Digesta pH Research Articles

Effect of Particle Size of Wheat and Barley Grain on the Digestibility and Fermentation of Carbohydrates in the Small and Large Intestines of Growing Pigs

The objective of this investigation was to study the effects of different cereal types, barley and wheat, with different particle sizes (PS) on the recovery of ileal digesta and fecal excretion, digestion of nutrients and fiber components, mean transit time (MTT), and short-chain fatty acid content and composition in growing pigs studied in two experiments. Five barrows with ileal cannulas (initial BW 35.9 ± 1.5 kg) in Experiment 1 and thirty-two castrated pigs (30.8 ± 1.3 kg) in Experiment 2 were fed four different diets: barley fine, barley coarse, wheat fine and wheat coarse diets. The cereal type and PS did not influence the relative weight of the small and large intestines and pH of digesta, whereas MTT in the large intestine of pigs fed the coarse barley diet was lower compared to pigs fed other diets (p < 0.05). Pigs fed the coarse barley diet had lower apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and fiber (p < 0.05), whereas pigs fed the fine barley diet had similar AID and ATTD to pigs fed wheat fine and coarse diets (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the barley diet was more influenced by PS in comparison to wheat, thereby inducing lower AID and ATTD of nutrient.

Use of condensed fermented corn extractives (liquid steep liquor) as a potential alternative for organic acids and probiotics in broiler ration

Condensed fermented corn extractives (liquid steep liquor) was assessed as an alternative to organic acids in broiler chicken. Day-old Ross 308 chicken (n = 180) were allocated into six treatments (basal diet with no supplement, basal diet supplemented with 1 and 2 cc/kg liquid corn steep liquor (CSL) or 1 and 2 cc/kg formic acid along with basal diet supplemented with probiotic (1 × 108 CFU/g, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei) in a completely randomised design with five replicate pens per treatment and six chicks in each pen. Broilers were assessed for performance measures and intestinal and serum characteristics. The results indicated that inclusion of CSL increased (p < .05) feed intake (FI) on days 1–21. Relative weight and length of different organs showed great differences among the treatments (p < .01). The pH content of different parts of the gastrointestinal tract reduced by inclusion of 1 cc/kg of CSL and formic acid (p < .05). Formic acid inclusion reduced villi length in comparison to the control group (p < .05). The lowest villi length to crypt depth ratio was determined in chicks fed diets supplemented with 1 cc/kg of CSL. Ileal and caecal microbial population did not alter by CSL or formic acid supplementation. CSL supplementation reduced the concentration of blood triglyceride, total and LDL cholesterol compared to the control group (p < .05). Results obtained from current trial revealed that CSL is an organic substance that have an acidic pH and its inclusion (1 cc/kg of diet) improved body weight on starter period and reduced digesta pH in gastrointestinal tract comparable to liquid formic acid, however, supplementation of CSL on higher dose (2 cc/kg od diet) did not change digesta pH considerably. HIGHLIGHTS Condensed fermented corn extractives (liquid Steep Liquor) was produced from Wet-milling of corn. Inclusion of 1 cc/kg of condensed fermented corn extractives improved growth performance of broiler chicken on starter period. Inclusion of 1 cc/kg of condensed fermented corn extractives reduced digesta pH.

