Effects Of Dietary Fiber Levels Research Articles

A computer vision-based approach for behavior recognition of gestating sows fed different fiber levels during high ambient temperature.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate convolutional neural network models and computer vision techniques for the classification of swine posture with high accuracy and to use the derived result in the investigation of the effect of dietary fiber level on the behavioral characteristics of the pregnant sow under low and high ambient temperatures during the last stage of gestation. A total of 27 crossbred sows (Yorkshire × Landrace; average body weight, 192.2 ± 4.8 kg) were assigned to three treatments in a randomized complete block design during the last stage of gestation (days 90 to 114). The sows in group 1 were fed a 3% fiber diet under neutral ambient temperature; the sows in group 2 were fed a diet with 3% fiber under high ambient temperature (HT); the sows in group 3 were fed a 6% fiber diet under HT. Eight popular deep learning-based feature extraction frameworks (DenseNet121, DenseNet201, InceptionResNetV2, InceptionV3, MobileNet, VGG16, VGG19, and Xception) used for automatic swine posture classification were selected and compared using the swine posture image dataset that was constructed under real swine farm conditions. The neural network models showed excellent performance on previously unseen data (ability to generalize). The DenseNet121 feature extractor achieved the best performance with 99.83% accuracy, and both DenseNet201 and MobileNet showed an accuracy of 99.77% for the classification of the image dataset. The behavior of sows classified by the DenseNet121 feature extractor showed that the HT in our study reduced (p < 0.05) the standing behavior of sows and also has a tendency to increase (p = 0.082) lying behavior. High dietary fiber treatment tended to increase (p = 0.064) lying and decrease (p < 0.05) the standing behavior of sows, but there was no change in sitting under HT conditions.

Review: Effects of Dietary Fiber Levels and Composition on the Intestinal Health of Finishing Pigs

Despite the fact that dietary fiber is predominant in common feedstuff, its level in the diets of monogastrics has seen a proportional increment with the inclusion of co-products. The source and composition of DF could be liable for enormous varieties in their use. A study carried out by scientists proposed that three major components constitute gut health: the diet, the mucosa, and the commensal microbiota. 70% of total body immune cells constitute the gastrointestinal tract of pigs, therefore it is important that it is included when defining intestinal health. Gut health is of substantial importance in the maintenance of growth performance and overall health of monogastrics. The fermentation of DF results in SCFA which enhances mucosal epithelial proliferation and villus height. Nonetheless, supplementing dietary fiber to the diet in moderation may result in an increase in gut size, volume, length and morphological structure of pigs and other non-ruminants. Gut health maintenance exhibits a certain level of complexity and a subtle balance between mucosa, diet, the commensal microflora, including the digestive epithelium and along with mucous overlaying it. The microbial changes of dietary fiber to monosaccharides in the gut include various principal occasions (reactions) intervened by the enzymatic collection of particularized groups from the gut microbiota. Because fermentation is dependent upon source, structure and physio-chemical properties of dietary fiber, it is therefore of great importance to have as much data as possible on various types of dietary fiber and how intestinal health can be enhanced by them. Thus, there is growing evidence that dietary fiber may have prebiotic effects in pigs. In addition, dietary fiber in diets improves pigs well-being by increasing satiety, influencing behaviour and improving overall health. This review aims to shed more light on the dietary fiber levels and composition on the intestinal health of finishing pigs.

Optimum dietary fiber level could improve growth, plasma biochemical indexes and liver function of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides

