and protein retention, whereas increased DF concentration increased protein retention.

Effects of Fermented Radix puerariae Residue on Nutrient Digestibility and Reproductive Performance of Sows

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of fermented Radix puerariae residue (FRPR) on reproductive performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, and fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents of sows. A total of 36 landrace × large white multiparous sows were randomly arranged into three treatments, representing supplementation with 0, 2, and 4% FRPR to a corn-soybean meal and wheat bran-based diet during the whole gestation period. The results showed that dietary FRPR had no effects on litter size and the number of total alive piglets (P > 0.05), and that the number of weaned piglets and weaning weight of litter were increased in sows with 4% FRPR treatment compared with control treatment (P < 0.05). Dietary 4% FRPR significantly decreased constipation rate, improved the ATTD of dry matter and organics, and fecal contents of acetate, propionate, and total SCFAs (P < 0.05). In the offspring piglets, serum concentrations of total protein, alkaline phosphatase, IgG, IL-10, and TGF-β were increased, but blood urea nitrogen content was decreased with 4% FRPR treatment (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in all determined indexes except for fecal acetic acid and total SCFAs between control and 2% FRPR treatment (P > 0.05). These findings indicated that FRPR used in the diets of sows showed positive effects on fecal characteristics, utilization of nutrients, and reproductive performance. Maternal supplementation with 4% FRPR is recommended for improving immune responses, weaning litter size, and litter weight of offspring piglets, which provide useful information for the application of residues of R. puerariae.

Physiological function and application of dietary fiber in pig nutrition: A review

Dietary fiber (DF), divided into soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), has attracted increasing attention in the field of pig nutrition. Although DF reduces nutrient digestibility and inhibits energy deposition in most cases, fiber-rich feeds have been widely used in pig diets. This is not only because of lower feed costs, but also from the continuous discovery about the nutritional value of DF, mainly including the improvement of piglet intestinal health and sow reproductive performance. The addition timing has also been further considered, which potentially enables the nutritional value of DF to be accurately used in applicable pig models. Furthermore, fiber degrading enzymes have been shown to alleviate the anti-nutritional effects of DF and have ensured the improvement effect of fiber on intestinal health in young piglet models. However, the regulatory effect of fiber on pork quality is still unclear, which requires consideration of the wide range of fiber sources and the complexity of the basic diet composition, as well as the impact of pig breeds. Taken together, future research needs to gain more insight into the combined effects of SDF and IDF, processing methods, and addition timing to improve the nutritional value of DF, and further explore the physiological functions and regulatory mechanisms of DF fermentation products short-chain fatty acids in pigs.

The Effect of Increasing Neutral Detergent Fiber Level through Different Fiber Feed Ingredients throughout the Gestation of Sows

Simple Summary

To reduce feed costs, the exploration of feed resources is currently the main research direction. In the past, fiber feed was generally regarded as anti-nutritional factors. Recently, fiber has received special attention due to its many beneficial effects. Therefore, this study selected five common household and production wastes as fiber sources and added them to the diet of pregnant sows to explore the impact on sows and piglets. The results of this study indicated that adding corn gluten feed (CG) significantly improved the digestibility of sows and body weight (BW) of piglets, which provide evidence and insight for the application of corn gluten feed in gestation sow diets.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of increasing dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) levels on pregnant sows, and to select the best feed ingredients based on reproductive performance, plasma biochemistry parameters, colostrum and milk composition, and nutrient digestibility. Seventy-two multiparous sows were randomly allotted to six dietary treatment groups (n = 12). The feeding of chicory meal (CM), wheat bran (WB), corn gluten, and rice bran meal (RBM) increased the average weaning weight of piglets compared with the control (CON) group (p < 0.05). Supplementation with CG diet increased the sow BW, weight gain, and back fat thickness compared with WB and RBM on day 107 of gestation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Supplementation with CG diet resulted in lower plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) and higher total protein (TP) concentrations in plasma (p < 0.05). Feeding CM diet and soybean curd residue (SCR) diet reduced the total protein and globulin, and supplementation with CM diet significantly increased the PUN (p < 0.05). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP), crude fat (EE), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were decreased following the addition of CM, WB, or SCR to the diets (p < 0.05). The ATTD of NDF and ADF were significantly increased in the CG group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the feeding of CG diet to sows have an excellent effect.

Beet Pulp: An Alternative to Improve the Gut Health of Growing Pigs

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary fiber on the gut health of growing pigs. In total, 30 growing pigs with an initial average body weight of 45.8 ± 2.78 kg were divided into three groups with 10 replicates per treatment, and one pig per replicate. The treatments included a corn-soybean meal-based diet (control group, 1.5% crude fiber (CF)), corn-soybean meal + beet pulp-based diet (beet pulp group, 5.74% CF) and corn-soybean meal-based diet (feed intake-pairing group (pairing group); the feed intake was equal to the beet pulp group, 1.5% CF). The whole trial lasted 28 days. The beet pulp group had a longer length of the large intestine, higher weight of the small intestine and whole intestine, greater density of the large intestine and whole intestine, and higher villus height in the jejunum and ileum than the control group (p < 0.05). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF), glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2), and glucagon-like peptide 2 receptor (GLP-2R) in the duodenum, EGF and GLP-2 in the jejunum, EGF in the ileum, and GLP-2 in the colon were higher in the beet pulp group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the apparent total tract digestibility of crude ash, energy, dry matter (DM), and crude protein (CP) was lower in the beet pulp group than in the control group (p < 0.05), while the apparent total tract digestibility of CF, the activity of jejunal lactase, and the mRNA abundance of duodenal GLP-2 were higher in the beet pulp group than in the control and pairing groups (p < 0.05). In addition, the beet pulp group had more goblet cells in the colon, more Bifidobacterium spp. in the cecal digesta, higher concentrations of acetic acid and butyric acid in the cecal digesta, and higher mRNA abundance of duodenal regeneration protein Ⅲγ (REG-Ⅲγ), jejunal mucin 2 (MUC-2), and ileal G protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR-43) than the control group (p < 0.05). However, these parameters did not differ between the control and pairing groups (p > 0.05). These findings indicate feeding a high-fiber diet (5.74% CF, obtained from beet pulp) to pigs could modulate the gut microbiota composition, increase the short-chain fatty-acid (SCFA) content in the hindgut, and improve gut health, which is independent of the feed intake.