Comparative effects of benzoic acid and sodium benzoate in diets for nursery pigs on growth performance and acidification of digesta and urine.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative effects of benzoic acid and sodium benzoate in feeds on digesta pH, urinary pH, and growth performance for nursery pigs. A total of 432 pigs (6.9 ± 0.9 kg BW) were assigned to eight treatments (6 pigs per pen, replication = 9) in a randomized complete block design with initial body weight (BW) as a block and fed for 41 d in three phases (7/17/17 d, respectively). Treatments were 1) a basal diet (NC), 2) NC + 0.25% bacitracin methylene disalicylate (antibiotic; bacitracin: 250 g/t feed; PC), 3) NC + 0.25% benzoic acid, 4) NC + 0.35% benzoic acid, 5) NC + 0.50% benzoic acid, 6) NC + 0.30% sodium benzoate, 7) NC + 0.40% sodium benzoate, and 8) NC + 0.60% sodium benzoate. Growth performance and fecal scores were measured for each phase. One gilt representing the median BW of each pen was euthanized to collect digesta from the stomach, proximal jejunum, distal jejunum, and cecum, and urine. The PC tended to improve average daily gain (ADG) in phase 1 (P = 0.052) and phase 2 (P = 0.093) as well as average daily feed intake (ADFI) in phase 2 (P = 0.052). Overall, increasing supplemental benzoic acid tended to have a quadratic effect on ADG (P = 0.094), but no difference in ADFI was observed. Increasing supplemental sodium benzoate showed a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on ADG and linearly increased (P < 0.05) ADFI. Urinary pH linearly decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing supplemental benzoic acid, but was not affected by supplemental sodium benzoate. Increasing supplemental benzoic acid or sodium benzoate linearly increased (P < 0.05) benzoic acid content in digesta of the stomach. Increasing supplemental benzoic acid or sodium benzoate also linearly increased (P < 0.05) urinary hippuric acid. However, the PC did not decrease urinary pH or increase urinary benzoic acid and hippuric acid. With slope-ratio assay using ADG and urinary hippuric acid as dependent variables and benzoic acid intake as an independent variable, the relative bioavailability of benzoic acid compared to sodium benzoate was not different. In conclusion, supplementation of benzoic acid and sodium benzoate could improve the growth performance of nursery pigs. The relative bioavailability of sodium benzoate to benzoic acid of nursery pigs did not differ based on BW gain and urinary hippuric acid.

Comparison of four digestion protocols on the physical characteristics of gastric digesta from cooked couscous using the Human Gastric Simulator.

In vitro digestion is widely employed in food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical research, and numerous in vitro gastric digestion protocols have been proposed, with a wide range of experimental conditions. Differences in the simulated gastric fluids (pH, mineral content, enzyme type and enzyme activity) of different digestion protocols may alter the results for the digestion of the same meal. This study aimed to investigate how variations in the gastric secretion rate and composition in four in vitro digestion protocols (Infogest Riddet, Infogest Semi-dynamic, UC Davis and United States Pharmacopeia) impacted the physical properties of the emptied gastric digesta. Cooked couscous was used as a model meal and subjected to simulated gastric digestion using a dynamic gastric model, the Human Gastric Simulator (HGS). The digesta were collected from the outlet of the HGS after 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, or 180 min. The gastric emptying of dry matter, pH, rheological properties, and particle size were evaluated. The digestion protocol significantly influenced the solid content and moisture content of the digesta (p < 0.001), particles per gram of dry matter (p < 0.0001), gastric emptying of dry matter (p < 0.003), shear stress at 0.45 s-1 and consistency coefficient (p < 0.0001). The presence of NaHCO3 in the Infogest Riddet and Infogest Semi-dynamic gastric secretions provided an additional buffering effect and increased the digesta pH during gastric digestion. Similarly, the inclusion of mucin in the UC Davis protocol resulted in a higher flow and viscoelastic properties of the emptied digesta. The highest dilution of gastric content in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) protocol resulted in larger particles emptied from the HGS and the longest gastric emptying half-time of all digestion protocols. These findings provide new insights into the impact of digestion protocols on the digesta properties, which can be beneficial for the design and standardization of in vitro digestion models.

Effect of sprouted whole pearl millet on growth performance, intestinal development, bacterial count, and blood indices of broiler chickens.

This study investigated the effects of varying levels of sprouted whole grain pearl millet (SPM) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, microbial count, and blood indices of broiler chickens. A maize-soybean meal basal diet was formulated and fed to broiler chickens as starter (0 to 21 d) and finisher (22 to 42 d) diets. The diets comprised of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of SPM incorporated as whole grain. On 0 d, 180 unsexed broiler chickens were allocated to experimental diets in a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated three times; each replicate had 12 chicks. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric to meet the nutrient requirements of broiler chickens. Diets and water were provided ad libitum for 42 d. Results showed that the body weight gain (BWG) of broiler chickens on SPM compared favorably with those on the control diet. BWG showed trends in increment (P < 0.10) while FCR showed decreased trends (P < 0.10) with partial inclusion of SPM at 42 d and 0 to 42 d. The drumstick weight showed quadratic effect (P = 0.044) while the wing weight showed linear effect (P = 0.047) to treatment diets at 21 d. The liver weights of broiler chickens showed linear response (P = 0.018) at 21 d and (P = 0.004) at 42 d to SPM inclusion in diets. Sprouted whole PM consistently increased low-density lipoprotein concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P < 0.05). Length and weight of small intestine and ceca showed decreasing trends on SPM levels in the treatment diets. Digesta pH assessment revealed that pH in the crop was lower (P < 0.05) on partial SPM while pH in proventriculus was reduced (P < 0.05) with inclusion of SPM in treatment diets. Lactobacilli count decreased linearly (P = 0.010) with SPM inclusion. This study suggests that SPM could be used as an alternative source of energy in production of broiler chickens. Therefore, partial replacement of maize with SPM in broiler diet had no negative effect on performance, physiological status, and overall health of broiler chickens.