An 8 week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary fiber levels on growth, plasma biochemical parameters and liver function of juvenile largemouth bass. Five isonitrogenous (49% crude protein) and isolipidic (11% crude lipid) diets were formulated to contain 1.24%, 3.43%, 5.12%, 6.95% and 8.50% fiber levels, respectively. Four groups of largemouth bass were randomly assigned to each diet. The results indicated that largemouth bass fed the diets containing 8.5% fiber had significantly lower weight gain (WG) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) than those fed the other fiber diet. The whole-body lipid and liver lipid contents and hepatosomatic index (HSI) decreased with increasing dietary fiber levels，while whole-body protein content rose. Meanwhile, plasma triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) contents and aspartate transaminase (AST) activity significantly decreased as dietary fiber levels increased, whereas plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity significantly rose. The carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-1), adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activities and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR-α) content in liver significantly increased with increasing dietary fiber levels. Furthermore, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and oxide synthase (NOS) increased and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver decreased significantly as dietary fiber levels increased. In addition, the liver histological investigation showed an improvement in liver histostructure at high fiber levels. These findings indicated that dietary fiber levels could improve liver function and antioxidant ability of M.salmoides; also, higher dietary fiber levels have a positive impact and decrease the potential risk of disease in M. salmoides. Based on WG, a dietary fiber level of 4.07% was optimal for growth performance of juvenile largemouth bass.

Optimal Dietary Fiber Intake to Retain a Greater Ovarian Follicle Reserve for Gilts.

Simple SummarySuccessful development of replacement gilts plays a critical role for sustainable swine production, whereas most gilts entering the breeding herd are culled at a young age. Recent advances in reproductive physiology revealed that the ovarian reserve could be considered as an important target of improving reproductive span. Therefore, in the present study, we hypothesized that ovarian follicle development and survival could be enhanced by dietary fiber. Currently there is no appropriate level of dietary fiber intake for growing replacement gilts despite the fact that dietary fiber, rather than starch, protein, or feeding allowance level, could improve the fertility of gilts. Results in the present study demonstrated that ovarian follicle development and survival were sensitive to dietary fiber levels. Our results shed light on the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of dietary fiber on the reproduction of sows and provided nutritional insights for enhancing the lifetime fertility of pigs by targeting the ovarian reserve.Ovarian follicle activation and survival were recently found to be controlled by nutrient sensors AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and apoptosis related markers Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2, yet their expression as regulated by dietary fiber remained uncertain for gilts. To investigate the effects of dietary fiber levels on ovarian follicle development, and the cellular molecular components related to follicle activation and survival of gilts, 76 gilts with similar bodyweight and age were fed four diets, including a corn-soybean meal based control diet, or other three diets to consume 50%, 75%, and 100% more dietary fiber than the control gilts at different experimental phases. Inulin and cellulose (1:4) were added to the corn-soybean meal basal diet to increase dietary fiber content. The growth traits, and the age, bodyweight, and backfat thickness at puberty were not affected by diets. The number of primordial follicles and total follicles per cubic centimeter of ovarian tissue linearly increased with dietary fiber level at day 30 of the experiment and at the 19th day of the 3rd estrous cycle, without negatively affecting the formation of antral follicle with diameter between 1–3 mm or larger than 3 mm. These changes were associated with altered phosphorylation of mTOR, S6, Extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and AMPK, and mRNA expression of Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissues. Collectively, this study demonstrated a beneficial effect of dietary fiber on the ovarian follicle reserve in gilts, which provides a basis for enhancing reproduction in the short- or long-term.

Effects of dietary-fiber levels on RANK/RANKL/OPG expression in the appendix of weanling rabbits.

The dietary fiber can regulate the intestinal mucosal immunity, and the M cell is the portal for initiating mucosal immunity. We investigated the effects of dietary fiber on the transport of Escherichia coli to assess the function of microfold (M) cells in the appendix. A total of 150 New Zealand rabbits were fed three diets (high fiber (HF): 31.72%; control: 37.36%; low dietary fiber (LF): 41.84%; neutral detergent fiber (NDF). An infection model was established invivo using E. coli containing green fluorescent protein as the indicator in appendix loops. Samples were collected before and after inoculation with indicator for 10, 30, or 60min. The M cells number, differentiation-related genes and proteins were monitored by respectively using immunofluorescence, Q-PCR and Western-blot. The number of M cells in HF group was significantly higher than that of LF group before and at 10min, 30min post injection with E.coli (P<0.01), which has an opposite at 60min. The number of fluorescent E. coli transported across the appendix was significantly increased in the HF group (P<0.01) compared with the LF group at 30min (P<0.001); expression of RANKL gene and protein levels were no difference between HF and LF group. The variation tendency of RANK, OPG genes and proteins were consistent with the change of M cell transport indicator number in different time points. Our study showed that a high-fiber diet can increase number of M cells and speed up antigen transfer under regulation of ANKL/OPG/RANK system.