Adding Appropriate Fiber in Diet Increases Diversity and Metabolic Capacity of Distal Gut Microbiota Without Altering Fiber Digestibility and Growth Rate of Finishing Pig

The digestion ability of pigs to dietary fiber is derived from their intestinal microbiota, especially hindgut microbiota. However, tolerance of pigs to high dietary fiber and the changes of microbiota profile with fiber levels are still unclear. To investigate the changes of gut microbiota with dietary fiber and its relationship with fiber digestibility, we conducted comparative analyses of growth rate, apparent fiber digestibility, gut microbiota and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles in Chinese Suhuai pigs feeding diets with different defatted rice bran (DFRB) fiber levels. We found that dietary fiber level had no effect on the growth rate of Suhuai pigs. Although the apparent digestibility of Cellulose, insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and total dietary fiber (TDF) decreased with dietary fiber level, we found that the apparent digestibility of Cellulose, IDF and TDF of Suhuai pigs was not changed when provided with diet containing 19.10% TDF (as feed basis). The pigs provided with diet containing 19.10% TDF had higher microbial richness, proportions of several fiber-degrading bacteria taxa at genus level and predicted microbial functions (such as carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism) in cecum compared to those fed with basal diet. In addition, the fiber-induced increasing of fiber-degrading bacteria promoted the VFAs metabolism, which potentially helped Suhuai pigs to maintain growth rate. However, as TDF reached to 24.11% (as feed basis), the apparent digestibility of fiber decreased and the positive effect on intestine microbiota in caecum were absent. Together, our data suggest that appropriate fiber level could increase the diversity and metabolic capacity of distal gut microbiota to improve the utilization efficiency of fiber resources without altering the growth rate of pigs.

Effects of Dietary Fiber Sources during Gestation on Stress Status, Abnormal Behaviors and Reproductive Performance of Sows

Inclusion of fiber in gestation diets is a method for enhancing satiety and reducing abnormal behaviors in restricted feeding sows without providing excess energy. The purpose of this study was to use an in vitro-in vivo method to appraise the effects of two available unconventional dietary fiber resources during gestation on sows' physio-chemical properties of diets, postprandial satiety, performance, abnormal behaviors, stress status and lactation feed intake under three different dietary treatments: control diet (CON diet), 5% resistant starch diet (RS diet), and 5% fermented soybean fiber diet (FSF diet) with a total of 78 (average parity 5) Landrace × Yorkshire sows. Results showed that swelling capacity was higher in the RS diet than in the CON or FSF diet. Meanwhile, the 48 h cumulative gas production and the final asymptotic gas volume after in vitro fermentation of gestation diets showed an increased trend (p = 0.07, p = 0.09, respectively) in the RS diet versus the CON or FSF diets. While the sows' litter size, body weight, backfat or weaning-to-estrus interval were not affected (p > 0.05) by the three treatments during gestation, the RS group showed a decline in stillbirth number (p < 0.05) and stillbirth rate (p < 0.01) relative to the other two groups. Meanwhile, the proportion of standing was lower while the sow's serum concentrations of PYY (peptide YY) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) were higher (p < 0.05) on day 70 of gestation in the RS group than in the CON or FSF group. Compared with the CON group, the RS group showed a downward tendency (p = 0.07) in the sows' plasma cortisol concentration on day 70 of gestation. A comparison of oxidative and antioxidative indicators revealed an increase in the sows' serum FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power) (p < 0.05) and a decrease of protein carbonyl (p < 0.05) on day 109 of gestation in the RS or FSF group versus the CON group. Overall, inclusion of 5% RS with greater swelling capacity in the gestation diet contributed to enhancing the postprandial satiety, alleviating the stress status, reducing the abnormal behaviors and thus lowering the stillbirth rate of sows.

Effects of supplementing processed straw during late gestation on sow physiology, lactation feed intake, and offspring body weight and carcass quality1

This study investigated the effects of supplementing late gestation sow diets with processed or unprocessed oat or wheat straw on physiology, early lactation feed intake, and offspring performance. One hundred fifty gestating sows were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments (30 sows per diet) from day 86 of gestation until farrowing. Treatments, arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial plus a control, were a standard gestation diet (control) or control supplemented with 10% wheat or oat straw, processed or unprocessed. Sows were fed a standard lactation diet postfarrowing. The processed straws were produced by high-pressure compaction at 80 °C. On day 101 of gestation (day 15 of the trial), blood samples were collected from a subset of sows (n = 8 per treatment) through ear vein catheters and analyzed for insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), prolactin, glucose, and urea concentrations. Fecal samples were collected on days 103 to 104 of gestation to determine nutrient digestibility, and feeding motivation was investigated on day 104. Litter characteristics and sow feed intake were recorded for 7 d postfarrowing. Three piglets per litter were selected at weaning, fed standard diets, and followed to market. Treatment had no effect on feeding motivation, piglet characteristics at birth, estimated milk production, and offspring BW at market or carcass quality. Processed straw improved DM digestibility and energy content and the effect was greater with oat straw (straw × processing effect, P < 0.05). Pre- and postprandial glucose concentrations tended to decrease (P < 0.10) with processing of wheat, but not oat straw, and this effect was more apparent in the preprandial samples. Preprandial prolactin concentration increased with oat but decreased with wheat straw, whereas postprandial IGF-1 and prolactin concentration increased with processing of wheat, but not oat straw (straw × processing, P < 0.05). Sow lactation feed intake improved (P < 0.05) with oat straw supplementation relative to wheat straw. Piglet weaning weight increased (P < 0.05) with oat straw supplementation and processing improved (P < 0.05) nursery exit BW. However, straw supplementation, regardless of processing, had no effect on offspring BW at market or carcass quality. Overall, oat straw supplementation had a greater impact on sow physiology and provided benefits for sows in late gestation, and there was some indication that further benefits could be obtained through mild processing.

Effects of dietary fiber content and different fiber-rich ingredients on endogenous loss of fat and fatty acids in growing pigs

Background

Determination of the endogenous loss of fat (ELF) is used to adjust for the estimation of true total tract digestibility (TTTD) of fat in diets and ingredients. Any factor which affected ELF may further affect the digestibility of fat, including sources and concentrations of fat and fiber in the diet. There are some reports of determining the ELF using regression methods based on different levels of fat intake, while reports on effects of dietary fiber content and different fiber-rich ingredients in pig diets on ELF are very limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary fiber content and different fiber-rich ingredients on endogenous losses of fat and fatty acids at the end of ileum and throughout the entire intestinal tract in growing pigs.