Effect of Fiber Fermentation and Protein Digestion Kinetics on Mineral Digestion in Pigs.

Simple SummaryThere is increasing interest in improving nutrient utilization in pigs and poultry and thereby reduce nutrient excretion into the environment. The present review aims to provide an overview on interactions between fermentable substrates (e.g., starch, fiber, and protein) and selected minerals on nutrient digestion and absorption to determine nutritional solutions to maximize animal performance, principally in the grower–finisher phase. Using in vitro models, the site and rate (kinetics) of nutrient digestion or fermentation of a feed ingredient or diet can be estimated. However, for minerals, no standardized methodology to assess in vitro mineral digestion exists. In vivo, the diet total tract digestibility of phosphorus might be underestimated in diets with fermentable ingredients because of increased diet-specific endogenous phosphorus losses and requires further clarification to better calculate the true total tract digestibility of phosphorus in pigs. The quantification of fiber type, composition of fiber fractions within individual raw materials, their influence on digestion kinetics, and effects on digesta pH and nutrient solubility related to fermentation should be considered. In conclusion, applications of nutrient kinetic data should be considered as part of an integrated approach to support nutrient digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs, thereby helping to reduce nutrient excretion.Nutrient kinetic data and the timing of nutrient release along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), are not yet widely used in current feed formulations for pigs and poultry. The present review focuses on interactions between fermentable substrates (e.g., starch, fiber, and protein) and selected minerals on nutrient digestion and absorption to determine nutritional solutions to maximize animal performance, principally in the grower–finisher phase, with the aim of minimizing environmental pollution. For phosphorus (P), myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis (dihydrogen phosphate) (InsP6), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), no standardized methodologies to assess in vitro mineral digestion exist. The stepwise degradation of InsP6 to lower inositol phosphate (InsP) forms in the GIT is rare, and inositol phosphate4 (InsP4) might be the limiting isomer of InsP degradation in diets with exogenous phytase. Furthermore, dietary coefficients of standardized total tract digestibility (CSTTD) of P might be underestimated in diets with fermentable ingredients because of increased diet-specific endogenous P losses (EPL), and further clarification is required to better calculate the coefficients of true total tract digestibility (CTTTD) of P. The quantification of fiber type, composition of fiber fractions, their influence on digestion kinetics, effects on digesta pH, and nutrient solubility related to fermentation should be considered for formulating diets. In conclusion, applications of nutrient kinetic data should be considered to help enhance nutrient digestion and absorption in the GIT, thereby reducing nutrient excretion.

Evaluation of the Use of Date Seed Flour in Feed on the Small Intestine Characteristics of Broiler

The purpose of this study was to determine and evaluate the use of date seed flour in feed on the small intestine characteristics of broilers. This study used 200 Day Old Chick (DOC) broilers with type MB 202. This study used a field experiment method with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments used were P0: basal feed without the use of date seed flour (DSF), P1: basal feed using 2.5% DSF, P2: basal feed using 5% DSF, P3: basal feed using 7.5% DSF, P4: basal feed using 10% DSF. The variables measured in this study were the number of villi, villi height, villi surface area, crypt depth, digesta pH, and digesta viscosity. The data obtained during the study were processed using Microsoft Excel software and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and continued with Duncan's Multiple Range Test if the results obtained were significantly different (P&lt;0.05) or very significantly different (P&lt; 0.01). This study gave results that were not significantly different (P&gt;0.05) on the number of villi, villi height, villi surface area, crypt depth, and digesta pH. However, this study was able to give very significantly different results (P&lt;0.01) in digesta viscosity. The conclusion of this study is the use of date seed flour in feed up to 10% was able to give good results on the number of villi, villi height, villi surface area, crypt depth, and digesta pH of the small intestine of broilers, but it has not been able to give good results on the digesta viscosity of the small intestine of broilers.