Effects of dietary fiber levels on cecal microbiota composition in geese.

ObjectiveThis study shows the effects of dietary fiber levels on cecal microbiota composition in geese at day 70 according to pyrosequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene.MethodsA total of 468 1-day-old healthy male Yangzhou goslings with similar body weight were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 replicates per group and 26 geese per replicate. Geese were fed diets with fiber levels of 2.5% (low fiber level diet, Group I) and 6.1% (Group III) during days 1–70, respectively, or 4.3% for days 1–28 and 6.1% for days 29–70 (Group II).ResultsLow fiber level diet decreased body weight, average daily gain during, increased lower feed conversation rate of geese during day 1 to 70 (p<0.05). Low fiber level diet decreased the total operational taxonomic units, Chao1 index and Shannon index, whereas increased the Simpson index of cecal microbiota in geese at day 70. Low fiber level diet decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Bacteroides, and Paraprevotella in cecum of geese at day 70. The similarity of cecal microbiota between low fiber level diet group and other groups was smaller.ConclusionThis study indicates that the low fiber level diet decreased diversity of microbiota, and relative abundance of some beneficial microbiota in cecum of geese at day 70, implying that the low fiber level diet has negative influence on performance by altering the diversity and population of cecal microbiota in geese.

Effect of dietary fiber levels on performance, gizzard development, intestinal morphology, and nutrient utilization in meat ducks from 1 to 21 days of age

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of dietary fiber levels on growth performance, gizzard development, intestinal morphology, and nutrient utilization in Cherry Valley meat ducks. In total, 720 1-day-old ducklings were fed with starter diets (120 ducklings, 8 pens of 15 ducklings, on each diet) containing 6 levels of crude fiber (CF, 1.46, 3.09, 4.15, 6.18, 7.52, and 9.03%, based on analysis) for 21 d. Then, on d 22, ducks fed all of the starter diets were transferred to a grower diet (containing 4% CF) to examine the residual effect of starter dietary fiber levels until 35 d. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed to gain ratio (F:G) were recorded/calculated weekly. Ducks were sampled for gizzard development and intestinal morphology determination on d 7, 14, and 21. Nutrient utilization was assessed using 25- to 27-day-old ducks. The results showed that BW (d 21), BWG (d 15 to 21, d 1 to 21), and F:G (d 15 to 21, d 1 to 21, and d 1 to 35) were increased quadratically (P <0.01), and FI (all periods except for d 22 to 35) was increased linearly (P <0.01), when starter dietary CF levels increased from 1.46 to 9.03%. Ducks under 3.09% and 4.15% CF starter diets had decreased 1 to 35 d FI and F:G when compared to ducks under other starter diets. When compared to ducks fed 1.46% and 3.09% CF starter diets, ducks fed starter diet containing 7.52% CF had increased gizzard development, jejunal morphology, energy retention, excreta nutrients availability, and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of Arg, Ile, Leu, Thr, Val, Asp, Ala, Glu, Gly, Pro, Ser, and total amino acids. In conclusion, meat ducks from 1 to 21 d of age could adapt to a wide range (3.09% to 7.52%) of dietary fiber levels.

