Ileal Dry Matter Digestibility Research Articles

Effect of broiler chicken age on ileal digestibility of corn germ meal - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v34i2.11812

The objective of this research study was to evaluate the effect of age on the apparent ileal digestibility coefficient of nutrients, gross energy and digestible energy of corn germ meal for broilers. Four digestibility trials were conducted using 280 broilers (Cobb 500) distributed in a completely randomized design with two treatments and five replications, repeated at four ages (10, 20, 30 and 40 days). The number of birds used in the tests was 10, 8, 6 and 4 birds per experimental unit at the different ages. The results were analyzed considering as dependent variable the apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and gross energy, digestible dry matter, digestible crude protein, lipid and digestible energy; and ages (10, 20, 30 and 40 days) as the independent variable. The results for the variables showed that bird age exerted influence only in the ileal digestibility of dry matter and gross energy. The digestible energy of corn germ meal increased by about 13 kcal kg -1 day -1 up to the evaluated age (40 days).

Supplementation of β-mannanase to starter and grower diets for broilers

Kong, C., Lee, J. H. and Adeola, O. 2011. Supplementation of β-mannanase to starter and grower diets for broilers. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 389–397. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of β-mannanase on ileal nutrient digestibility, total tract utilization of dry matter (DM), N, energy, and apparent metabolizable energy (AME, exp. 1), and growth performance (exp. 2) of birds fed practical corn-soybean meal (SBM)-based diets. In each experiment, 192 male broilers were assigned to four diets arranged in a 2×2 factorial of energy level [corn-SBM-based diet that met or exceeded NRC nutrient requirements (AE) or low energy (LE) diet containing 100 kcal of ME kg−1 less than the AE diet] and enzyme supplementation (with or without β-mannanase) for 21 d. Supplementing the diet with β-mannanase increased the birds’ apparent ileal DM digestibility of the experimental diets (P<0.05), whereas there was no effect of energy level. Neither β-mannanase supplementation nor energy level had any effect on apparent ileal digestibility of any of the amino acids. The interaction between enzyme and energy levels was not significant for any criteria measured in the excreta except for DM (P=0.05). Addition of β-mannanase improved (P<0.01) the apparent total tract utilization of DM and energy in the broilers, and there was the same trend (P=0.06) for N utilization. Supplementing the diet with β-mannanase also improved the AME and AMEn of diets by 4.6 and 5.0%, respectively. For all growth performance responses in exp. 2, the interaction between enzyme and energy levels was not significant. During the starter period (day 2 to 22 post-hatch), β-mannanase supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased the body weight (BW) gain of birds. During the grower period (day 22 to 44 post-hatch) and for the overall period there was no significant difference in BW gain or feed intake of birds regardless of energy level and β-mannanase supplementation. There were no dietary effects on feed efficiency of birds during the starter and the grower periods, whereas the birds fed AE diets had higher feed efficiency (P<0.01) than the birds fed LE diets. The results indicate that supplementing with β-mannanase may improve gain and energy utilization of broilers, whereas it may not affect ileal amino acid digestibility.

High-fibre sunflower cake affects small intestinal digestion and health in broiler chickens

1. An experiment was conducted to evaluate high-fibre sunflower cake (HF-SFC); a feed ingredient distinguished by large amounts of crude fibre and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides (i-NSP). 2. Broiler chickens (n = 160) were fed on pelleted maize-based diets free from coccidiostats and antibiotic growth promoters between 15 and 31 d of age. Diets included 0, 10, 20 or 30% HF-SFC. Performance and small intestinal health were assessed. 3. In general, HF-SFC inclusion mediated significant linear increases in ileal digestibility of fat and protein and significant linear decreases in ileal digestibility of dry matter, ash and energy. 4. Weight gain increased linearly with HF-SFC inclusion. Feed conversion was negatively affected by 30% HF-SFC but not by 20% HF-SFC. 5. In the jejunal lumen, inclusion of HF-SFC was associated with significant decreases in colony counts of Clostridium spp. 6. HF-SFC inclusion resulted in significant linear reductions of villus height, thickness of muscularis mucosa, and the circular and longitudinal layers of muscularis in the jejunum. Crypt depth and submucosal thickness were not affected. 7. The data indicate that broiler chickens may thrive on feeds with insoluble fibre contents far exceeding those used in practice, and that HF-SFC exerts some positive effects on digestion and small intestinal health.