The effects of nano encapsulated Syzygium Polyanthum leaves extract inclusion in drinking water

A study with six treatments in a Completely Randomized Design was conducted to evaluate the effects of nano encapsulated Syzygium polyanthum leaves extract (SpLE) inclusion in drinking water on small intestinal digesta pH and macromorphology in broiler chickens. The treatments were: drinking water without any addition (negative control), drinking water with 50 ppm antibiotic Tetracycline addition (positive control), or drinking water with1% SpLE, 3% SpLE, 1% nano-capsulated SpLE (N-SpLE), and 3% N-SpLE additions. Each experimental treatment was repeated four times with eight birds per replicate pen. The basal diet and drinking water were provided from days 8 to days 35. One-way ANOVA was used to calculate the effect of the treatments. The difference data in present study were separated with Duncan’s new Multiple Range Test. Result showed no treatment effect was detected on macromorphology of all segments on the small intestine. However, drinking water inclusion with 3% SpLE reduced digesta pH (P<0.05) in the duodenum and jejunum. Inclusion of 3% N-SpLE reduced digesta pH only in the ileum (P<0.05). Reductions of digesta pH in some segments of the small intestinal might shows beneficial effect of drinking water inclusion with Syzygium polyanthum leaves extract on the intestinal health improvement in broiler chickens.

Effect of coconut husk extract on broiler chicken performance, pH and microbial composition of digesta, and small intestine histomorphology

Plants that contain a large number of bioactive substances have been used as alternative phytobi-otic additives. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the efficacy of coconut husk ex-tract on broiler performance, ileal digesta characteristic and small intestine morphology. Two hundred and fifty day-old-chicks (DOC) were randomly placed in five treatment groups with five replicates each, and the chickens were reared until six weeks old. Basal ration was hand mixed to ensure the re-quirements in the starter period and finisher period. Treatments were basal ration only (TCT-), basal ration with 40 ppm tetracycline (TCT+), basal ration with 100 ppm coconut husk extract (T100), basal ration with 400 ppm coconut husk extract (T400) and basal ration with 700 ppm coconut husk extract (T700). The variables included feed intake, live weight gain (LWG), feed to gain ratio (FCR), breast meat quality, pH and microbial composition of digesta and small intestine morphology. Data were sta-tistically analyzed using analysis of variances and comparison test using the Duncan’s multiple range test. The results demonstrated that the feed additives significantly increased feed intake, LWG, breast meat protein content, villi height in the ileum, and the height:crypt depth ratio in the duodenum and ileum, and significantly decreased the abundance of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and the pH of digesta (P&lt;0.05). Therefore, coconut husk extract could be applied as a phytobiotic feed ad-ditive for broiler chickens to stimulate the growth of broilers, suppress colonies of harmful bacteria in the small intestine and enhance the improvement of intestinal morphology.

The effect of the dietary inclusion of pea seeds of colored-flowered and white-flowered varieties on gastrointestinal function in turkeys.

This study investigated the effects of dietary replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with graded levels of pea seeds (PS) on the gastrointestinal function of turkeys. Seeds of 2 pea varieties, a colored-flowered variety and a white-flowered variety (CFP and WFP, respectively) were fed to 56-d-old birds for 8 wk. A total of 539 female Hybrid turkeys were allocated to 7 groups, each group consisted of 7 pens with 11 birds per pen. The experiment had a 2-factorial design, with 3 dietary inclusion levels of PS (100, 200 and 300 g/kg) and 2 pea varieties (CFP and WFP). The control group (diets without PS) was compared with CFP and WFP treatments by simple contrast analysis. In comparison with CFP seeds, WFP seeds contained 7-fold less tannins (0.67 vs. 4.66 g/kg) and less non-starch polysaccharides (NSP, 117.8 vs. 132.7 g/kg), but more trypsin inhibitors (1.34 vs. 0.98 g/kg) and starch (489 vs. 455 g/kg). A rise in the PS content of diets from 100 to 200 and 300 g/kg increased the weight of the small intestine (P = 0.031) and the dry matter (DM) content of intestinal digesta (P = 0.001), but it had no effect on the pH of digesta. Only the highest PS content differentiated the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the small intestinal digesta (WFP > CFP, P = 0.008), whereas PS did not cause any changes in the morphological parameters of the small intestinal mucosa. The dietary inclusion of PS had no influence on the levels of acetate, butyrate, putrefactive SCFAs or total SCFAs in the cecal contents. Apart from increasing the activities of β-glucosidase (P = 0.017) and β-galactosidase (P = 0.025), pea varieties did not affect the activities of the analyzed cecal microbial enzymes. However, CFP seeds decreased the DM content (P = 0.041) and increased the pH of cecal digesta, compared with WFP seeds (P = 0.013). The results of this study, pointing to a few differences in the functional parameters of the small intestine and cecum, indicate that tannins are not a factor differentiating the suitability of CFP and WFP seeds in the nutrition of finisher turkeys. The inclusion of PS at 200 and 300 g/kg of the diet reduces the content of SBM and wheat in turkey diets, which has a positive effect on gastrointestinal function.