The effect of dietary fiber level on milk fat concentration and fatty acid profile of cows fed diets containing low levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary fiber level on milk fat concentration, yield, and fatty acid (FA) profile of cows fed diets low in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Six rumen-fistulated Holstein dairy cows (639±51kg of body weight) were used in the study. Cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments, a high fiber (HF; % of dry matter, 40% corn silage, 27% alfalfa silage, 7% alfalfa hay, 18% protein supplement, 4% ground corn, and 4% wheat bran) or a low fiber (LF; % of dry matter, 31% corn silage, 20% alfalfa silage, 5% alfalfa hay, 15% protein supplement, 19% ground wheat, and 10% ground barley) total mixed ration. The diets contained similar levels of PUFA. The experiment was conducted over a period of 4 wk. Ruminal pH was continuously recorded and milk samples were collected 3 times a week. Milk yield and dry matter intake were recorded daily. The rumen fluid in cows receiving the LF diet was below pH 5.6 for a longer duration than in cows receiving the HF diet (357 vs. 103 min/d). Neither diet nor diet by week interaction had an effect on milk yield (kg/d), milk fat concentration and yield, or milk protein concentration and yield. During wk 4, milk fat concentration and milk fat yield were high and not different between treatments (4.30% and 1.36 kg/d for the HF treatment and 4.31% and 1.33 kg/d for the LF treatment, respectively). Cows receiving the LF diet had greater milk concentrations (g/100g of FA) of 7:0; 9:0; 10:0; 11:0; 12:0; 12:1; 13:0; 15:0; linoleic acid; FA <C16; and PUFA; and lower concentrations of iso 15:0; 18:0; trans-9 18:1; cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA); trans-9, cis-12 18:2; 20:0; and cis-9 20:1 compared with cows receiving the HF diet. Milk concentrations (g/100g of FA) of total trans 18:1; trans-10 18:1; trans-11 18:1; trans-10, cis-12 CLA, and trans-9, cis-11 CLA were not different between treatments. The study demonstrated that cows fed a diet low in fiber and low in PUFA may exhibit subacute ruminal acidosis and moderate changes to milk fatty acid profile but without concomitant milk fat depression. The changes in FA profile may be useful for the diagnosis of SARA even in the absence of milk fat depression.

Effects of dietary fiber on performance of multiparous lactating sows in a tropical climate.

Sixty-two multiparous Large White sows were used to determine the effect of dietary fiber level on lactation performance according to season under conditions of a humid tropical climate. This experiment was conducted in Guadeloupe (West French Indies, lat 16 degrees N, long 61 degrees W) between October 1999 and January 2001. Two seasons were distinguished a posteriori from climatic measurements parameters continuously recorded in the farrowing room. During the warm season, ambient temperature and relative humidity averaged 25 degrees C and 86.8%, respectively. The corresponding values for the hot season were 27.5 degrees C and 83.5%. Experimental diets fed during lactation were a control diet (C; 14% neutral detergent fiber) and a high-fiber diet (HF; 20% neutral detergent fiber) obtained by substitution of wheat middlings by wheat bran. The two diets were formulated to provide the same ratios between essential amino acids and lysine and between lysine and net energy. No interaction between season and diet composition was found for all criteria studied. Over the 28-d lactation, average daily feed intake (ADFI) was lower and body weight loss was higher (P < 0.001) during the hot season compared to the warm season (3,447 vs 4,907 g/d and 33 vs 17 kg, respectively). The number of stillborn piglets was higher (P < 0.05) during the hot season than during the warm season (2.0 vs 1.1 piglets, respectively). Litter growth rate and mean BW of piglets at weaning were reduced (P < 0.01) during the hot season vs the warm season (2.1 vs 2.3 kg/d and 7.7 vs 8.3 kg, respectively). The ADFI was similar for both diets and digestible energy (DE) intake tended to be lower (P = 0.06) with the HF diet (54.9 vs 59.3 MJ of DE/d for C sows) in relation with its lower DE concentration. The body weight loss was greater (P < 0.01) for HF sows than for C sows (30 vs 21 kg). Compared with the C diet, the HF diet increased (P < 0.05) litter growth rate and piglet body weight at weaning (2.3 vs 2.1 kg/d and 8.3 vs 7.7 kg/d for HF vs C, respectively). Season and diet composition did not affect the weaning-to-estrus interval. In conclusion, the hot season in humid tropical climates, which combines high levels of temperature and humidity, has a major negative effect on the performance of lactating sows.