Methods

In Exp. 1, the effect of fiber content on endogenous loss of fat was determined using six growing pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire; 27.6 ± 2.4 kg), fitted with a T-cannula at the end of ileum. The experimental design was a 6 × 6 complete Latin square design with six periods of feeding and six diets. The six experimental fat-free diets were formulated to include graded levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 g/kg) and soybean hull (SH) was the only fiber source, providing 0, 75, 150, 225, 300 and 375 g/kg, respectively. Chromic oxide was included at 4 g/kg in all diets as an indigestible marker. In Exp. 2, six crossbred growing barrows (27.6 ± 1.6 kg) were used and the experimental design was the same as for Exp. 1. The six fat-free diets were formulated to include six common fiber-rich ingredients and the concentration of NDF was 100 g/kg. The six fiber-rich ingredients were defatted rice bran (DRB), sugar beet pulp (SBP), rice hull (RH), corn germ meal (CGM), SH and wheat bran (WB) and they were fed at represented 250, 270, 145, 250, 170 and 280 g/kg in the diet, respectively.

Results

In Exp. 1, the endogenous loss of fatty acids profile did not change as dietary NDF increased in growing pigs. The endogenous losses of fat, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and total saturated fatty acids (SFA) in growing pigs at the end of ileum and throughout the entire intestinal tract increased linearly as NDF content of diets increased. The endogenous losses of fat, as well as C16:0 and C18:0 throughout the entire intestinal tract also increased quadratically as NDF content of diets increased. The ELF increased from 0.71 to 3.14 g/kg of dry matter intake (DMI) and 0.56 to 8.21 g /kg DMI at the end of ileum and throughout the entire intestinal tract in growing pigs, respectively. The ELF occurred in the hindgut except for the growing pigs fed 0 and 4% NDF in their diets. The endogenous losses of C16:0 and UFA occurred primarily in the upper regions of the gut and the greatest endogenous losses of C18:0 occurred in the hindgut. The endogenous losses of fat, individual SFA and total SFA throughout the entire intestinal tract were much greater than that at the end of ileum. However, the endogenous losses of individual UFA and total UFA were less throughout the intestinal tract than at the end of ileum. In Exp. 2, the endogenous losses of fat at the end of ileum were greater in growing pigs fed CGM or WB diets. The endogenous loss of fatty acids profile changed to a slight degree at the end of ileum that the endogenous loss of UFA (particularly C18:1 and C18:2) in growing pigs fed CGM or WB diets were greater (P <  0.01) than that for the other four diets. The greatest (P <  0.01) endogenous loss of SFA (particularly C18:0) was in growing pigs fed the RH diet. The endogenous losses of fat, C16:0, C18:0 and SFA over the entire intestinal tract were much greater in growing pigs fed CGM or WB diets, whereas the lowest values were in growing pigs fed DRB diet. The ELF at the end of ileum in growing pigs fed CGM or WB diets were 3.50 or 4.17 g/kg DMI, respectively, and the ELF over the entire intestinal tract was 7.23 or 7.38 g/kg DMI. The contribution in percentage of ELF in the upper gut was greater than that in the hindgut of growing pigs fed DRB and RH diets, while the ELF in the upper gut and hindgut were equal in growing pigs fed SBP, CGM and WB diets. On the whole, the endogenous losses of C18:1 and C18:2 throughout the entire intestinal tract in growing pigs fed the six fiber-rich ingredients diets were less than losses at the end of ileum, whereas the endogenous loss of fat, C16:0, C18:0 and SFA were greater throughout the intestinal tract than at the end of ileum.

Conclusion

The profile of loss in endogenous fatty acids did not change as dietary NDF increased in growing pigs and the endogenous losses of fatty acids (C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 and C18:2) fat, UFA and SFA increased linearly as NDF content increased in the diets of pigs. The endogenous losses of fat or fatty acids at the end of ileum were greater in growing pigs fed RH, CGM or WB diets. The endogenous losses of fat, fatty acids (C16:0 and C18:0) and SFA were greater over the entire intestinal tract in pigs fed CGM or WB diet, while these values were the lowest in growing pigs fed the DRB diet. The contribution in percentage losses of fat in the upper gut were greater than in the hindgut of growing pigs fed DRB and RH diets, while the contribution of losses of fat in the upper gut and hindgut were equal in growing pigs fed SBP, CGM and WB diets. In addition, the endogenous loss of individual or total UFA was less over the entire intestinal tract of growing pigs fed fiber diets than that at the end of ileum, and the greatest endogenous losses of fat, individual or total SFA were over the entire intestinal tract. Therefore, differences in fiber content and the nature of fiber-rich ingredients in diets of pigs have different effects to the endogenous losses of fat or fatty acids. Considering the requirement of fat or fatty acids of pigs, careful attention must be paid that the endogenous losses of fat and fatty acids when fiber ingredients are used in diets of pigs.

Effects of Oat Bran on Nutrient Digestibility, Intestinal Microbiota, and Inflammatory Responses in the Hindgut of Growing Pigs

Oat bran has drawn great attention within human research for its potential role in improving gut health. However, research regarding the impact of oat bran on nutrient utilization and intestinal functions in pigs is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of oat bran on nutrient digestibility, intestinal microbiota, and inflammatory responses in the hindgut of growing pigs. Twenty-six growing pigs were fed either a basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 10% oat bran (OB) within a 28 day feeding trial. Results showed that digestibility of dietary gross energy, dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein were lower in the OB group compared to the CON group on day 14, but no differences were observed between the two groups on day 28. In the colon, the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with Prevotella, Butyricicoccus, and Catenibacterium were higher, while those associated with Coprococcus and Desulfovibrio were lower in the OB group compared to the CON group. Oat bran decreased mRNA expression of caecal interleukin-8 (IL-8), as well as colonic IL-8, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of the pigs. In summary, oat bran treatment for 28 day did not affect dietary nutrient digestibility, but promoted the growth of cellulolytic bacteria and ameliorated inflammatory reactions in the hindgut of growing pigs.