Fermentation of cereals — Influence on digestibility of nutrients in growing pigs

A study was carried out to determine the impact of fermentation of two cereals, barley and wheat, on chemical composition and nutrient digestibility in the small intestine and the total tract of growing pigs. Fermented liquid cereals were prepared by mixing either barley or wheat and water (25 °C) at a ratio of 1:2.75 (wt/wt). Four experimental diets consisting of either dry or fermented barley or wheat, supplemented with a protein mixture (not fermented) were formulated to contain recommended levels of nutrients. Eight pigs from two litters were surgically fitted with a T-cannula anterior to the ileo-cecal junction and fed one of the four experimental diets according to a repeated 4 × 4 Latin-square design. The fermentation process was followed by measuring the changes in the major nutrients, microbial composition and organic acid concentrations. Fermentation caused a reduced concentration of carbohydrates and an increased concentration of Klason lignin; the latter indicates that some dry matter was lost during fermentation. Fermentation improved the ileal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and energy of barley by 6% and of wheat by 3%. The higher content of potentially fermentable components in barley was the most probable explanation for the results obtained.

Fructans from Renga Renga Lily (Arthropodium cirratum) Extract and Frutafit as Prebiotics for Broilers: Their Effects on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary water-soluble carbohydrate extract from Renga renga lily (Arthropodium cirratum) and a commercial product, Frutafit ® (both fructans) on the performance, organ weights, ileal digestibility and gut morphology of male Cobb broiler chickens. There were six treatment groups: a negative control with no supplements, a positive control supplemented with 45 ppm Zn-bacitracin, and four test diets each supplemented with Renga renga lily extract or Frutafit at 5 or 10 g/kg diet. Supplementation with low levels of Renga renga lily extract and Frutafit in the diet did not affect productive parameters, whereas the inclusion of a high level of Frutafit had a negative effect on BWG and FI compared with birds fed the negative control diet. The addition of an antibiotic to the diet significantly improved (p 0.05) by supplementation with both levels of lily extract and the low level of Frutafit. The apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, protein and fat was decreased (p<0.05) by the high level of Frutafit. The apparent metabolisable energy (AME) of the diets fed the high level of Frutafit was approximately 0.2 MJ/kg DM lower than that of the negative control group. The addition of Zn-bacitracin increased (p<0.05) the apparent ileal digestibility of fat. The relative weight of the liver was higher (p<0.05) in broilers supplemented with the high level of Frutafit than for negative control birds at 14 and 35 d of age. Feeding Renga renga lily extract or Frutafit had no effect on the gut morphology of birds on d 14 and 35. It can be concluded that dietary inclusion of fructans from the two sources used in this study affected broiler performance differently and in a dose-dependent manner.

Effect of Betaine on Ileal and Total Tract Digestibilities and Concentrations of Bacterial Metabolites in Piglets

Ratriyanto, A., Eklund, M., Jezierny, D. and Mosenthin, R. 2009. Effect of betaine on ileal and total tract digestibilities and concentrations of bacterial metabolites in piglets. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 36: 185–190. To investigate the effects of dietary betaine supplementation on ileal and total tract nutrient digestibilities and intestinal bacterial fermentation characteristics, 4 barrows (8.6 kg) were fitted with simple T-cannulae at the distal ileum. They were randomly allocated to a basal diet without or with 4.5 g betaine per kg assay diet (Betaine) with 4 repeated measurement periods. The betaine supplementation increased (P<0.05) ileal digestibility of dry matter by 1.2 percentage units and tended to increase ileal crude fiber (P=0.068) and glycine (P=0.057) digestibilities by 7.5 and 3.3 percentage units, respectively. Furthermore, betaine supplementation tended (P=0.117) to increase total tract crude fiber digestibility by 4.7percentage units. Moreover, dietary betaine inclusion increased ileal short-chain fatty acid and fecal diaminopimelic acid concentrations (P<0.05), which indicates intensified intestinal bacterial activity. In conclusion, dietary betaine stimulates bacterial fermentation of fiber in the small and large intestine.