Digestive utilization of concentrated and fibrous diets by two peccary species ( Tayassu peccari, Tayassu tajacu) raised in French Guyana

Three experiments were carried out on 17 adult collared peccaries ( Tayassu tajacu) and 4 adult white-lipped peccaries ( Tayassu peccari) maintained in metabolic crates to measure the total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) and the rate of passage of feed. Experiment 1 concerned the effect of the species, experiment 2, the effect of the feeding level on TTAD and experiment 3, the effect of dietary fibre level on the rate of passage of feed. The TTAD of dietary components of a concentrated feed was similar to that observed in monogastric species (88.8% for gross energy, 83.3% for nitrogen), but TTAD of fibrous constituents was consistently higher in peccaries (62.0% for neutral detergent fibre NDF, 55.7% for acid detergent fibre ADF). No significant effects of the species nor level of feeding were observed. Average maintenance requirement for energy was estimated at 420 kJ digestible energy (DE)/kg metabolic body weight/day. Animals were able to use and digest a large proportion of fibrous material supplied by rice bran or by a tropical hay from Brachiaria humidicola but a linear decrease of 0.6% in TTAD for each increase of 1% dietary NDF level was observed. The TTAD of energy for rice bran and hay components was respectively 82.7 and 46.5% in connection with a high digestibility coefficient for NDF and ADF components of both products. Additional data indicated an increase in the mean retention time when animals were fed a hay based diet, suggesting a high digestive capacity of adults for fibrous diets. In conclusion, peccaries function more like ruminant animals than monogastric digestors. The present results could be a useful basis for formulation of appropriate diets and practical feeding of the peccary species raised in semi-intensive conditions.

Effect of dietary fibre level on amino acid digestibility in young pigs

Studies were carried out with 12 pigs (Yorkshire × Landrace) to determine the effect of dietary fibre level on amino acid digestibility. The pigs were weaned at 21 d of age and fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum at 23 or 24 d of age. The pigs were fed four isonitrogenous corn starch-based soybean meal diets (22.5 % crude protein) containing 4.3, 7.3, 10.3 and 13.3% Solkafloc according to a balanced two-period change-over design. The pigs were fed four times daily, equal amounts, at 6-h intervals. The diets were supplied at a rate of 5% of the average body weight which was determined at the initiation of the first (8.8 kg) and second (11.7 kg) experimental period. Each experimental period comprised 10 d. Feces were collected for 48 h on days 6 and 7 and ileal digesta for 24 h during days 8, 9 and 10. Chromic oxide was used as digestibility marker. The dietary inclusion of Solkafloc, up to 13.3 %, did not affect (P &gt; 0.05) the apparent ileal as well as the fecal digestibilities of crude protein and amino acids. In conclusion, starter pigs can tolerate up to 13.3% Solkafloc, equivalent to 16.8% neutral-detergent fibre, in corn starch-based soybean meal diets without a depression in amino acid digestibility. Key words: Young pigs, fibre, amino acids, digestibility

The effect of protein quality and fibre level in the diet and microbial activity in the digestive tract on protein utilization and energy digestibility in rats.