Digestible energy and metabolizable energy contents of konjac flour residues and ramie in growing pigs

The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) the effects of konjac flour residues and ramie on digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients in diets fed to growing pigs, 2) the DE and ME contents of konjac flour residues and ramie. Thirty barrows were allotted to 1 of 5 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment. The 5 diets include a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CTL), konjac flour residues diets containing 15% konjac flour residues (LK) or 30% konjac flour residues (HK), and ramie diets containing 15% ramie (LR) or 30% ramie (HR). The experiment lasted 19 days, including 7 days for cage adaptation, 7 days for diet adaptation, and 5 days for total feces and urine collection. The energy values and ATTD of nutrients in each diet were determined, and DE and ME contents of konjac flour residues and ramie were calculated. The results showed that consumption of konjac flour residues significantly increased (P < 0.01) the fecal moisture content compared with the ramie treatment. The LK, HK and HR diets had lower (P < 0.01) DE values compared with the CTL diet. The HR diet had greater (P < 0.01) DE value compared with the HK diet. The LK and LR diets showed greater (P < 0.01) ATTD of DM, OM, GE and CP compared with the HK and HR diets. The HK diet had the lowest (P < 0.01) ATTD of ether extract (EE) among the 5 diets. No differences were observed for the ATTD of NDF and ADF among the 5 diets. Moreover, the DE and ME values of konjac flour residues under 2 inclusion levels (15% and 30%) were 11.66, 11.87 MJ/kg and 10.41, 10.03 MJ/kg, respectively. The corresponding values for ramie were 13.27, 13.16 MJ/kg and 13.07, 12.82 MJ/kg, respectively. In conclusion, the differences in fecal moisture content and the ATTD of EE among the 5 diets were mainly due to the different chemical compositions of konjac flour residues and ramie. Compared with konjac flour residues, ramie has greater DE and ME values under the same inclusion level.

Poorer lifetime growth performance of gilt progeny compared with sow progeny is largely due to weight differences at birth and reduced growth in the preweaning period, and is not improved by progeny segregation after weaning

Gilt progeny (GP) are born and weaned lighter than sow progeny (SP) and have higher rates of mortality. This study aimed to quantify the performance and survival differences between GP and SP throughout the entire production cycle from birth to sale. Furthermore, the study looked at the effects of segregating GP and SP compared with commingling during rearing within common pens. It was hypothesized that GP would be lighter than SP at every age and have lower rates of survival accompanied by higher rates of medication, and that segregating GP and SP would improve the growth and survival of both groups. All progeny born to 109 gilts (parity 1) and 94 sows (parities 2 to 8) were allocated to 4 postweaning treatments at birth: GP separately penned, GP mixed with SP in a common pen (GM), SP separately penned, and SP mixed with GP in a common pen (SM), with littermates split among treatments. The GM and SM pigs were penned together after weaning. Individual live weight of all progeny was recorded at birth (birth weight [BWT]), weaning (28 d; weaning weight [WWT]), 10 wk of age (10-wk weight [10WT]), and sale (22-23 wk; sale weight [SWT]). Individual HCW, backfat depth, loin depth, and dressing percentage were measured at slaughter. All postweaning mortalities and medications were recorded. The GP had a lighter BWT ( = 0.032), WWT ( < 0.001), 10WT ( < 0.001), and SWT ( < 0.001) than SP as well as a lower HCW ( < 0.001) and dressing percentage ( = 0.012). Postweaning performance differences were mostly attributable to the lighter WWT of GP compared with that of SP when WWT was fitted as a covariate. The GP had a higher mortality in the immediate postweaning period (weaning to 10 wk of age; = 0.028) and from weaning to sale ( = 0.012) than SP, which was also attributable to lower WWT. The GP exhibited a higher incidence of mortality ( = 0.011) due to respiratory tract infection in the grower-finisher period, despite similar medication rates ( = 0.83). Segregation of GP and SP between pens presented no benefit in terms of growth and survival of both groups while requiring added labor and production considerations and, therefore, is not recommended. This study confirms that GP are lighter than SP, on average, at every stage of life from birth to slaughter and that their performance before weaning is an important determinant for whole-of-life performance.

Viscous and fermentable nonstarch polysaccharides affect intestinal nutrient and energy flow and hindgut fermentation in growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of viscosity and fermentability of purified nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) on intestinal nutrient and energy flow and hindgut fermentation in growing pigs. In Exp. 1, 15 ileal-cannulated pigs (50.5 ± 2.9 kg BW) were allotted to 5 diets in a 2-period incompletely randomized design. Pigs were provided a cornstarch N-free diet (CST) or a diet containing 5% inulin (INU), carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), or Solka-Floc (SFC). Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of DM, ash, and GE were greater ( < 0.05) in the MCC and SFC diets than in the INU and CMC diets. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, carbohydrates (CHO), and GE and the DE content in the CST and INU diets were greater ( < 0.01) than in the CMC, MCC, and SFC diets. Hindgut disappearance of DM, CHO, and GE in the INU diet was greater ( < 0.05) than in the other N-free diets. The ileal endogenous flow of His, Ile, Leu, Met, Thr, Val, and all dispensable AA in the CMC diet was greater ( < 0.05) than in the other diets. In Exp. 2, 6 ileal-cannulated pigs were allotted to 3 diets containing either a corn-soybean meal control diet or the control diet with 5% INU or CMC in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Ser, Thr, and Val were greater ( < 0.05) in the CMC diet than in the control and INU diets. Incorporation of 5% INU or CMC in the control diet reduced ( < 0.01) the AID of arabinoxylan and insoluble and total NSP. The ATTD of NSP and cellulose and the hindgut disappearance of NSP, β-glucan, and cellulose in the CMC diet were less ( < 0.01) than in the control and INU diets. Inclusion of 5% INU in the diet increased ( < 0.01) hindgut fermentation of insoluble and total NSP compared with the control and CMC diets. In conclusion, depending on the viscosity and fermentability of the NSP, different sources will have different effects on nutrient digestibility and hindgut fermentation. Addition of 5% INU to a corn-soybean meal diet reduced digestibility of the NSP component in the ileum and increased hindgut fermentation of total NSP. In contrast, the inclusion of CMC increased the AID and SID of the diet and reduced total tract digestion and hindgut fermentation of NSP component. Carboxymethylcellulose sodium is not recommended as a source of synthetic fiber in a N-free diet to determine the SID of AA of diets.