Broiler performance and in vivo viscosity as influenced by a range of xylanases, varying in ability to effect wheat in vitro viscosity

1. Exogenous enzymes such as xylanase are used in diets for broilers to eliminate anti-nutritive effects caused by the presence of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). It has been proposed that the mechanism by which xylanases exert their effect is through reducing in vivo viscosity within the broiler digestive tract. Previous research has reported that in vitro viscosity was a reasonable predictor of in vivo viscosity and that this method could be used to assess the efficacy of xylanases. 2. The objective of this study was to examine the response of broilers offered a wheat-based diet supplemented with a range of xylanases, varying in ability to reduce in vitro viscosity. 3. A total of 18 xylanases (Syngenta Animal Nutrition) were used to investigate the effect of xylanase on wheat in vitro viscosity. For the in vitro viscosity assay, pepsin was dissolved in either 0⋅05 or 0⋅1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl). 4. A wheat-based diet was formulated, produced and split into 7 batches; xylanase (500 U/kg) was sprayed onto 6 of the batches and the 7th was the control. This was repeated three times to produce a total of 21 diets, 18 of which contained xylanase. 5. The experiment was conducted in three consecutive trials. Each trial utilised 63 male, Ross broilers from 7 to 28 d of age. Dry matter intake (DMI), liveweight gain (LWG) and gain:feed were determined weekly. Excreta were collected from d 14 to 21 for determination of apparent metabolisable energy (AME). Oil and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility and ileal digestibility of dry matter (DM) and starch were determined. 6. Regression analyses were applied to the mean intestinal viscosity against DMI, LWG, gain:feed and the ratio of metabolisable energy to gross energy (ME:GE). To compare xylanases across the three trials, the data were subjected to REML analysis (Genstat 5). 7. When 0⋅1 M HCl was used for dissolution of pepsin, considerable reductions in in vitro viscosity were achieved for the majority of the xylanases–to values less than 12% of the control treatment. When 0⋅05 M HCl was used for the dissolution of pepsin, initial viscosity values were lower and the reduction in in vitro viscosity less dramatic than that observed with 0⋅1 M HCl. 8. With the exception of diets containing xylanases 9003 and 7162, significant reductions in in vivo viscosity were observed for diets containing xylanase in comparison to the control diet. 9. In terms of gain:feed, ME:GE and AME the xylanases ranked best were 2230 and 9003. Xylanase 2230 also resulted in the highest values for ileal DM and starch digestibility. 10. There were weak but significant relationships between in vitro viscosity and in vivo jenjunal digesta viscosity when in vitro viscosity was determined using either 0⋅1 or 0⋅05 M HCl (r 2= 0⋅287 and 0⋅240, respectively). 11. The relationship between jejunal viscosity and DMI was significant (P < 0⋅05) but relatively poor (r 2= 0⋅23). There were also significant (P < 0⋅05) relationships between jejunal digestal viscosity and gain:feed and ME:GE (r 2= 0⋅34 and 0⋅28, respectively). 12. In conclusion, in vitro viscosity may be of some use in predicating xylanase response in vivo.

Intestinal function and gut microflora of broiler chickens as influenced by cereal grains and microbial enzyme supplementation

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of the key cereal grains and a microbial enzyme supplement on broiler chicken performance, gut microflora and intestinal function. Ingestion of the barley-based diet was associated with low 28-day body weight, decreased feed intake and high FCR. The supplemental enzyme increased feed intake and weight gain of the chickens on a wheat-based diet. The pH of the gizzard and caecal contents varied with the grain type. Enzyme supplementation reduced ileal viscosity, particularly in birds that received the diet based on wheat. The birds on the barley-based diet had lower ileal digestibility of dry matter, protein and energy than those given maize and sorghum-based diets. The ileal digestibility of starch was increased by enzyme supplementation. Enzyme supplementation increased the number of total anaerobic bacteria in the gizzard of birds fed on sorghum and increased lactobacilli in the gizzard of those fed both sorghum and wheat. The birds fed the sorghum-based diet had the lowest counts of caecal total anaerobic bacteria and lactobacilli. Jejunal villus height and villus:crypt ratio of birds fed the barley-based diet were the lowest when compared with those fed the other diets. Enzyme application induced an increase in villus height and villus:crypt ratio of birds on wheat, crypt depth on barley and a reduction in crypt depth of chickens on the sorghum-based diets. The highest activity of maltase and the lowest activity of sucrase were observed in tissue from birds fed on maize and sorghum-based diets respectively. The differences in the performance of broilers on cereal grains could be explained by changes in intestinal morphology, enzyme activities and gut microflora as well as nutrient digestibility. The improved performance by supplemental enzyme in wheat-fed chickens was associated with beneficial changes in intestinal morphology and digesta viscosity.