PSVIII-8 Physiological Response of Broiler Chickens Fed Cold-Pressed Canola Cake-Based Diets with Soluble Fiber Source or Feed Additives

Abstract Effects of soluble fiber source or feed additive supplementation in cold-pressed canola cake (CPCC) containing diets on growth performance, organ weights, and blood thyroid hormones, and pH of digesta of broilers were investigated. A total of 96 one-day-old broilers were assigned to 6 dietary treatments, consisting of 8 cages of 2 birds each. The diets included a corn-soybean meal (SBM)-based diet and corn-SBM-CPCC 20% diets without or with barley, acidifier, encapsulated butyric acid, and probiotics. Birds were fed a commercial diet for the first week and fed experimental diets for 2 weeks. Body weight (BW) and feed intake of broilers were measured on d 7 and 21. On d 21, all birds were euthanized to collect samples of blood, organs, and digesta. Collected blood samples were analyzed for serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4), and pH of digesta in gizzard, ileum, ceca, and large intestine was measured. Broilers fed CPCC diet with butyric acid or probiotics had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) growth performance than broilers fed CPCC diet. There were no significant differences in relative weights of thyroid glands and liver to BW. Supplementation of either butyric acid or probiotics in CPCC diets reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) serum T3 concentration compared with CPCC diet by 34% and 21%, respectively. Also, supplementation of butyric acid in CPCC diet showed no difference in serum T3 concentration compared with corn-SBM diet. Dietary treatments in CPCC diets did not affect pH of digesta in gizzard and ileum, whereas supplementation of barley or acidifier decreased pH of cecal digesta compared with that of broilers fed CPCC diet by 0.5 and 0.51 pH units, respectively. Supplementation of encapsulated butyric acid in the 20% CPCC diet can improve growth performance of broilers by mitigating the toxic effects of dietary CPCC as evidenced by reduced serum T3 concentration.

244 Physiological Response of Nursery Pigs Fed Cold-Pressed Canola Cake-Based Diets with Soluble Fiber Source or Feed Additives

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of soluble fiber source or feed additives on physiological response of nursery pigs fed cold-pressed canola cake (CPCC) based diets. A total of 24 nursery pigs [initial body weight (BW) = 7.29 kg] were housed in 24 metabolic crates and fed 6 diets (4 pigs/diet) in a completely randomized design. The diets were a corn-soybean meal (SBM)-based diet and corn-SBM-CPCC (30%)-based diets without or with barley, acidifier, encapsulated butyric acid, and probiotics. The diets were formulated to meet or exceed NRC (2012) nutrient recommendations for nursery pigs and were fed for 2 weeks. Pig BW and feed intake were measured on day 0 and d 14. On d 14, blood samples were collected for measuring serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4), then all pigs were euthanized for measuring organ weights and pH of digesta in the gastrointestinal tract. Pigs fed corn-SBM based diet had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) gain to feed ratio compared with pigs fed CPCC diet by 24%. Dietary acidifier increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) of pigs fed CPCC diet by 45.6% and had no difference from that of pigs fed corn-SBM based diet. There were no differences in weight of the thyroid gland, liver, and heart relative to BW. Dietary treatments did not affect serum T3 and T4 concentrations of pigs fed CPCC diets. Dietary barley, acidifier, or butyric acid had no influence on digesta pH of duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, proximal colon, and distal colon in pigs fed CPCC diets. However, dietary probiotics increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) pH of distal colonic digesta (6.62) compared with pigs fed corn-SBM diet (6.15) and CPCC diet (6.13). Supplementation of acidifier in 30% CPCC diet increased average daily gain of nursery pigs while maintaining normal metabolic organ weights and serum thyroid hormones level.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Providing Live Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) to Ease the Weaning Transition of Piglets.