Apparent nutrient digestibility of two raw diets in domestic kittens

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate overall dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fat and gross energy digestibility of a feline commercial raw diet and a homemade raw diet compared with a canned, heat-processed diet.

METHODS

Six domestic shorthair kittens (20-28 weeks old) were fed three different diets in a Latin square crossover design. Diet A was a commercially available, canned, heat-processed diet. Diet B was a complete commercial, prefrozen, raw diet (commercial raw), and diet C was a raw diet supplement mixed with ground raw meat obtained locally (homemade raw). Both diets A and B were formulated to meet nutritional profile levels for cats at all life stages. Kittens were given specific diet amounts to maintain a 2-4% weight increase per week. Food was measured before and after feedings to determine the amount eaten, and all feces were collected, weighed and frozen prior to submission. Composite food samples and all feces were submitted to a national laboratory for proximate analysis of crude protein, crude fiber, ash, crude fat, moisture and caloric density.

RESULTS

Significantly higher digestibility of dry matter (P <0.001), organic matter (P <0.001), crude protein (P <0.001) and gross energy (P <0.001) was seen in the raw diets compared with the heat-processed diets. This difference resulted in significantly less fecal matter (P <0.001) despite similar levels of intake and kcal ingested, and evidence of no difference in fecal scores.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Higher dry matter, organic matter and protein digestibility was seen in two commercial raw diets compared with a heat-processed diet. Digestibility differences could have been due to variance in dietary protein, fat and carbohydrate concentrations between the diets, variance in dietary ingredients or quality, alterations in protein structure secondary to heat processing, as well as alterations in gastrointestinal flora. Future research examining digestibility in diets with the same macronutrient proportions and ingredients, and mechanisms for any differences, is warranted.

High wholegrain barley β-glucan lowers food intake but does not alter small intestinal macronutrient digestibility in ileorectostomised rats

Using barley cultivars differing widely in β-glucan content, we aimed to determine their effects on small intestinal macronutrient digestion in 24 ileorectostomised rats. The rats were fed 1 of 4 experimental diets, each containing a different barley variety, for 11 d. The diets had a content of 0, 2.1, 2.6 and 4.3 g of β-glucan/100 g. Feed intake and faecal excretion of fat, protein, starch, and non-starch polysaccharides were determined in the final 5 d of the study and apparent macronutrient digestibility calculated. Higher dietary levels of β-glucan (2.6% and 4.3%) lowered feed intake (by 15 and 19%, respectively) but final body weight was only lowered by the 4.3% β-glucan diet relative to rats fed the 0% β-glucan diet (all ps < 0.05). Protein, lipid and starch digestibility was unrelated to the dietary β-glucan content. Higher dietary levels of barley β-glucan lower feed intake of ileorectostomised rats, which is independent of intestinal fermentation and unrelated to macronutrient digestibility.

Effects of Inulin Supplementation in Low- or High-Fat Diets on Reproductive Performance of Sows and Antioxidant Defence Capacity in Sows and Offspring

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of inulin supplementation in low- or high-fat diets on both the reproductive performance of sow and the antioxidant defence capacity in sows and offspring. Sixty Landrace × Yorkshire sows were randomly allocated to four treatments with low-fat diet (L), low-fat diet containing 1.5% inulin (LI), high-fat diet (H) and high-fat diet containing 1.5% inulin (HI). Inulin-rich diets lowered the within-litter birth weight coefficient of variation (CV, p = 0.05) of piglets, increased the proportion of piglets weighing 1.0-1.5 kg at farrowing (p < 0.01), reduced the loss of body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (BF) during lactation (p < 0.05) and decreased the duration of farrowing as well as improved sow constipation (p < 0.05). Sows fed fat-rich diets gained more BW during gestation (p < 0.01), farrowed a greater number of total (+1.65 pigs, p < 0.05) and alive (+1.52 pigs p < 0.05) piglets and had a heavier (+2.06 kg, p < 0.05) litter weight at birth as well as a decreased weaning-to-oestrous interval (WEI, p < 0.01) compared with sows fed low-fat diets. However, it is worth noting that the H diet significantly decreased the serum activities of superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and increased the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in sows and piglets (p < 0.05). In contrast, HI diet enhanced the activities of T-SOD and GSH-Px and decreased the serum MDA concentrations (p < 0.05) in sows and piglets. In summary, the fat-rich diets fed to sows during gestation had beneficial effects on reproductive performance, but aggravated the oxidative stress in sow and piglets. Inulin-rich diets fed to sow during gestation had beneficial effects on within-litter uniformity of piglet birthweight and enhanced the antioxidant defence capacity of sows and piglets.

Dietary supplementation of germinated pigmented rice (Oryza sativa L.) lowers dyslipidemia risk in ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats

Background

In the recent years, cases of elderly women suffering from metabolic diseases such as dyslipidemias brought about by hormonal imbalance after menopause are continuously increasing. In this regard, a continuous and escalating demand to develop a more functional and highly nutritional food product as an adjunct supplement that can help alleviate these diseases is still being sought.

Objective

This study investigated the effects of germinated blackish-purple rice cultivars Keunnunjami, Superjami, and reddish-brown cultivar Superhongmi in the lipid metabolism of ovariectomized Sprague–Dawley rats.

Method

The animals were randomly divided into nine groups (n=5) and were supplemented with either non-germinated or germinated rice for 9 weeks. Then the plasma, liver, and fat samples were collected for the lipid metabolism effects analyses.

Results

Animals fed with germinated rice cultivars had improved lipid profile levels relative to the groups supplemented with non-germinated rice cultivars. The germinated rice groups, Keununjami and Superjami in particular, showed a low total cholesterol levels, high levels of high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol, high fecal lipid output, low hepatic lipid values, and low hepatic adipocyte accumulation. There was also an increase in the rate of lipolysis and decrease in lipogenesis based on the lipid-regulating enzyme activity profiles obtained for the groups that fed on germinated rice. Also, results revealed that pigmented rice cultivars had superior effects in improving the lipid metabolism relative to the non-pigmented normal brown rice variety.

Conclusion

Based on the results, this study suggests that germinated pigmented rice consumption can confer better lipid metabolism than ordinary white rice and constitutes as an effective functional food in alleviating the risk of having dyslipidemias like those suffering from menopausal co-morbidities.