Effect on digestion and performance of dietary protein content and of increased substitution of lucerne hay with soya-bean protein concentrate in starter diets for young rabbits

The aim of this work was to study the effect of protein source / availability on the intestinal microbiota, digestive traits and nutritional performance of early-weaned rabbits. The effects of supplemental antibiotics in the drinking water were also evaluated. Four isoenergetic and isofibrous diets were formulated: a control diet with a high protein (207 g/kg dry matter (DM)) and lucerne hay content (HPHL), a diet with low crude protein (CP) (179 g/kg DM) and high lucerne hay content (LPHL) and low protein diets in which the lucerne hay in diet LPHL was replaced partially (LPML) or totally (LPLL) with soya-bean protein concentrate. Rabbits, weaned at 25 days (52 per diet), were fed the experimental diets for a 2-week period and thereafter received a commercial diet until 56 days of age. The incidence of mortality was investigated using 70 animals per diet without supplemental medication. The profile of the ileal microbiota was studied at 35 days of age in rabbits treated (18 per diet) or not (12 per diet) with antibiotic. As expected, supplementation with antibiotics effectively reduced fattening mortality rate and microbial biodiversity. However, lowering of also the dietary CP content led to a reduction in the mortality rate ( P < 0.05), both in animals treated with (by 80%) or without (by 39%) antibiotics. In addition, there was a reduction ( P < 0.05) in the frequency of Clostridium perfringens in non-medicated animals. Neither jejunal morphology nor growth performance, over the whole fattening period, was affected by dietary CP content of the experimental diets. However, with HPHL, feed efficiency was higher (by 4.8%; P < 0.01) than with LPHL diets. Substitution of lucerne hay with soya-bean meal in low protein diets did not affect apparent faecal or ileal digestibility of DM and CP. However, the ileal digestibility of cystine, alanine, aspartic acid, and proline was lowered ( P < 0.05) with increasing substitution by soya bean. Nevertheless, ileal CP flow, incidence of mortality and presence of C. perfringens were unaffected. Our results suggest that a reduction in dietary CP, resulting in reduced lumenal flows of nitrogen through the ileum, may be beneficial for young rabbits and limit the numbers of potentially harmful bacteria in the lower gut. Modulation of dietary CP should be contemplated as a strategy to increase the intestinal health in rabbits.

Dietary cholecalciferol and phosphorus influence intestinal mucosa phytase activity in broiler chicks

1. The role of cholecalciferol and phosphorus in the regulation of intestinal mucosa phytase was investigated in broiler chicks. 2. A total of 144 7-d-old male broiler chicks were grouped by weight into 6 blocks of 4 cages with 6 broiler chicks per cage. Four maize–soybean meal-based mash diets were randomly assigned to cages within each block. The 4 diets consisted of cholecalciferol at 0 or 75 µg/kg and total phosphorus at 3·6 or 7·0 g/kg in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The birds were given the experimental diets for 12 d under conditions which excluded ultraviolet light. 3. Broiler chicks fed on diets with the higher concentration of cholecalciferol had higher V max and K m of the mucosa phytase, weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and percentage tibia ash, higher ileal digestibility of dry matter, energy, phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca), and increased retention of dry matter, nitrogen, P, Ca and energy. 4. Broiler chicks receiving diets with the higher P concentration showed lower V max and K m of the intestinal mucosa phytase but greater weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and percentage tibia ash, higher ileal digestibility of dry matter, energy, P and nitrogen, and increased retention of dry matter, energy, nitrogen and Ca. 5. In conclusion, both dietary P and cholecalciferol influenced the activity of intestinal mucosa phytase.