Weaning is a stressful event for piglets, involving substantial changes to their nutritional and social environment. Providing edible enrichment around weaning may ease the weaning transition by increasing pre-weaning feed intake and improving post-weaning performance, health, behavior, and affective state. In this study, we investigated the effects of providing live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as edible enrichment pre- and/or post-weaning. Pre-weaning, piglets received either only creep feed (Pre-C, n = 14 litters) or creep feed and live BSFL (Pre-L, n = 15 litters) ad libitum, and post-weaning piglets either had no access to live BSFL (Post-C, n = 24 pens) or they could rotate tubes that released BSFL (Post-L, n = 24 pens) at levels up to 20% of their expected daily dry matter intake, resulting in treatments CC, CL, LC, and LL. No interaction between pre- and post-weaning treatment was found for any of the measured parameters. Before weaning, Pre-L piglets preferred to interact with larvae over creep feed, and Pre-C piglets interacted more with creep feed than Pre-L piglets. Total time spent on feed-directed behaviors did not differ. Continuous larvae provisioning increased caecum length and proximal stomach digesta pH, while it decreased the passage of glucose and fluorescein isothiocyanate through the colon wall on d3 post-weaning (CC vs. LL, n = 12 piglets/treatment). Post-weaning diarrhea and final body weight were not affected by treatment. After weaning, Pre-C piglets tended to eat more and grew marginally faster than Pre-L piglets. Post-C piglets spent more time eating and had a higher feed intake post-weaning than Post-L piglets. Based on home-pen behavioral observations, Post-L piglets actively explored and ate the larvae. Post-C piglets spent more time on exploring the environment and nosing pen mates, and they spent more time on manipulating pen mates on d8 and played more on d8 & 15 compared to Post-L piglets. Piglet responses to a novel environment and an attention bias test on d4 & 5 post-weaning were not influenced by larvae provisioning. In conclusion, pre-weaning larvae provisioning did not improve pre-weaning feed intake and post-weaning performance, however post-weaning larvae provisioning did benefit piglet behavior as less manipulation of pen mates was observed.

Daily fecal pH pattern and variation in lactating dairy cows

Evidence supports a causal link between anomalous intestinal function and impaired performance in dairy cows. Consequently, digesta pH values obtained from colon, cecum, and rectum are increasingly used to monitor intestinal function in dairy cows. We conducted a study to describe the daily dynamics of fecal pH in lactating dairy cows. The study lasted 4 d and individual records of dry matter intake, milk yield, and fecal pH were taken. Samples of feces were taken every 4 h during the 4-d study, and sampling time was adjusted ahead by 1 h daily so that a sample was obtained for each 1-h interval of the day. Data were analyzed using a mixed-effect model including time as fixed effect and cow as a random factor. We performed a cosinor analysis using pH data at different time points to determine whether fecal pH followed a biorhythmic pattern. On average, cows consumed 19.1 ± 1.55 kg/d of dry matter and produced 26.3 ± 4.16 kg/d of milk. The most relevant results confirmed a biorhythmic pattern for feces pH around feeding time: mesor (midline estimating statistic of rhythm) 6.20, amplitude 0.28, and acrophase 5.66. Additionally, we found a positive relationship between dry matter intake and amplitude, possibly because of an increase in the amount of fermentable carbohydrate reaching the hindgut in response to increasing intake. When using fecal pH as an indicator of intestinal function, it is critical to obtain samples at several time points to capture its daily rhythmicity and to report sampling time relative to feeding.

The effect of the use of cassava tuber (Manihot esculenta) and Indigofera zollingeriana leaf flour combination as a source of energy supplemented with citric acid in ration on broiler small intestine characteristics and productivity.

