Abstract
The effect of cereal non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) on the gut microbial populations was studied in 5 growing pigs between 39–116 kg body weight according to a Latin square design. The diets were composed to contain different NSP levels. The control diet had a normal NSP content (139 g/kg dry matter (DM)), 2 diets had a low total amount of NSP (95 and 107 g/kg DM) and 2 diets had a high amount of total NSP (191 and 199 g/kg DM). Furthermore, one of the diets within each category had a content of insoluble NSP similar to the control diet and one had a high content of insoluble NSP. Samples were collected from the ileum, via intestinal post valve T-caecum (PVTC) cannulas surgically inserted at the ileo-caecal ostium, and from the rectum. The total microbial flora of the ileal samples were analysed for by defining base pair length with terminal restriction fraction length polymorphism (T-RFLP). The microbial diversity of the coliform flora of the ileal and rectal samples were defined by biochemical fingerprinting. It was observed that many terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) disappeared when new diets were introduced and that some characteristic TRFs were found in the high and low NSP diets, respectively. Both the total gut microflora and the coliform flora were influenced by the dietary NSP content.
Highlights
Gastro-intestinal disturbances constitute a common problem in pig production (Hampson et al 2001), causing both animal welfare problems as well as economical losses
The terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) of 298 and 408 base pairs of length were observed in the control diet and the High nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) diets but not in the Low NSP diets, whereas the reverse was true for the terminal restriction fractions of 519 and 571 base pairs of length
As the control diet and the High NSP diets induced a higher proportion of propionic acid, while the Low NSP diets induced a higher proportion of acetic acid, this suggests that the dietary content of total NSP influenced the amount of acetic and propionic acid producing microbes in the ileocaecal ostium
Summary
Gastro-intestinal disturbances constitute a common problem in pig production (Hampson et al 2001), causing both animal welfare problems as well as economical losses. Previous studies have shown that both type and inclusion level of dietary fibre in pig diets influences the bacterial density and composition (Jensen & Jørgensen 1994, Durmic et al 1998, 2000). In this context, nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) constitute fibre fractions of special interest. Carbohydrates, and especially NSP, are the main energy source for microbial fermentation in the large intestine (Bach Knudsen & Jensen 1991), and it has been shown that the NSP content in the feed is related to the clinical expression of swine dysentery (Pluske et al 1996). The influence of different feed compositions was monitored by scrutinising the whole microbial flora at the ileum with terminal restriction fraction length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and by defining the diversity of the coliform populations at the ileum and in the rectum with biochemical fingerprinting
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