Starch but not protein digestibility is altered in pigs fed transgenic peas containing α‐amylase inhibitor

AbstractEighteen individually housed boars were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments, an experimental wheat diet containing 989.4 g kg−1 of a basal wheat diet, or this experimental wheat diet with 500 g kg−1 of the basal wheat diet replaced with 500 g kg−1 of either transgenic or non‐transgenic peas. The transgenic peas expressed the bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) α‐amylase inhibitor 1 gene. Diets contained n‐hexatriacontane (0.2 g kg−1) as an indigestible marker to allow the determination of nutrient digestibility at the terminal ileum. Pigs were offered 1.6 kg day−1 for 15 days, after which they were anaesthetised, the ileal and faecal digesta collected and the pigs subsequently euthanased. The ileal dry matter and starch digestibilities of the experimental wheat, non‐transgenic and transgenic pea diets were 78.3, 74.2 and 45.8% and 95.9, 95.2 and 42.4%, respectively. The apparent nutrient digestibilities of the non‐transgenic and transgenic peas were determined by difference. The ileal dry matter digestibility was significantly reduced in the transgenic peas compared with the non‐transgenic peas (12.7 and 69.9%, respectively; P = 0.006), which was largely due to a reduced starch digestibility. The apparent crude protein digestibilities of the transgenic peas were similar to the non‐transgenic, being 79.7 and 78.5%, respectively. The amino acid digestibilities of the transgenic and non‐transgenic peas were also similar. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry

Effect of formic acid on performance, digestibility, intestinal histomorphology and plasma metabolite levels of broiler chickens

1. The effect of dietary formic acid on performance, digestibility, intestinal histomorphology and plasma metabolite levels of broiler chickens was studied. 2. An experiment with 120 Ross male broiler chickens was conducted from 1 to 42 d of age at the laboratory. There were 4 treatment groups: control (C), 10 mg/kg feed avilamycin (AV) and formic acid at two concentrations, 5 and 10 g/kg feed (FA5 and FA10, respectively). 3. No differences in weight gain, feed intake or feed conversion ratio were observed in male broiler chickens fed on the different diets. 4. An effect of the additives on ileal dry matter (DM) digestibility at 42 d of age was detected with the finisher diets; AV and 10 g/kg of feed formic acid slightly improved ileal DM digestibility compared to the other treatment groups. 5. Jejunum pH was not affected when 5 or 10 g/kg formic acid was added, and the results do not clearly show a positive effect of formic acid on the intestinal histomorphology. 6. No differences were noticed for blood metabolites in the different diets, and the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the plasma were not altered by formic acid addition. 7. In conclusion, when using broiler chickens under conditions of good hygiene, dietary formic acid did not have a clear positive effect on performance, intestinal histomorphology or plasma metabolite levels; however, there was a slight positive effect on the ileal digestibility of nutrients.

Factors affecting digestibility of barley-based diets for growing pigs

This study examined the effect of variety, location of production, enzyme addition and heat treatment on the apparent overall and ileal digestibilities of barley-based diets produced in Northern Ireland and fed to growing pigs. The study was carried out in two parts, each using 12 post valve T caecum cannulated (PVTC) pigs. The two most commonly produced barley varieties in Northern Ireland (NI), grown at three locations, were studied. The variety “Dandy” was found to be slightly inferior to “Riviera” in terms of overall and ileal digestibility and also in digestible energy (DE) content (15.2 vs. 15.6 MJ/kg DM, P < 0.05). Location effects were observed for both overall and ileal digestibility coefficients. Enzyme addition was investigated from three perspectives: (1) the effect of β-glucanase and xylanase supplementation, (2) the effect of β-glucanase supplementation alone and (3) the effects of three levels of β-glucanase supplementation. There was a lack of response to supplementation at either the overall or ileal level. Heat treatment was applied at 70 °C, 80 °C and 90 °C and increased overall digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) by 5%. Ileal digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and energy were reduced by 3% when heat treatment was applied at 80 °C.

