Sources of viscous soluble fibre, such as barley and oats, have often been included in the weaning diet of the pig to accelerate development of the large intestine. Inclusion of a non-fermentable, viscous compound, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), in a low-fibre weaning diet was tested to assess the influence of digesta viscosity on the gut in the absence of increased fermentation. Two CMC sources, of low and high viscosity, were added to cooked rice-based diet at 40 g/kg total diet. A third control rice diet did not contain any CMC. Diets were fed for 13 d following weaning at 3 weeks of age. Addition of CMC to the diet significantly increased the intestinal viscosity of digesta within the small (P,0 : 001) and large (P,0 : 05) intestine. No simple association was found between increases in intestinal viscosity and effects on intestinal morphology and whole-body growth. The average empty-body-weight gain and the small intestinal villus height increased with low-viscosity CMC, but decreased with the high-viscosity CMC group. The full large intestinal weight increased in all pigs fed CMC. Dietary CMC (both low-and high-viscosity) increased the percentage moisture of digesta and faeces, and was associated with increased faecal shedding of enterotoxigenic haemolytic Escherichia coli. Feed ingredients in weaning diets that excessively increase the viscosity of the intestinal digesta may be detrimental to pig health and production.
Carbohydrates comprise between 60 and 80% of the digestible dry matter in majority of feedstuffs for weaner pigs, and may be divided into the starch and the dietary fibre (DF) fraction. The major constituent of DF in the diets of piglets influencing production, gut function and possibly enteric susceptibility is derived from non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs). The following chapter presents recommended levels of fibre for weaner pig diets, and discusses the physicochemical properties of NSP and the effects of processing on its structure, as well as the influence of NSP on weaner performance, particularly its effects on gut physiology, nutrient digestion and absorption. Ways to improve the utilization of NSP in weaner diets are presented. The chapter also relates the use of NSP with gut health of weaners, elaborating on postweaning colibacillosis and porcine intestinal spirochaetosis.
Blood samples were collected from 40 emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) of 4 different age groups ranging from 1 week to 14 months. Plasma values of glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, total protein, albumin, creatine kinase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were measured. Fourteen-month-old birds had lower plasma glucose values and enzyme activities and higher plasma protein values than younger birds. One-week-old birds had higher cholesterol and uric acid values than other age groups. Plasma calcium, phosphorus and magnesium values did not differ across the age profiles sampled.
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