Two nitrogen-balance experiments were performed with growing rats to test the effect of dietary fibre level, protein quality and antibiotic inclusion on microbial activity, N excretion patterns and energy digestibility. Each experiments involved eight dietary treatments in a 2 X 2 X 2 factorial design, with five rats per treatment. The eight treatments resulted from a combination of two protein treatments, two fibre treatments and two antibiotic treatments. In Expt 1 the protein was provided as barley, or barley plus 2 g L-lysine hydrochloride/kg dry matter (DM) (at 15 g N/kg DM) and in Expt 2 as soya-bean meal or soya-bean meal plus 2 g DL-methionine/kg DM (at 15 g N/kg DM). In both experiments the basal diet was provided with or without additional fibre as 100 g barley husk/kg DM and with or without antibiotic as 7 g Nebacitin/kg DM. With both barley and soya-bean meal, true protein digestibility (TD) was improved with the addition of amino acids. Only with the soya-bean meal diets was TD increased with Nebacitin treatment, with the effect of Nebacitin and methionine being additive. Barley husk slightly reduced the TD of soya-bean meal. The effect of treatments on biological value (BV) was considerable. Lysine increased BV of the barley diet from 0.741 to 0.815 whereas Nebacitin reduced BV from 0.799 to 0.757. Methionine increased the BV of soya-bean meal from 0.754 to 0.911 while BV was reduced by Nebacitin from 0.843 to 0.821 and by barley husk from 0.845 to 0.820.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The Effect of Dietary Fibre Level and Microbial Activity in the Digestive Tract on Fat Metabolism in Rats and Pigs

The Effect of Dietary Fibre Level and Microbial Activity in the Digestive Tract on Fat Metabolism in Rats and Pigs

Value of Fiber in Production-Type Diets for Channel Catfish

The effect of dietary fiber level on growth and carcass composition of channel catfish and on pond water quality was studied by feeding fingerlings (30 per 20 m2 pond) practical type feeds that contained identical nutrient components but graded levels of fiber ranging from 2 to 20%. After 200 days, fish fed the 2%-fiber feed had gained 3,132 kg/hectare; this was significantly (P < 0.05) more than fish fed the 14%-fiber feed (2,468 kg/hectare) or 20%-fiber feed (2,532 kg/hectare), but not the 8%-fiber feed (2,705 kg/hectare). Fiber level had no significant effect on composition or dress-out percentage of the carcasses. In the last 30 to 60 days, the ponds receiving the higher fiber-diets showed lower dissolved oxygen than the others. Although previous work has indicated that added cellulose is beneficial in purified fish diets, results from this study suggest that fiber provides no nutritional benefit in production-type feeds for channel catfish and when fed in large amounts may lower water quality.

Effect of Dietary Fiber Level on Lactating Dairy Cows in the Humid Tropics

A single-reversal feeding trial involving 12 Holstein Friesian×Red Sindhi crossbred cows fed rations differing primarily in crude fiber content (12.5 vs. 18.5%, dry-matter basis) was conducted during January–April, 1966, to determine effects of fiber content of the ration on milk production and physiological responses of milking cows.Feeding of the low-fiber ration resulted in significant increases (P<.01) in the production of 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) and in per cent ruminal propionic acid; significant decreases (P<.01) in milk fat percentage, rectal temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and per cent ruminal acetic acid.In the humid tropics, fiber level should be considered in formulating rations for lactating cows. The significant rise in rectal temperature with increased fiber intake indicated an increased heat stress of the cows.

Short-Term Effects of Dietary Fiber Level on Feed Intake and Production by Well-Fed Cows

Twenty-four Holsteins, producing in excess of 27kg milk daily, were used in two 51-day Latin-square trials to study the effect of dietary fiber level on intake and performance. Data are presented on 22 cows, due to loss of one in each trial because of mastitis. Concentrates and forages were fed at set proportions to vary fiber intake. Forage was equal parts (dry matter basis) of corn silage and alfalfa hay. Feeds were offered to the extent of appetite of each cow, keeping to predetermined ratios of forage and concentrates. In Trial 1 fiber was 16.8, 15.8, and 15.2% of DM intake; and in Trial 2, 18.7, 15.7, and 14.1%. There were no significant differences among treatments with respect to intake of dry matter. Intake of total digestible nutrients (TDN) tended to be low on the highest fiber level, causing moderate weight loss. There were no differences in milk production or milk constituents. The exact point of maximum intake appeared to be determined by individual cow preferences for specific feeds. It is concluded that there was no advantage in dietary fiber levels lower than the middle (15.7–15.8%) values of these trials.