Ileal digestibility of raw and autoclaved kidney-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seed meals in cannulated pigs

AbstractFive castrated male pigs (100±2 kg mean live weight) fitted with T-shaped ileal cannulae were used to determine ileal digestibility of raw or autoclaved (136°C, 3 min, 2·3 bar) kidney-bean seed meals, which were included (536 g/kg) in the diet as the only protein source. A protein-free and a diet based on hydrolysed casein were used to estimate endogenous protein secretion. Apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter was lower (P &lt; 0·05) for raw compared to autoclaved kidney-bean meal. Apparent and true ileal digestibilities of raw kidney-bean meal were not only lower (P &lt; 0·05) than those of autoclaved kidney beans, but negative or close to zero for N and some amino acids. Ileal N (36·9 g/kg food ingested) and sialic acid (3·5 g/kg food ingested) flows in pigs given the raw kidney-bean-based diet were higher (P &lt; 0·05) than those of pigs given the autoclaved kidney-bean diet (respectively 8·9 and 1·4 g/kg food ingested). Autoclaved kidney beans contained 364 and 143 g/kg of starch and non-starch polysaccharides respectively, the ileal digestibilities of which were 0·79 and 0·26. Among individual non-starch polysaccharide sugars, apparent ileal digestibility values were between 0 (rhamnose) and 0·38 (arabinose). Ileal apparent digestibility of total oligosaccharides in the autoclaved kidney bean diet was 0·52, and total amounts of oligosaccharides digested was 18·6 g/kg food. Among individual short-chain fatty acids in ileal contents, only propionate values were signifi cantly (P &lt; 0·05) different between pigs given raw or autoclaved kidney-bean diets. Lactate concentration in ileal contents was higher (P &lt; 0·05) in pigs given autoclaved compared with raw kidney beans. Ileal digestibility of autoclaved kidney-bean meal in the 10-kg pigs was poorer than that of other raw legume-seed meals such as lupins and chickpeas in other studies. The potential health implications of these results are also discussed.

Effect of dehulling and α-galactosidase supplement on the ileal digestibility of yellow lupin based diets in broiler chickens and adult roosters

Two hundred fifty six broiler chickens, 22-days-old, allocated to four groups of four replicate pens with 16 birds each, and six adult ileostomized roosters were used. Four diets containing maize starch and 550 g/kg whole or 458 g/kg dehulled lupin seeds (Lupinus luteus L. cv. Amulet) as the only protein source were offered to birds with or without alpha-galactosidase supplementation. The apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen of the diets was determined. In chickens digesta was collected from the lower part of the ileum immediately after slaughter, while in roosters digesta was collected via a T cannula placed in the terminal ileum during three 12 h periods in a change-over design. Dehulling of lupins significantly increased apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter of the diet by 10% in roosters (P <0.01) and 14% in broilers (P <0.001), while alpha-galactosidase supplementation increased DM digestibility by 3% only in roosters (P <0.05). Dehulling of lupins increased the apparent ileal digestibility of N only in roosters (P <0.01). There was no difference between roosters and broiler chickens with regard to the DM digestibility, but the apparent digestibility of N was lower in roosters, than in broilers. The viscosity of ileal digesta was measured only in chickens. It was generally low and was highest (2.92 mPas.s) in broilers fed the whole lupin diet without alpha-galactosidase. Viscosity was about 37% lower after dehulling the seeds, and decreased about 15% after alpha-galactosidase supplementation.

Use of wood ash extract and germination to improve the feeding value of Ugandan Sekedo sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor) for broiler chicks

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of treating Sekedo sorghum (SK) with wood ash extract on its feeding value for broiler chicks. Sekedo was either soaked in water and germinated for 26 h (WG), soaked in wood extract (AS), germinated after soaking in ash extract (AG) or left untreated (UT). The first experiment was a 1-week-long metabolism trial with SK constituting 980 g/kg diet. In the subsequent 4-week feeding trials (Experiments 2 and 3), the grain constituted 500 g/kg of the experimental diets, to make practical rations. Tannin content of SK was 44.9 ± 2.5 g catechin equivalents (CE)/kg on dry matter basis. Treatment of SK with wood ash extract reduced its tannin content and greatly improved its apparent metabolizable energy (ME n) value. In Experiment 2, there was a significant improvement ( P < 0.05) in growth rate and feed efficiency of chicks fed the AG diet. Ileal digestibility of dietary protein and fat were significantly ( P < 0.05) higher for the AS and AG diets than for the WG and UT diets. In Experiment 3, coefficient of ileal digestibility of dry matter for the UT diet was inferior ( P < 0.05) to that of the AS and AG diets although feed intake and body weight gain were not significantly different.