The study aimed to determine the effect of using a combination of cassava tuber (Manihot esculenta) and Indigofera zollingeriana leaf flour as an energy source supplemented with citric acid in the ration on performance, carcass quality, digesta pH, viscosity, and the number of villi in the intestines of broilers. The research design was completely randomized with five treatments and five replications, each containing four broilers. The treatment was a substitution of corn in the ration with a combination of cassava tuber and I. zollingeriana leaf (CIF): without CIF, 5% CIF substitute for corn + 0.2% citric acid, 10% CIF substitute for corn + 0.2% citric acid, 15% CIF corn substitute + 0.2% citric acid, and CIF corn substitute + 0.2% citric acid. Each treatment ration was supplemented with 0.2% citric acid. The variables that were looked at were ration consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion, live weight, percentage of the carcass, percentage of abdominal fat, pH, viscosity, and the number of broiler villi. This study showed that the combination of CIF flour supplemented with 0.2% citric acid had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on body weight gain, ration conversion, live weight, carcass percentage, and the number of villi in broiler intestines. But it did not have a significant effect (p > 0.05) on the amount of feed eaten, the amount of fat in the abdomen, the pH of the digesta, or the thickness of the broilers' blood. The combination of CIF flour at a level of 10% supplemented with 0.2% citric acid can be used as an energy source to replace corn without having a bad effect on production performance, carcass quality, and small intestine characteristics of broilers.

The effect of natural feed additive on productive performance of broiler chickens

The effect of natural feed additive on productive performance of broiler chickens

Effects of feeding diets containing increasing content of purified lignocellulose supplied by sugarcane bagasse to early-weaned pigs on growth performance and intestinal health

A total of 96 weaned piglets, with mean age of 21 days and initial body weight (BW) of 6.67 ± 0.63 kg, were used in a 42-day experiment to evaluate the effects of supplementation of dietary purified lignocellulose (LNC) on growth performance and intestinal health. Piglets were blocked by initial BW and allotted to one of 32 pens, each pen containing three pigs. Dietary treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal-based control diet with no added LNC and three dietary inclusion rates (10, 20, and 30 g/kg) of LNC. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) were determined over 42 days postweaning. On day 14 postweaning, one pig from each pen was euthanized to determine gastrointestinal tract organ weight, small intestinal morphology, and digesta pH, viscosity, fermentation end-products, and bacterial enumeration. Total tract retention time was measured by adding 10 g/kg ferric oxide in the morning feed on day 42. From day 1–14 postweaning, G:F tended to linearly increase (P = 0.088) as the dietary LNC contents increased. Although increasing the dietary LNC supplementation quadratically increased (P = 0.008) ADFI and tended to quadratically decrease (P = 0.072) G:F from day 30–42 postweaning, overall growth performance was unaffected by the treatments. The weight of the small intestine adjusted for kg of BW on day 14 postweaning increased quadratically (P = 0.041) as the dietary LNC contents increased. Increasing the dietary LNC supplementation linearly increased (P = 0.027) crypt depth and tended to linearly reduce (P = 0.075) villus:crypt ratio in the jejunum. Dietary treatments did not affect total tract retention time as well as pH and viscosity of both cecum and colonic digesta. Increasing the dietary LNC supplementation quadratically increased (P = 0.001) cecal butyrate formation, whereas cecal acetate and propionate concentrations did not differ among treatments. Although ileal counts of Lactobacillus spp. and Escherichia coli were similar among treatments, the pathogenic Clostridium perfringens population exhibited a quadratic decrease (P = 0.041) as the dietary LNC contents increased. These results indicate that feeding pig diets containing up to 30 g/kg purified LNC enhanced gut health through the inhibition of harmful bacteria proliferation and the expansion of butyrate producers, without compromising overall growth performance.

514 Late-Breaking: Effects of Feeding a High Canola Meal-containing Diet and Multi-carbohydrase Supplementation on Growth Performance and Intestinal Ecology of Piglets

Abstract The objective was to investigate the effects of a high canola meal-containing diet and multi-carbohydrase supplementation on growth performance and intestinal pH, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile, and microbiome in weaned piglets. Twenty-four piglets (7.46 ± 0.23 kg BW) were individually assigned to 1 of 3 diets in a completely randomized design. Diets were fed for 21 d: SB, corn and soybean meal-based diet; CM, 25% canola meal substituting soybean meal and adjusted to meet energy and nutrient requirements of piglets (NRC, 2012); and CM+E, CM supplemented with multi-carbohydrase (0.01%). Feed disappearance and BW were recorded weekly. On d 21, piglets were euthanized to assess digesta pH, SCFA profile, and gut microbiome. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS using the piglet as the experimental unit. There were no differences (P &amp;gt; 0.10) in growth performance and digesta pH. Piglets fed CM+E tended to (P = 0.051) or had significantly lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) butyric acid in the cecum than piglets fed CM and SB, respectively. Piglets fed SB had higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) isobutyric acid in the colon than piglets fed CM+E. Piglets fed SB and CM tended to have higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) isovaleric acid in the colon than piglets fed CM+E. Piglets fed SB tended to have lower (P &amp;lt; 0.10) proportion of Bifidobacteria, and had lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, and Lactobacillus than piglets fed CM. Piglets fed CM+E tended to have lower (P &amp;lt; 0.10) Bifidobacteria and higher Clostridium XIVa than piglets fed CM, and had lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Enterococcus, but higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Lactobacillus than piglets fed CM. In conclusion, feeding 25% of canola meal in substitution to soybean meal with or without multi-carbohydrase supplementation changed the intestinal environment by modifying SCFA profile and relative proportion of microbiome, but without affecting digesta pH or growth performance in nursery piglets.