The feeding of dried distillers' grains with solubles to lactating sows

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the feeding of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) in sow lactation diets. In Exp. 1, 168 multiparous sows (PIC, Camborough 22) were fed a 10% DDGS diet throughout gestation. Sows were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 corn-soybean meal lactation diets formulated to contain different levels of DDGS (0, 10, 20, and 30%, respectively). All diets were formulated to be isocaloric (3.46 Mcal ME/kg) and all other nutrients exceeded NRC (1998) nutrient recommendations. Sow ADFI was not different ( > 0.10) as DDGS level increased. Increasing DDGS resulted in a linear ( < 0.03) increase in sow weight gain (7.5, 11.3, 20.3, and 17.2 kg, respectively) and a reduction in wean-to-first-service interval (7.1, 5.2, 5.0, and 4.9 d, respectively). Increasing DDGS did not affect subsequent total born per litter (13.7, 12.8, 13.3, and 12.3, respectively; > 0.10). In Exp. 2 and 3, lactation diets consisted of corn and 20, 30, 40, or 50% DDGS. Diets were formulated at 3.25 Mcal ME/kg, 1.05% standardized ileal digestible lysine, and all other nutrients to exceed NRC (1998) nutrient recommendations. In both experiments, sows (PIC, Camborough) were fed 40% DDGS in gestation and allocated to a randomized complete block based on the parity of the sow at the time of entry into the farrowing house. In Exp. 2, 256 gilts and multiparous sows were fed the randomly assigned diets. As DDGS inclusion increased, sow feed intake (6.2, 6.2, 6.0, and 5.9 kg/d, respectively) and sow weight gain (10.5, 10.3, 8.2, and 6.2 kg, respectively) tended to linearly decrease ( < 0.06). Sow wean to estrus differed between 20 and 30% DDGS inclusion (4.9 vs. 6.9 d; < 0.01). Litter gain was not different (2.55, 2.53, 2.51, and 2.59 kg/d, respectively; > 0.10) as DDGS inclusion increased. In Exp. 3, 98 multiparous sows were randomly allotted to 1 of the 4 experimental diets during the summer months. Sow feed intake, sow weight gain, and litter gain were not different ( > 0.10) between treatments. The data suggest that feeding high levels of DDGS of 40 to 50% may reduce sow feed intake and litter performance. These results demonstrate that feeding up to 30% DDGS in lactation diets can be done without adversely influencing sow or litter performance.

Effects of Palm Kernel Expellers on Productive Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and White Blood Cells of Lactating Sows

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of palm kernel expellers on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and changes in white blood cells (WBC) of lactating sows. A total of 14 sows (200±12 kg of average body weight [BW]; 2.5 of average parity) were used and moved from gestation room to farrowing room on d 109 of gestation. Sows were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The treatments were a diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON added with 20% of palm kernel expellers (PKE). Sows were fed the treatments for 28 days (weaning) after farrowing. Blood was collected from each sow and 4 randomly selected piglets from each sow before farrowing or on d 3, 7, or 14 of lactation. Sows were fed respective treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide from d 15 to 21 of lactation. Fecal samples were collected daily for the last 3 days after the 4-d adjustment period. Measurements were performances and WBC changes of sows and litter, nutrient digestibility of sows, and daily diarrhea of litter. Sows fed PKE had greater average daily feed intake (7.38 vs 7.10 kg/d; p<0.05) and lost less BW (−6.85 vs −8.54 kg; p<0.05) and backfat depth (−0.42 vs −0.71 mm; p<0.05) than those fed CON. However, there were no differences on digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy and weaning to estrus interval of sows fed either CON or PKE. Piglets from sows fed PKE gained more BW (203 vs 181 g/d; p = 0.08) and had less frequency of diarrhea (6.80 vs 8.56%; p = 0.07) than those from sows fed CON. On the other hand, no difference was found on preweaning mortality of piglets from sows fed either CON or PKE. Sows fed PKE had lower number of WBC (9.57 vs 11.82 ×10³/μL; p = 0.09) before farrowing than those fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. Similarly, piglets from sows fed PKE had also lower number of WBC (7.86 vs 9.80 ×10³/μL; p<0.05) on d 14 of lactation than those from sows fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. In conclusion, addition of 20% palm kernel expellers to lactation diet based on corn and soybean meal had no negative effects on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and WBC changes of lactating sows.

Effects of feeding outer bran fraction of rice on lipid accumulation and fecal excretion in rats

Outer bran fraction of rice (OBFR) contains higher concentrations of crude fiber, γ-oryzanol, and phytic acid compared to whole rice bran (WRB). In this study, we examined the effects of feeding OBFR on lipid accumulation and fecal excretion in rats. Twenty-one male rats at seven-week-old were divided into a control group and two treatment groups. The control group was fed a control diet, and the treatment groups were fed OBFR- or WRB-containing diet for 21 days. There was no significant difference in growth performance. Feeding OBFR diet increased fecal number and weight accompanied by increased fecal lipid content, while it did not affect mRNA expressions encoding lipid metabolism-related protein in liver. In addition, feeding OBFR-diet decreased the abdominal fat tissue weight and improved plasma lipid profiles, while WRB-containing diet did not affect them. These results suggested that feeding OBFR-diet might prevent lipid accumulation via enhancing fecal lipid excretion in rats.

Feed non-starch polysaccharides for monogastric animals: classification and function

This review outlines the importance of understanding the true fibre content, which is the sum of non-starch polysaccharides and lignin, of feed in order for animal nutritionists to improve the precision of feed formulation in the future. The continuing use of crude fibre in feed formulation means that up to a quarter of the feed components, mainly non-starch polysaccharides and oligosaccharides that are lost during acid and alkali extractions, are ignored for ingredients such as soybean meal. Furthermore, the values for acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre are not used for feed formulation. They also do not represent unique classes of chemically defined molecules. In some cases, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre values do not cover a large proportion of soluble fibre, for example, in leguminous crops that contain a high level of pectic polysaccharides. Non-starch polysaccharides and their associated lignin content represent the true fibre levels in ingredients and this is the basis from which structural and physicochemical elucidation of fibre can be attained. Only with such understanding will nutritional strategies be applied to target specific fractions/types of fibre in ingredients to produce desired nutritional and health outcomes in pigs and poultry. In this context, an example is given to illustrate how gut microbiota of animals can be manipulated to enhance production performance and immunity.