Effect of including purified jack bean lectin in casein or hydrolysed casein-based diets on apparent and true ileal amino acid digestibility in the growing pig

AbstractThe effect of including purified jack bean lectin (concanavalin A) in the diet of grower pigs on endogenous ileal nitrogen (N) and amino acid (AA) losses, and apparent and true ileal AA digestibility was investigated in a study with four growing pigs (average initial live weight (LW) 25 kg) fitted with simple T-cannulae at the terminal ileum. Both the homo-arginine (HA) method and peptide-alimentation method were used to estimate endogenous gut AA losses. The animals were offered four diets :(1) an enzymatically hydrolysed casein (EHC) containing diet, (2) an EHC containing diet supplemented with 266 mg/kg jack bean lectin, (3) a normal casein (NC) containing diet, and (4) a NC containing diet supplemented with 266 mg/kg lectin. For the estimation of ileal endogenous AA flows in pigs given NC diets, a subsample ofNC was guanidinated to convert lysine to HA. The experiment was conducted using a 4X4 Latin-square design. In each experimental period, pigs were adjusted to the experimental diets for 5 days. On day 6, ileal digesta was collected continuously for 24 hfor determination of apparent ileal digestibility. At 08:30 h of day 8 the HA NC diets were offered to pigs on NC treatments and ileal digesta were again collected for 24 h from all pigs. There were no interactive effects of casein type and added dietary lectin on apparent and true ileal AA digestibility and endogenous ileal AA flows (P &gt; 0-05). The addition of lectin to the diet did not influence (P &gt; 0-05) the apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and AA. Casein type did not affect ileal DM digestibility (P &gt; 0-05). Pigs given the NC-based diets had higher (P &lt; 0-05) apparent ileal AA digestibility than pigs given the EHC-based diets. Addition of lectin to the diet did not influence (P &gt; 0-05) endogenous ileal CP and AA flows. Endogenous ileal AA losses were generally higher (P &lt; 0-05) in pigs given EHC diets than in pigs given NC diets. Neither casein type nor diet lectin level influenced (P &gt; 0-05) the true ileal digestibility ofCP and AA; values ranged for most AA between 0-98 and 1-00. These data suggest that including purified jack bean lectin at the level of 266 mg/kg in a casein-based diet did not influence the ileal endogenous CP and AAflow, nor the apparent and the true ileal digestibility ofCP and AA, in growing pigs between 25 and 50 kg LW. Compared with the HA method, the peptide-alimentation method yielded higher estimates of ileal endogenous CP and AA acid losses in pigs given casein-based diets, although these two methods yielded similar estimates of true ileal AA and CP digestibility.

Influences of Enzyme Complex Supplementation on Growth, Ileal and Apparent Fecal Digestibility and Morphology of Small Intestine in Pigs

A total of 140 weaning pigs were used to determine the effects of digestive enzyme supplementation to corn-soybean meal diets on growth performance, physiological changes of small intestine, microorganisms and pH in the gastrointestinal tract. Two kinds of enzyme complex (A, B) were used in this experiment. Pigs were allotted in a completely random design (CRD) to five replicates with four pigs per pen. Diets and water were provided for ad libitum consumption. Treatments included 1) Control: without enzyme supplementation, 2) Enzyme A 0.05%, 3) Enzyme A 0.10%, 4) Enzyme A 0.15%, 5) Enzyme B 0.05%, 6) Enzyme B 0.10%, 7) Enzyme B 0.15% in the diets. A total of 24 crossbred barrows 25.78′0.55 kg BW fitted with simple ileal T-cannulas were used to evaluate the effect the enzyme addition on the nutrient digstibility. Pigs were allotted 4 treatments (No enzyme, enzyme A 0.05%, enzyme A 0.1%, enzyme A 0.15%), 6 replicates according to a completely random design (CRD). Another digestibility trial was followed for enzyme complex B. Twenty pigs, average 31.92′0.37 kg BW, fitted with simple ileal T-cannulas for digestibility trial. Neither enzyme A nor enzyme B affected on fecal or ileal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash (p>0.05). The apparent fecal digestibilities of all the nutrients were higher in total feces collection method than in indirect method. At the end of feeding trial, 21 pigs were slaughtered for examining the morphological changes of small intestine and the concentration of microorganisms in the ileum and the colon. Growth performance, intestinal morphology and pH of ileum and colon were not affected by the either enzyme complex supplementation (p>0.05). These results suggested that enzyme complex A and enzyme complex B were of no benefit to early-weaned pigs when corn-soybean meal based diet was provided.