Interaction between xylanase and a proton pump inhibitor on broiler chicken performance and gut function.

Three hundred thirty-six Ross 308 male broiler chicks were used in a 21-d study to explore performance and gut function when treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI; 0 or 89 mg/kg) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with a xylanase (Xyl; 0 or 0.1 g/kg) to determine if the beneficial activity of arabinoxylan (AX) depolymerisation, through arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides (AXOS) production, starts in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Treatment with the PPI started from d 14, and by d 21 animal performance had deteriorated (P < 0.001). An interaction was observed between PPI and Xyl for feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.05), whereby the combination reduced the negative effect of PPI on FCR. Application of PPI raised digesta pH in the gizzard and caecum (P < 0.05), increased protein concentrations in the lower gut (P < 0.05) and reduced intake of digestible nutrients (P < 0.05). Caecal concentrations of indole, p-cresol, ammonia and the ratio of total volatile fatty acid (VFA) to butyric acid were increased with PPI (P < 0.05), indicating enhanced protein fermentation. Xylanase activity in the digesta were greatest in the caeca, especially when Xyl was supplemented (P < 0.001). The concentration of total soluble AX was greater in the gizzard and ileal digesta with Xyl supplementation (P < 0.05), supporting the depolymerisation action of xylanase even under acidic conditions. These data suggest xylanase may function in the gizzard even though pH is not optimal for activity and emphasises the importance of chlorohydric acid secretions in ensuring overall optimum gut function. AX depolymerisation benefits animal performance although it is still unknown how the AXOS produced with xylanase supplementation in the upper gastrointestinal tract influence the microbial populations and overall gut functionality.

Effect of sodium sources and exogenous phytase supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and digesta pH of 21-day-old broilers

The effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) and NaCl+sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) and supplemental phytase (0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 FTU/kg) on performance, nutrient digestibility and utilization, and digesta pH of male broiler chickens were investigated in a 2 × 4+1 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design with 6 replicate cages of 8 birds per replicate. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 4 factorial with contrast between the positive control and the diets containing 0 FTU phytase. Phytase supplementation linearly improved (P < 0.05) average body weigh gain (BWG) and feed intake (d 0–14 and 0–21). Apparent jejunal dry matter (DM) digestibility and digestible energy in birds fed diets containing only NaCl increased (linear and quadratic; P < 0.05) with phytase supplementation whereas quadratic (P < 0.05) effect was observed in birds fed diets containing a combination of NaCl and NaHCO3. Phytase supplementation improved (linear and quadratic; P < 0.05) apparent ileal nitrogen and P digestibility. Apparent utilization of DM, nitrogen, energy, and metabolizable energy increased (linear; P < 0.05) with increasing level of phytase supplementation. Apparent P utilization increased (linear and quadratic; P < 0.05) for both sodium sources but calcium utilization only increased (linear; P < 0.05) with the combination of NaCl and NaHCO3. Bone breaking strength (linear and quadratic) and bone ash (linear) increased (P < 0.05) with phytase supplementation. The combination of NaCl and NaHCO3 resulted in lower (P < 0.05) pH of digesta in the proximal ileum whereas the pH of the digesta in the distal ileum (linear) and the average pH of ileal contents (linear and quadratic) increased (P < 0.05) with phytase supplementation. Results from this study showed that birds’ performance and utilization of nutrients and energy by broilers in the presence of phytase was, in general, not influenced by the source of sodium in the diet. Data from this study showed that NaHCO3 can replace a portion of NaCl in the diet of broilers supplemented with phytase without any significant negative effect on performance and that the 2,000 FTU phytase level resulted in better BWG and feed intake as well nutrient and energy utilization.