Space allowance and high fiber diet impact performance and behavior of group-kept gestating sows

Identifying and optimizing housing and management systems that improve the well-being of the gestating sow is essential to sustaining animal agriculture. Therefore, the impact of 2 floor-space allowances and a high-fiber gestation diet on dry group-housed sows were evaluated using multiple measures of well-being. Groups of 10 multiparous sows/pen (n = 221) were assigned randomly to treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to either a corn-soybean meal diet (CTL) or corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with soybean hulls and wheat middlings (FBR), and floor-space allowance of either 1.7 or 2.3 m(2)/sow. Sow BW, backfat (BF), and body condition score (BCS) were all recorded on d 34, 65, 90, and 110 of gestation, whereas skin lesions were scored on d 34, every 2 d for the first 2-wk postmixing, and then biweekly throughout gestation. Blood sample was collected only on d 34 for cortisol (baseline), and samples were collected on d 90 of gestation for other measures including cortisol. Behavior was registered on multiple days throughout gestation. Sows fed FBR and kept at 1.7 m(2) produced heavier litter and weaning weights and greater number of piglets born alive, compared to sows fed FBR but kept at 2.3 m(2) of floor space (diet × floor space, P ≤ 0.04). Sows fed FBR and kept at 1.7 m(2) performed fewer oral-nasal-facial and sham-chew behaviors than sows fed CTL and kept at the same floor space (diet × floor space, P ≤ 0.044). Sows kept at 1.7 m(2) of floor space had a greater (P < 0.05) total lesion severity score than sows kept at 2.3 m(2)/sow, and vulva lesion scores were more (P < 0.02) severe among CTL-fed sows than FBR-fed sows. Parities 2 and 3 sows fed FBR and kept at 1.7 m(2) of floor space were heavier (P < 0.001) than sows fed the same diet but kept at 2.3 m(2). These results indicate that keeping small groups of pregnant sows at a minimum floor-space allowance of 1.7 m(2)/sow and floor feeding these sows a high-fiber diet can improve short-term sow well-being.

Fibre in late gestation gilt diets, glucose tolerance, and feed intake and bodyweight loss during subsequent lactation

Forty-nine crossbred gilts were fed one of three diets during the last month of their gestation: 2.5 kg of a standard diet (2.5C, n = 15), 3.5 kg of the same standard diet (3.5C, n = 17), or 3.5 kg of a high fibre diet, with 10.6% fibre compared with 4.4% fibre in the standard diet (3.5F, n = 17). The 3.5F and 3.5C gilts were fed at isocaloric and isonitrogenous levels. During the subsequent lactation, all gilts were fed the same lactation diet. Nineteen gilts (6 or 7 per treatment) were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test around Day 110 of gestation. The high feed level (3.5C and 3.5F) resulted in a higher weight gain during gestation (P < 0.05). Gilts fed the high fibre diet tended to have (P < 0.10) piglets with a greater birthweight at farrowing (1535 g) than gilts fed the standard diet at 2.5 kg (1484 g). The 3.5C gilts (n.s.) and the 3.5F gilts (P < 0.05) had a lower feed intake and more bodyweight loss during lactation than gilts fed the 2.5-kg standard diet during gestation. Insulin profiles after the glucose tolerance test were higher for gilts fed the high fibre diet. Gilts fed the 2.5- or 3.5-kg standard diet had a similar insulin profile. Glucose profiles and insulin sensitivity were similar across treatments. Leptin around Day 110 was negatively correlated with feed intake during the third week of lactation (r = –0.28; P < 0.05). This study shows that a high feed level during late gestation reduces feed intake during lactation and that a high fibre diet during gestation does not negate this effect. The results suggest that feed level during gestation and the resulting body fat mass, rather than glucose tolerance, impacts on feed intake during lactation.

Effects of viscosity and fermentability of dietary fibre on nutrient digestibility and digesta characteristics in ileal-cannulated grower pigs

Relative contributions of two functional properties, viscosity and fermentability of dietary fibre, on apparent ileal digestibility (AID), apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), digesta passage rate, N retention and SCFA concentration have not been established. Thus, eight ileal-cannulated pigs randomised in a double 4 × 4 Latin square were fed four diets based on maize starch and casein supplemented with 5 % of actual fibre in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: low-fermentable, low-viscous cellulose (CEL); low-fermentable, high-viscous carboxymethylcellulose (CMC); high-fermentable, low-viscous oat β-glucan (LBG); high-fermentable, high-viscous oat β-glucan (HBG). Viscosity and fermentability interacted to affect (P < 0·001) digesta viscosity and AID and ATTD of nutrients. These properties tended to interact to affect (P < 0·10) digesta passage rate and butyrate. Pigs fed the CMC diet had the lowest (P < 0·05) digesta passage rate and the highest (P < 0·001) AID of energy, crude protein and DM, and ATTD of energy and DM. Post-ileal DM digestibility was highest (P < 0·001) for pigs fed the CEL and HBG diets. Post-ileal DM digestibility had a negative, curvilinear relationship with the AID of energy and crude protein (R2 0·85 and 0·72, respectively; P < 0·001). Digesta viscosity had a less strong relationship with the AID of energy and crude protein (R2 0·45 and 0·36, respectively; P < 0·001). In conclusion, high-viscous, low-fermentable dietary fibre increases the proportion of a diet that is digested in the small intestine by reducing digesta passage rate.

Effect of dietary fibre on reproductive performance of sows during the first two parities

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary fibre on reproductive performance during the first two parities. Gilts were randomly allocated to receive three fibrous diets from days 1-90 of gestation, including low fibre [low fiber (LF), 10.8% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), n=132], middle fibre [middle fiber (MF), 15.8% NDF, n=132] and high fibre diet (HF, 20.8% NDF, n=135), until completion of the second parity. Response criteria included backfat measurements, litter size and pig weight at parturition and day 22 of lactation, weaning-oestrus-interval, oestrus rate, sow farrowing and culling rate, uniformity of newborns and relative organ weights. The results showed sows fed LF diet in parity 1 gained more backfat (p<0.05) during gestation but lost more (p<0.05) during lactation than sows fed HF diet. Furthermore, sows fed LF diet farrowed more pigs (+0.7-1.1 pigs, p<0.05) and pigs born alive (+1.0 pigs, p<0.05) relative to sows fed HF diet. Likewise, sows fed LF and MF diets had greater litter weights at parturition (both p=0.06) and day 22 after lactation (both p<0.05). In parity 2, yet, it was MF diet to increase both total pigs born and pigs born alive (+0.9-1.1 pigs, p<0.05) and litter weight (p=0.05) relative to other diets. After 22 d of lactation, intriguingly, sows fed HF diet had most pigs alive (p<0.01-0.07) and heavier litter weight (p=0.07 or 0.2). Feeding HF diet also increased internal organs weight of newborns (p<0.05). Collectively, feeding LF and MF diets had beneficial effects on litter weight at parturition and day 22 of lactation in parity 1, and feeding MF diet until parity 2 was able to improve litter size and weight at parturition, but this positive effect disappeared after 22 days of lactation, instead feeding HF diet showed the optimal litter performance.