Thermogenic and digestive responses of ad libitum fed pigs to α2-adrenergic stimulation with guanfacin in different thermal environments

Guanfacin, an α2-adrenoceptor agonist, reduces heat production in cold-stressed, but not heat-stressed animals. Growth rate, feed intake, metabolic rate, ileal and fecal digestibility were measured in 16 pigs, housed in neutral (20.4 ± 1.7°C), hot (32.7 ± 1.6°C) or cold (6.6 ± 1.4°C) environments. For ileal digestibility determination, pigs received 80 mg kg–1 d–1 followed by 3 × 40 mg kg–1 d–1 of guanfacin or saline, within their own environment, in a cross-over design. Fecal digestibility and heat production were measured over 7 d with treatments applied in a cross-over design of two periods. Oxygen consumption (VO2) was determined by open circuit respiration calorimetry. Cold-housed pigs had higher feed intakes (P &lt; 0.05), but not growth rates, compared with those in the thermoneutral environment. Pigs in the hot environment had lower feed intakes, weight gains and heat production (P &lt; 0.05) and higher rectal temperatures (P &lt; 0.05) compared to those in the other two environments. Guanfacin did not reduce heat production in swine in any environment. Pigs in the cold and neutral environments had lower (P &lt; 0.05) fecal dry matter (DM) digestibility. Pigs in the cold had lower fecal gross energy (GE) digestibility (P &lt; 0.05) compared to those in the hot, and lower fecal crude protein (CP) digestibility (P &lt; 0.05) compared to those in the neutral or hot environments, probably due to changes in digesta retention in the large intestine. Temperature did not affect ileal digestibility of DM, GE, CP and amino acids. Guanfacin did not affect fecal digestibility, but increased ileal DM and GE digestibility (P &lt; 0.05) across all temperatures, possibly by affecting smooth muscle contraction and rate of passage. Increased ileal energy digestibility without a change in heat production suggests an improvement in utilization of DE in response to guanfacin. Key words: α2-adrenoceptor agonist, digestibility, pig, environment, heat production, ileum

Hydrolysis of phytic acid by intrinsic plant or supplemented microbial phytase (Aspergillus niger) in the stomach and small intestine of minipigs fitted with re-entrant cannulas.

Hydrolysis of phytate in the stomach and the small intestine as influenced by intrinsic plant (wheat) and supplemented microbial phytase (A. niger) were investigated with six minipigs (40-50 kg initial BW) fitted with re-entrant-cannulas in the duodenum, 30 cm posterior to the pylorus (animals 1, 4, 5, and 6) and ileocecal re-entrant cannulas, 5 cm prior the ileocecal junction (animals 1, 2, and 3), respectively. Dietary treatments were as follows: (1) diet 1, a corn-based diet (43 U Phytase/kg DM); (2) diet 2, diet 1 supplemented with microbial phytase (818 U/kg DM) and (3) diet 3, a wheat-based diet (1192 U/kg DM). At 0730 and 1930 per animal 350 g diet mixed with 1050 ml de-ionized water were fed. Digesta were collected continuously and completely during 12 h after feeding. Duodenal recovery of dry matter and total phosphorus were 100% in the period between two feedings, irrespective of dietary treatment. In animals fed the wheat-based diet, dry matter left the stomach faster (p < 0.05) during the first hour after feeding than in animals fed the corn-based diets (41.3 vs. 31.0 and 25.8% of intake, respectively). Supplemented microbial phytase did not affect ileal dry matter digestibility of the corn-based diet. In the first hour after feeding, phosphorus concentration of the duodenal digesta of animals fed corn-based diets with or without supplemented microbial phytase (5.86, 6.19 mg total P/g DM) exceeded the dietary level considerably (4.30 and 4.21 mg total P/g DM) indicating a higher solubility of corn than wheat phosphorus in the stomach. Apparent ileal P absorption was higher (p < 0.05) in the wheat-based diet (37.6%) and corn-based diet supplemented with microbial phytase (34.3%) than in the unsupplemented corn-based diet (17.6%).