Effects of dietary fiber and its components on metabolic health

Dietary fiber and whole grains contain a unique blend of bioactive components including resistant starches, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants. As a result, research regarding their potential health benefits has received considerable attention in the last several decades. Epidemiological and clinical studies demonstrate that intake of dietary fiber and whole grain is inversely related to obesity, type two diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Defining dietary fiber is a divergent process and is dependent on both nutrition and analytical concepts. The most common and accepted definition is based on nutritional physiology. Generally speaking, dietary fiber is the edible parts of plants, or similar carbohydrates, that are resistant to digestion and absorption in the small intestine. Dietary fiber can be separated into many different fractions. Recent research has begun to isolate these components and determine if increasing their levels in a diet is beneficial to human health. These fractions include arabinoxylan, inulin, pectin, bran, cellulose, β-glucan and resistant starch. The study of these components may give us a better understanding of how and why dietary fiber may decrease the risk for certain diseases. The mechanisms behind the reported effects of dietary fiber on metabolic health are not well established. It is speculated to be a result of changes in intestinal viscosity, nutrient absorption, rate of passage, production of short chain fatty acids and production of gut hormones. Given the inconsistencies reported between studies this review will examine the most up to date data concerning dietary fiber and its effects on metabolic health.

Dietary effects of distillers dried grains with solubles on performance and milk composition of lactating sows

A study was conducted to evaluate the dietary effect of adding increasing concentrations of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to corn- and soybean meal-based sow lactation diets on sow and litter performance, energy and N digestibility, plasma urea N (PUN), and milk fat and protein concentrations. Mixed-parity sows [n = 307; 221 ± 15 kg of BW, 4.54 parities, litter size of 10.6, and litter weight at birth (alive) of 15.14 kg] were assigned randomly to 1 of 5 dietary treatments: control (CON; corn-soybean meal); 10, 20, and 30% DDGS; and 30% DDGS high-protein (HP) diets. Sows were moved to farrowing rooms on d 109 of gestation and were fed the dietary treatments until weaning. Within each treatment group, feces and urine for energy and N digestibility analysis (from d 10 to 12 of lactation) and blood for PUN analysis and milk fat and protein concentrations (on d 0 and 19 of lactation) were collected from 6 randomly chosen parity 3 to 5 sows. There were no dietary effects (P = 0.10) of DDGS on ADFI of sows and sow backfat change. However, sows fed 30% DDGS HP lost more BW compared with sows fed CON (P < 0.05). There were no dietary effects (P = 0.71) of DDGS on preweaning mortality of piglets, litter weight gain, and piglet ADG. Dietary treatments did not affect (P > 0.05) DE, ME, N retention, or N digestibility of the diets. There were no differences in the concentrations of fat and protein in milk at weaning (d 19) among dietary treatments. Sows fed 20 and 30% DDGS had less (P < 0.05) PUN at weaning (d 19) than sows fed CON and 30% DDGS HP. Inclusion of up to 30% DDGS in a lactation diet did not affect (P > 0.05) sow and litter performance, DE and ME contents of the diets, N retention and digestibility, and milk composition compared with sows fed a corn-soybean meal CON diet. It was concluded that addition of up to 30% DDGS in a lactation diet will support satisfactory sow and litter performance.

Effect of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber on embryo survival and sow performance

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of soluble (SF) and insoluble (ISF) dietary fiber during gestation on embryo survival and sow performance. In Exp. 1, 43 gilts were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 experimental diets: a corn-soybean meal control (C; 1.16% SF, 9.98% ISF); a 30% oat bran high in SF (HS; 3.02% SF, 10.06% ISF); a 12% wheat straw diet high in ISF (HIS; 1.08% SF, 18.09% ISF); and a 21% soybean hull diet (HS + HIS; 2.46% SF, 24.55% ISF). Gilts were fed the experimental diets based on their initial BW to meet their daily nutrient requirements. At estrus, gilts were inseminated artificially 3 times using pooled semen. Reproductive tracts were harvested 32 d postmating (range = 28 to 35 d). Statistical analysis of data included the effects of diet with days of gestation as a covariate. There were no differences in ovulation rate among gilts fed the experimental diets (avg. = 14.1). Number of live embryos was less for HIS and HS + HIS gilts compared with C and HS (9.9 and 9.1 vs. 11.9 and 10.6, respectively; P < 0.05). Total embryo survival rate (P < 0.05) was less for gilts fed HS + HIS compared with those fed the C and HS diets. These results suggest that high dietary ISF might decrease the total embryo survival rate without affecting ovulation rate. In Exp. 2, 716 sows were used in 3 concurrent trials. In trial 1, diets included a corn-soybean meal control (C; 0.43% SF, 10.50% ISF; n = 122) or a 31% oat bran diet (HS; 1.93% SF, 8.87% ISF; n = 124). In trial 2, diets included a C (n = 97) or a 13% wheat straw diet (HIS; 1.10% SF, 17.67% ISF; n = 119), and in trial 3 sows were fed a C (n = 123) or a 21% soybean hull diet (HS + HIS; 1.50% SF, 17.77% ISF; n = 131). All diets were offered to sows beginning 2 d postmating. All sows had ad libitum access to a standard lactation diet. Statistical analysis included the effects of diet, parity group, genetic line, and season as well as their interactions. The inclusion of SF and ISF in gestation diets did not affect litter size. Sows fed the HS + HIS diet had a greater ADFI and lost less BW during lactation (P < 0.01) than sows fed C. Under the conditions of this study, feeding gestating sows increased levels of SF and ISF from d 2 after breeding to d 109 of gestation did not increase litter size.